Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore, consisting of Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, has a heritage that is linked by geography, economy, history, and culture. From the Chesapeake Bay to the Atlantic Ocean, residents are united by their appreciation for heritage and traditions born from centuries of working the land and water. Human settlement in the region dates back at least 12,000 years, long before Captain John Smith explored the peninsula in 1608. Our intricate heritage and culture can be difficult to visualize. No need to fret though, as the Beach to Bay Heritage Area (BBHA) has created a StoryMap to help. Story Mapping is a technique that uses GIS technology to visualize content or stories, allowing past and present to be visualized in an interactive map. The result? A more holistic view of the BBHA and a handy tool to navigate our natural and historical assets.

Water Trails & Access Points

Today, the Lower Eastern Shore remains mostly rural, and it is this rural, natural landscape that has shaped our culture. The various waterways that cut across the landscape are one of our most prominent features that continue to define our lifestyle whether through fishing or hunting waterfowl. These waterways are also perfect for traveling on with canoes, kayaks, boats, and more! Don’t know where to start? The BBHA Story Map points out where you can dip your toes in our waters. The Water Access map lays out water access points like boat ramps and docks as well as water trails like the Pocomoke River Water Trail. Clicking on the trails and access point reveals more information such as difficulty level, parking availability, and the type of trail. Also included on the map are various outfitters where you can rent recreational water vessels for your visit.

Land Trails

If you prefer to stay dry and on land, the Land Trails map identifies trail heads, walking trails, and bike routes for visitors to explore. These trails offer scenic views of our forests, wetlands, beaches, and more. Like the Water Access map, this interactive map displays helpful information such as the trail length and the type of walking or biking surface. Not only are these trails a refreshing way to experience nature, but they are great ways to learn about our history too! Pemberton Historical Park in Salisbury is a 262-acre park surrounding historic Pemberton Hall and includes 4.5 miles of nature trails. Come learn about the area’s wildlife and the 18th century home which once sat at the center of a plantation.

Museums, Historic Sites, and Historical Markers Mapped Out

Speaking of history, the BBHA has plenty to share through its StoryMap. From pre-history to today, there is plenty to discover. Explore indigenous history, colonial settlements, and 19th century American life by visiting museums in the BBHA. Museums like the Burgess Rural Living Center, the Edward H. Nabb Research Center, and Furnace Town give a glimpse into what daily life and work was like on the Shore. All these museums and more have been mapped out for your convenience. If you have the Beach to Bay Heritage Area Museum Passport, this map is helpful with collecting those stamps! 

Black history on the shore is long and complex. Some of the earliest Africans to arrive in the area during British colonization arrived as slaves in 1619 on The White Lion, an English privateer ship, after it intercepted a Portuguese slave ship in the Gulf of Mexico. After landing at Point Comfort in Virginia, the African captives aboard were sold to planters, contributing to the establishment of a system of chattel slavery in the United States. Generations of African Americans found themselves victims to this system, but there were those who were either born free, were manumitted, or escaped bondage. Their stories, achievements, and courage in the face of adversity have left their mark on our history. Sites and interpretive signs that highlight our Black heritage have been mapped out in the Faith and Freedom self-guided driving tour.  

Arts & Culture on the Shore

Apart from our nature and history, the BBHA Story Map also shines a spotlight on the cultural centers of today’s Eastern Shore. Arts and Entertainment (A&E) Districts, many of which are in historic downtowns, offer unique shopping and food experiences, foster art, and attract tourists from across the country (and even the world). These A&E districts host events year-round, such as 3rd Friday in Salisbury or the countless events hosted by Berlin, which provide environments for the community to gather to mingle, shop, eat, dance, and more!  

 Explore the Shore

The vast nature to explore, history to uncover, and cultural centers to visit makes it easy to be overwhelmed with information and activities. This is where the Beach to Bay Heritage Area StoryMap truly shines. With its maps breaking apart the various sites, trails, districts, and more, this visual and interactive guide is the perfect tool to use when planning your visit to the area or for those curious about our story on the Eastern Shore. Check out the full StoryMap at https://arcg.is/GjuKL0

The Beach to Bay Heritage Area (BBHA) has a rich and complex history, thankfully, the area is chock full of museums to help tell the many aspects of our story. In addition, the BBHA has created a Museum Passport to incentivize visitors to explore our local museums while also encouraging cross-promotion between museums.

