Ranger, a 5-year-old Jack Russell Terrier from Mount Airy, leaps off a platform at the Dock Dogs competition at the 2023 Waterfowl Festival in Easton.
Whether you are looking for a great place to live, work, play or stay the counties of Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester are ready to welcome you. From rich history, to thriving small towns, to scenic farmland and shorelines, Maryland’s Mid-Shore has a lot to offer newcomers.
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TOM MCCALL/ STAR DEMOCRAT/
Deckhands throw lines to bring the 110-foot Mississippi paddle boat to dock at the Slaughter Creek Marina.
NATALIE JONES/STAR DEMOCRAT
TOM MCCALL/STAR DEMOCRAT
Presented by Pep Up, Jon Benson took the stage at Summerfest in Denton.
PHOTO BY SHARRON OWENS
An early morning September sky over the Choptank River. The Choptank River Lighthouse sits off the shore in Cambridge.
COURTESY OF ADKINS ARBORETUM
More than 40 artists participated in the 2023 Plein Air Adkins event.
A Talbot County sampler
Talbot offers farmland vistas, quaint towns — and over 600 miles of waterfront
CONNIE CONNOLLY
Talbot County is the heart of the Eastern Shore. With over 600 miles of waterfront, country roads winding through farmland, quaint villages, sophisticated galleries and diverse eateries, visitors often discover their new hometowns.
Founded around 1661, Talbot County (pronounced TALL-butt) is named for Lady Grace Talbot, sister of Lord Baltimore and the first proprietary governor of Maryland.
The following is a taste of places and activities you can enjoy as you get to know a county rich in history.
EASTON, HUB OF THE COMMUNITY
Nestled in an agricultural setting, Easton is the vibrant county seat and boasts about 17,000 residents who enjoy a sophisticated arts community, a diverse ethnic culture, waterfront dining experiences and so much more.
Easton is home to the busiest airport on the Delmarva Peninsula, golfing and water
sports, art galleries, concerts at the historic Avalon Theatre, shops for every taste, hospital and medical centers, a variety of schools, houses of worship and hundreds of nonprofit organizations. To learn more, visit eastonmd.org or discovereaston.com.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS DRIVING TOUR
The American patriot was born in 1818 on Tuckahoe Creek in Talbot County. Born to an enslaved mother who named him Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, he was part of the sixth generation of Baileys in Talbot County — a lineage that
continues today.
For a wealth of information about Talbot’s native son and maps of a driving tour of significant places, visit frederickdouglassbirthplace.org.
OXFORD, A VILLAGE OF QUIET ELEGANCE
A scenic drive or a short voyage on what is believed to be the country’s oldest privately owned ferry will guide you to the quiet village of Oxford.
Oxford is one of the oldest towns in Maryland and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Collect beach glass along The Strand, have a picnic in the public park on the Tred Avon River or just step back in time strolling the streets and lanes.
Learn more at portofoxford.com.
ST. MICHAELS, THRIVING THEN AND NOW
Once a thriving Colonial town that “fooled the British” during the War of 1812, St. Michaels now boasts the world-class Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and working shipyard, as well as numerous waterfront eateries and shops. Explore the
beautiful waterways and scenic views, and relax at a quaint inn or bed and breakfast. In the old mill district, you’ll find a brewery and distillery that serve award-winning libations.
Download a brochure at tourtalbot.org or visit stmichaelsmd.org.
THE HILL COMMUNITY WALKING TOUR
Easton’s Hill Community has been home to free
African Americans since the 1780s, more than 80 years before the Civil War ended in 1865.
In 2020, The Hill Community Project designed a tour that helps neighbors and newcomers alike to explore the lives of the still-vibrant community that celebrates a rich heritage of courage, community, faith and enterprise.
Download the map at thehillcommunityproject.org.
PHOTO BY ANDREW SHARP
A statue of Frederick Douglass stands outside the Talbot County Courthouse in downtown Easton.
