The 2001 Barn & Silo
The history of corn is truly "A-Maize-Ing!" We are able to trace the beginning of corn to Central America over 7000 years ago.
The Mayan, Aztec, and Inca Indians of Central and South America learned to use almost every part of the corn plant. The leaves contain a large amount of sugar and they used them as the first "chewing gum." Immature corn was eaten as a fresh vegetable. The dry, mature kernels of corn were ground into flour, parched, or popped. Can you image the Aztec Indian children eating popcorn just like you do today!
By the time Christopher Columbus reached the New World in 1492, corn was grown from southern Canada to the Andes Mountains of South America. Early European settlers soon learned to depend on corn as their main crop. To learn more, click here for the 2001 Fact Pack.
The 2002 St. Mary's "Dinosaur"
Okay, so we've never really found a dinosaur in our cornfield...but we wanted one, so we grew our own!
"Astrodon Johnstoni" officially became the Maryland state dinosaur on October 1, 1998. It lived during the early Cretaceous period, between 130 million and 95 million years ago, and was the first identified dinosaur in Maryland. It was one of the earliest dinosaur finds in the United States and the first sauropod described in North America.
Astrodon was definitely vegetarian, but as with all dinosaurs it is difficult to be specific about the exact diet. It probably browsed conifers, cycads and low-growing plants. It probably was a forest dweller. Although its bones have been recovered from river deposits, if current ideas are correct, it did not spend its time in the water.
Astrodon is better known than any other dinosaur in the Potomac Group. Because Astrodon was the first dinosaur found in Maryland and the first sauropod described from North America, it is fitting that it be acknowledged officially as the "Maryland State Dinosaur." Click here for the 2002 Fact Pack.
The 2003 "Elephants" in St. Mary's County
Who knew...elephant's in St. Mary's County. You just never know what you'll find in a corn maze! Elephants are wonderful animals. They are the largest mammals in the world that live on land. There are two types of elephants - African and Asian. Asian elephants have smaller ears and shorter tusks than their cousins, the African elephants. The African elephant is bigger and taller than an Asian elephant.
Elephants live in families just like us! Several families may live together, this is called a herd. The leader of the herd is usually the oldest female elephant, and is referred to as the "matriarch." All of the babies and other female elephants follow the matriarch. A young male elephant stays with the herd until he is 14 or 15 years old. He then goes out on his own to start a new family. To learn more about elephants, please click here to view our 2003 Fact Pack.
The 2004 Steam Locomotive
The Southern Maryland Railroad was incorporated in 1868 with construction beginning a short time later. Construction was started in Brandywine (connecting with the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad) and was built in a southeasterly direction with the intention of traveling all the way to Point Lookout. The line went into its first of many bankruptcies in 1886 and emerged as the Washington & Potomac Railroad. The line only ever ran as far south as Mechanicsville (sometimes listed as Forrest Hall).
In 1901, the line went through another bankruptcy and emerged as the Washington, Potomac & Chesapeake Railway. At the end of 1917 the line again found itself in bankruptcy and was very nearly scrapped due to the high price of scrap metal during WW1. However, farmers in the area were able to purchase the line from a salvage firm and in June of 1918 the line began running again, this time under the name of the Washington, Brandywine & Point Lookout Railroad. To read more, click here.
The 2005 Steamboat
Throughout the 19th century, and for most of the first half of the 20th century, steamboat transportation played a vital role in the local agricultural economy. The Southern Maryland Railroad system had established itself, but the interstate highways system had not, and therefore, steamboat and railroad were the modes of transportation used to bring agricultural supplies and equipment to the area.
In addition to the freight service, these steamboat lines provided efficient, reasonably priced passenger service for people in southern Maryland. Locals could travel to Washington, D.C., and the Baltimore area for weekend excursions. The John W. Thompson, well known in southern Maryland waters, provided freight service as well as passenger and excursion trips. To read more, click here for our 2005 Fact Pack.
2006 | Ernesto's Paths! ... 
That's right, not even Ernesto could hold us down. Even though he blazed through our ready-to-go maze, we were ready! We created a new maze and respectfully named it after the storm! The new maze consisted of shapes and paths representing the turmoil of the storm. Here is a photo of what the original design for 2006 was:
2007 | The School Bus
School busing and agriculture served as partners in the early days in St. Mary's County. In the 1920's many students walked to school. That all changed with Miss Lettie Dent, the new Superintendent of Schools (first female superintendent in Maryland 1928-1957). She got in her car and drove from farm to farm recruiting the first bus drivers and contractors. Farmers were regarded as trustworthy, family men. They were accustomed to working with large equipment and the opportunity of school busing provided them with additional income during the post harvest season. It was the beginning of a successful and long-lasting relationship between the agricultural and the educational community. Joe’s parents were bus contractors/drivers for almost 50 years. His mother, Mildred, held the distinction of being the first female driver in northern St. Mary's. Two of their original buses are a proud part of life at Forrest Hall Farm.