Travis G. Parno

Dr. Travis G. Parno serves as the Director of Research and Collections at Historic St. Mary’s City and Acting Executive Director of the institution. He oversees the museum’s research initiatives, including the renowned annual Field School in Historical Archaeology, and leads excavations at St. Mary’s Fort—the site of Maryland’s 1634 founding. With nearly 20 years of experience, his work focuses on early native-colonial interactions, slavery’s social/legal origins in Maryland, and the role of archaeology in museums.

• Education:
• B.A. in Anthropology (College of William & Mary, 2006)
• M.A. in Historical Archaeology (University of Bristol, 2008)
• Ph.D. in Archaeology (Boston University, 2013)

His research explores the complex legacies of colonialism, including excavations yielding significant artifacts like a 370-year-old Spanish cross and rare English coins. He actively engages with public archaeology and museum curation, emphasizing community outreach and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Travis has contributed to numerous academic publications and presented at conferences since 2007. His work has been featured in high-profile media outlets like Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, and NPR.