TOM MCCALL/STAR DEMOCRAT
Talbot Watermen’s Association members Greg Barnhart, Mark Connolly and Joe Spurry shuck oysters are from the Choptank River at the 2023 Fire & Ice Festival in Easton.
PHOTO BY GEORGE SASS
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum hosts one of the nation’s largest gatherings of small boat enthusiasts and unique watercraft at the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival.
Hit the trails in Caroline County
ADKINS ARBORETUM
12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely 410-634-2847
www.adkinsarboretum.
org
Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve dedicated to promoting the appreciation and conservation of the rich and diverse native plants of the Delmarva Peninsula. Miles of interpretive paths lead visitors through a diverse setting of woodlands, meadows, wetlands, streams, and display gardens.
The Visitor’s Center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. If entrance gates are closed, visitors may park along the edge of the drive and enter on foot when the grounds are open.
Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for youth 6-17, free for members, Caroline County residents and those ages 5 and under.
Surrounding the headwaters of the Marshyhope Creek, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area consists of some 4,000 acres of diverse and unique recreational forest, including 27 miles of trails for bird watching, hiking, hunting, canoeing and kayaking. The trails are closed to motorized vehicles. Alongside of the Marshyhope Creek is Federalsburg’s four-mile long Greenway, which is paved for hiking and biking. Please note: Hikers should be aware of open
hunting seasons and visit accordingly. Trails are maintained but not actively marked.
LYNCH PRESERVE
Parking area at the end of Robin’s Creek Road, Preston Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s Lynch Preserve offers around 2 miles of hiking trails along the Choptank River and Robin’s Creek.
Located along the Choptank River and Watts Creek just south of historic Denton, Martinak State Park is the perfect place to stroll through forest trails or take in views of the river.
Tuckahoe State Park has more than 20 miles of scenic trails perfect for hiking, biking and horseback riding. A 60-acre lake feeds the Tuckahoe Creek, which winds through the length of the park.
Printed trail maps are available for hikers at the Park Office.
NIAMBI DAVIS
A canopy of trees in Tuckahoe State Park.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Families can participate in a “Take It With You!” activity when they visit the arboretum.
CONNIE CONNOLLY/STAR DEMOCRAT
Smooth stones with encouraging messages greet hikers at Martinak State Park in Denton.
Exploring life on the Eastern Shore
Local museums, large and small, preserve the proud heritage of Eastern Shore natives, who have tilled the land and plied the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries — often for generations. From the artifacts of Native Americans tribes to the possessions and records of those who traveled by ship from other lands, these local repositories are committed to keeping the past alive for present and future generations.
CHESAPEAKE BAY
MARITIME MUSEUM
213 N. Talbot St. St. Michaels, MD 21663
410-745-2916
www.cbmm.org
Founded in 1965, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and making this resource available to all.
CBMM members and guests enjoy transformative experiences as they encounter Chesapeake Bay history first-hand through real people, real work, original artifacts, visual arts and indigenous watercraft.
Each day offers something unique. Get your hands wet exploring a waterman’s shanty, talk with a shipwright or visiting
Crowds watch from the Winnie Estelle and the Hooper Strait Lighthouse at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum as the Maryland Dove is launched. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is located at 213 North Talbot Street in
The museum is open year-round, and accessible by car or by boat.
captain about his or her work or vessel, and be sure climb to the top of the historic 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse for the best view of St. Michaels’ harbor and the Chesapeake’s Miles River.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November to March; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April to October.
General admission (good for two days): $17 for adults (ages 18-64), $14 for seniors (65+) and students, $6 for children (ages 6-17), $13 for retired military. Free admission for active military, children ages 5 and
under and CBMM members.
See cbmm.org for more admission discount programs.
ACADEMY ART MUSEUM
106 South St. Easton MD 21601
410-822-2787
academyartmuseum.org/
Academy Art Museum’s mission is to promote the knowledge, practice and appreciation of the arts and to enhance cultural life on the Eastern Shore by making available to everyone the Museum’s expanding collection, exhibitions and broad spectrum of arts programs.
