An unusual contrast shapes the themes of Lexington Park: Naval aviation is presented from its beginnings through the present and beyond, while a natural-stone monument commemorates contributions to the development of St. Mary’s County. In between are theater history and the varied facilities of Lexington Manor Passive Park.

Naval Aviation Through the Ages

The Test and Evaluation Hall at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum takes visitors through the history of naval aviation, from its beginnings and the Curtiss A-1 Triad to the present and beyond. Among other exhibits, the hall features the Lockheed Martin X-35C Joint Strike Fighter as a concept demonstrator aircraft. This places two levels side by side: the development of an entire field and a named aircraft as a concrete example. This shift between a long historical arc and an individual aircraft gives the subject structure without limiting it to just one era. For those interested in aviation history, the particular appeal lies in the combination of historical development and a technical example.

Three Notch Theatre: From Library Building to Performance Venue

At Three Notch Theatre, its present-day function meets its former use. Three Notch Theatre is the home of the Newtowne Players. The building previously served as a public library and was converted into a community theater; the Newtowne Players took it over in 2005 and began this transformation. The year marks the takeover and the start of the conversion. Theater history here unfolds not just through a stage, but also through the transformation of a public building. Those who enjoy exploring cultural venues through their origins will find a different perspective here than at the naval aviation museum: the focus is on the story of a particular community institution. The theater is accessible and can provide seating for visitors with limited mobility.

Facilities at Lexington Manor Passive Park

Lexington Manor Passive Park includes a disc golf course, a community garden, and a pavilion that serves as an information center. These three facilities represent clearly distinct activities: disc golf, community gardening, and a place dedicated to providing information. This makes the park thematically different from the cultural venues: here, concrete facilities sit side by side, rather than a historical account or a theater conversion. When planning your trip, you can consider these differences and decide which aspect interests you.

A Monument to the County’s History

The St. Mary’s County African American Monument is located on the grounds of Freedom Park in Lexington Park. It commemorates the contributions of the African American community to the development and growth of St. Mary’s County. Its design is clearly structured: a natural-stone pyramid is surrounded by six pedestals with bronze plaques. The combination of the stone form and the surrounding plaques gives the monument a distinct order. Its subject differs from that of the aviation museum: here, the focus is on the contributions of the African American community to the county’s history, not on the development of naval aviation. This regional commemorative focus makes the monument a distinct historical theme within the Lexington Park offering.

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View the regional travel overview: Saint Mary's County.