Next paddle west directly across the Patuxent River 2.4 miles until you get to Sotterley Plantation in St. Mary's County. Go up Sotterley Creek until you get to Rolling Road. Use the Rolling Road to bring in your canoe. Rolling Road used to be the path which hogheads of tobacco were rolled down to Sotterley Creek to be loaded on ships bound for the Caribbean and Europe. Located at the end of Rolling Road is the slave cabin.

The slave cabin at Sotterley Plantation is one of the only freely accessible examples of such a building in the state of Maryland. According to the investigations of Colonial Williamsburg, the slave cabin at Sotterley is believed to have been constructed about 1830 and remained occupied into the early 20th century. The slave cabin, which is on its original site, reveals the power hierarchy of slaves to their master. From the cabin, slaves can see the big Sotterley mansion; but from the mansion, the slave cabin cannot be seen. The appearance of the mansion is a reminder to the slaves that their masters are the ones who hold the power.

The cabin was one in the row of cabins originally standing along Rolling Road. Other cabins on the plantation were demolished in 1910. The slave "village" that once existed consisted of seven single-family cabins. In their village, the slaves were able to have some control over their lives. They could cook for themselves, make the traditional crafts, and tell stories of their ancestors and of Africa. What Sotterley Plantation has been able to determine about individual slaves has largely been due to the research of Agnes Kane Callum. Callum is the great-granddaughter of Hillery Kane, who was once enslaved at Sotterley.

From May 1 to October 31, there are tours of the Sotterley mansion every hour on the hour beginning at 10 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The last tour starts at 3 p.m. Tours are $7 for adults, $5 for ages 6-16, and free for ages 5 and under. If you have any questions, contact Sotterley at 301-373-2280, or visit their website at www.sotterley.com