In 1820, the original building (now the Museum’s Lederer Gallery) was completed and became home to the first chartered school in Easton.
The Museum’s permanent collection includes important paintings by Gene Davis and Anne Truitt among others and is especially strong on works paper by modern American and European masters.
The Museum welcomes more than 50,000 visitors
and participants annually to experience national and regional exhibitions, concerts, lectures, educational programs, and visual and performing arts classes for adults and children. The vibrant concert and lecture series attracts top musicians, authors, and scholars from throughout the world.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Closed Mondays and major holidays.
Admission is free.
RICHARDSON MARITIME MUSEUM
103 Hayward St. Cambridge, MD 21613 410-221-1871
Named after local boat builder James B. Richardson, the museum is dedicated to the craftsmen and culture of the traditional Eastern Shore wooden boat building industry. A unique collection of boat models; skipjacks, bugeyes, pungys, log canoes, rams and other merchant vessels used over the years.
The museum is
temporarily closed; a transitional museum display is expected to open to the public in the near future.
The building that will house the permanent collection will be undergoing rehabilitation; the new museum with redesigned exhibits is expected to open at the Cambridge Creek waterfront site in 2024. Visitors are welcome to watch and participate as volunteers work on restoring and building traditional wooden vessels at Ruark Boatworks, which is is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays or by appointment.
MUSEUM OF RURAL LIFE
In the Historic
Taylor-Brown House (circa 1819)
16 N. Second St. Denton, MD 21629 410-479-2055
carolinehistory.org
The Museum of Rural Life tells the stories of early Americans living in Caroline County’s agriculture-based economy. The museum exhibits includes the Taylor-Brown Dwelling, the Painter’s Range log cabin, and portions of the Chance’s Desire and Skillington’s Right properties. The headquarters of the Caroline County Historical Society is located within the museum. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays April 1 through Nov. 18.
PHOTO BY TOM MCCALL
St. Michaels.
CHESAPEAKE BAY MARITIME MUSEUM
CBMM’s Shipyard has an array of hands-on programs on tap through its Apprentice for a Day Program.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Academy Art Museum provides free tours and activities to school children.
PHOTO BY MEGAN LOOCK
A camper places baited crab pot into the water off the educational deck at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is located at 213 North Talbot Street in St. Michaels. The museum is open year-round and accessible by car or by boat.
Meet Harriet Tubman
CHURCH CREEK —
The most famous “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman was born and lived in Dorchester CountY for her first 27 years or so.
After she escaped slavery, she returned to the area, risking her life again and again, to lead dozens of friends and family out of slavery to freedom.
Experience her story at more than 30 sites along the scenic,
self-guided driving tour known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, which winds for 125 miles through Dorchester and Caroline counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore before continuing into Delaware and on to Philadelphia.
The Byway includes the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Church Creek, which opened
its doors to the public in 2017. In its first year, it drew nearly 100,000 visitors from every U.S. state and more than 70 countries, exceeding all expectations. This 17-acre park and visitor center is operated jointly by the Maryland Park Service and the National Park Service.The visitor center includes 10,000 square feet of exhibit space that shares Tubman’s story in compelling and interactive ways. There is also a nature trail and a large outdoor pavilion.The Visitor Center is open 10 a.m. to
4 p.m.Thursday through Sunday.
The Tubman Byway also includes the area where Tubman lived as a child (Brodess Farm), the place where she was almost killed as a young girl (Bucktown General Store), stops that were part of the Underground Railroad, the Harriet Tubman Mural (which was completed in 2019) and immediately became a viral sensation), and more.