Heritage, History, & Museums

Museums are more than just places to get history lessons or to take children on field trips; they are an excellent way to learn about and experience our heritage and culture. From the more traditional museum experience to an interactive experience with our natural resources, our museums have much to offer.

Heritage is about the people and places of a region. While all the area’s museums share pieces of our heritage, some place a special emphasis on what the BBHA likes to call “FolkWays.” FolkWays tell the story of our people – where they lived, how they lived, their stories, and their homes. The Burgess Rural Living Center is a prime example of a FolkWay museum. Here visitors can see what Somerset County living was like in the late 19th century all the way up to the 1930s. Exhibits explore the day-to-day routine of the region’s inhabitants from household chores like laundry to farming.

Further north in the village of Allen, there is the Allen Historical Society Museum. Situated in the 1883 Huffington-Pollitt House, the museum aims to preserve and share the history of the historic village. Much like the Burgess Center, exhibits showcase early village life through artifacts, including a working 1915 Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph. The Allen Museum also displays local Black and Native American history, containing pieces on Thomas E. Polk Sr, a local Buffalo Soldier, and the Pocomoke Indian Nation. That brings us to another facet of our deep history.

European colonial history tends to take center stage when examining our past, and while it is an important element of American history, that is only part of our story. Our extensive history spans thousands of years, pre-dating Captain John Smith’s exploration of the peninsula. Evidence suggests that Native Americans inhabited the region at least 12,000 years ago! Thousands of years of history can be difficult to cover, but the Delmarva Discovery Museum in Pocomoke has an exhibit doing just that. Their Native American exhibit delves into the peninsula’s early history with an arrowhead collection, wigwam reconstruction, canoes, and more. Likewise, the Rackliffe House in Berlin also helps demonstrate indigenous history on the coast, explaining how Native Americans lived at the time of European contact through first-hand accounts and a look into the Assateague group of Native Americans.

On top of our indigenous history, the Eastern Shore has plenty of Black history to share as well. Some of the earliest Africans to arrive in the area during British colonization arrived as slaves in 1619. The White Lion, an English privateer ship, landed at Point Comfort in Virginia after intercepting a Portuguese slave ship in the Gulf of Mexico. Their captives were sold as slaves to local planters. This interaction marks the beginning of the large-scale forced importation of enslaved Africans to America. While many Black Americans remained enslaved up until the abolition of slavery in 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment, many were born free, gained freedom through manumission, or escaped from bondage. Our Black history is a history of courage, resilience, and achievement. The Germantown School Community Heritage Center is a living example of Black success in the Berlin area. Located in the Germantown community, it is a surviving Rosenwald School first built in 1922 through a community initiative to give their children an opportunity for an education. Over 5,000 Rosenwald Schools were built throughout the South to provide an education for Black children in the rural South and only about 500 remain standing.

Maybe you’re more of an outdoors person. If so, then there’s our natural history and environment to explore as well. Our nature has helped define our heritage and shaped our identities here on the Shore. Many museums recognize this and have incorporated nature into their operations. Furnace Town Historic Site, nestled between the Pocomoke State Forest and the Nassawango Creek Preserve capitalizes on its location by integrating nature trails into the old company town and iron furnace. Pemberton Historical Park also found a way to blend history and nature by turning what used to be part of an old 18th century plantation into a 262-acre park with 4.5 miles of trails to explore.

The museums within the Beach to Bay Heritage Area are an excellent way to get introduced to the region’s history and develop a deeper understanding of our heritage and culture. They find ways to share our history in a variety of formats that range from the traditional museum experience, to highlighting the less explored aspects of our history, or even incorporating nature to tell our story. While you’re out there, don’t forget about the BBHA Museum Passport Program! After visiting and getting your passport stamped by at least six sites, visitors will receive a free Beach to Bay Heritage Area baseball cap! So, pick up a passport at a museum and start experiencing our unique heritage.