Find out more about exploring Underground Railroad
during the “Beacon of Hope” dedication ceremony on Sept. 10, 2022, in Cambridge. The
history on Maryland’s Eastern Shore at the Tubman Byway website, harriettubmanbyway. org.There, you can download or order a hardcopy Tubman Byway Map and Guide, download the Audio Guide, find out about guided tours and more. The Harriet Tubman Museum, 424 Race St. in Cambridge, is open noon to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free; donations are appreciated.
Tubman statue stands in front of the Dorchester Courthouse.
MAGGIE TROVATO/STAR DEMOCRAT
Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center director of events and docent Linda Harris and Harriet Tubman Organization President Bill Jarmon pose in front of the new mural in the museum in Cambridge.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Bucktown General Store in Cambridge is a historical site where Harriet Tubman was struck in the head by a weight at age 13, leaving her with a lifelong injury.
Local libraries offer books, e-resources and more
CAROLINE COUNTY
PUBLIC LIBRARY
www.carolib.org
The County Commissioners created the Caroline County Public Library in 1961. It operated out of a storefront in Denton. The current Central Library facility was opened in 1971 and was subsequently renovated and enlarged in 1995. The library system includes the Central Library in Denton and branches in Federalsburg (opened in 1974) and Greensboro (opened in 1997).
The Caroline County Public Library acts as the county’s community center, its cultural and information center and its lifelong learning center.
Greensboro Branch 101 Cedar Lane PO Box 336 Greensboro, MD 21639
410-482-2173
DORCHESTER COUNTY
PUBLIC LIBRARY
dorchesterlibrary.org
The Dorchester County Public Library transforms lives and empowers the community through literacy, information and collaboration.
Community library services began in Cambridge under the auspices of the Cambridge Woman’s Club before the turn of the century. The first free library service was founded in Hurlock in 1900. In 1922, the Dorchester County Public Library began public services to some county residents. In 1933, the small building at 305 Gay Street in Cambridge was constructed and library services were provided through that building until 1973, when the larger Central Library at 303 Gay Street was opened. Cambridge Branch 303 Gay Street Cambridge MD 21613 410-228-7331
“This is perfect,” says Romont Fletcher of Denton regarding the newly renovated central branch of Caroline County Public Library.
Get your library card today!
infodesk@dorchesterlibrary.org
Hurlock Branch 222 S. Main Street Hurlock MD 21643 410-943-4331 hurlockinfo@gmail.com
TALBOT COUNTY FREE LIBRARY
www.tcfl.org
The Talbot County Free Library celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2020 and continues to inspire the community to discover ideas and information to enrich and renew lives. Both branches offer WiFi, computers, electronic resources, Booksto-Go, audiobooks, streaming movies, hot spots and much more.
Easton Branch 100 W. Dover St. Easton, MD 21602 410-822-1626
St. Michaels Branch 106 Fremont St. St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-5877
CONNIE CONNOLLY/STAR DEMOCRAT
PHOTO BY ANGELA PRICE
Jugglers entertain during Customer Appreciation Day at the Caroline County Library. DORCHESTER COUNTY LIBRARY
TALBOT COUNTY FREE LIBRARY Sharing a book at the Talbot County Free Library.
Talbot County Schools
Talbot County Public Schools
The district serves a diverse population of more than 4,650 students in eight schools.
Caroline Career & Technology Center 10855 Central Ave.
Ridgely, MD 21660
Phone: 410-479-0100
Fax: 410-479-1308
Caroline Judy Center Early Learning Hub
The Caroline County Judy Centers promote school readiness through collaboration with community-based agencies and organizations. Through these partnerships, the Judy Centers are able to provide a full range of early intervention and comprehensive services within the
school and center. Federalsburg Judy Center
323 S. University Ave. Federalsburg, MD 21632
Phone: 410-754-2467
Serving Federalsburg Elementary School
Greensboro Judy Center
Temporary home at Ridgely Head Start: 2 North Maple Ave., Suite 2 Ridgely, MD 21660
Permanent home (under construction): 625 Main St. Greensboro, MD 21639
Phone: 410-634-2231
Serving Greensboro Elementary School
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