The Chesapeake Bay
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The Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries has shaped the cultural identity of the Eastern Shore and the bay itself has a rich history. People have been living off of its waters for centuries, harvesting its vast bounty of seafood to sustain communities. Fish like black and red drum,
sheepshead, striped bass, white perch, gar, catfish. Today, the bay supports our commercial fishing industry. The bay has also been instrumental in trade, easing the transportation of furs, crops, and tobacco in the early colonial period. It remains a vital part of not only our economy, but of America's. It provides over $100 billion in natural economic value!
Even before the arrival of European settlers, humans have been forming settlements on or in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay. Many of them are still thriving to this day:
sheepshead, striped bass, white perch, gar, catfish. Today, the bay supports our commercial fishing industry. The bay has also been instrumental in trade, easing the transportation of furs, crops, and tobacco in the early colonial period. It remains a vital part of not only our economy, but of America's. It provides over $100 billion in natural economic value!
Even before the arrival of European settlers, humans have been forming settlements on or in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay. Many of them are still thriving to this day:
- Smith Island - This "island" is actually a collection of islands with three distinct communities: Tylerton, Rhodes Point, and Ewell. It remains Maryland's only inhabited island that is accessible solely by boat. The islands were visited by Captain John Smith in 1608, but was named after Henry Smith who used the island to coral livestock. The three villages have roots dating back to some of the earliest settlers from the 17th century. Before the arrival of Europeans, the islands were part of the Pocomoke homelands and used for seasonal hunting and foraging.
- Crisfield - Historically, the area was home to the Annemessex/Annemessee People, a subtribe of the Pocomoke Paramountcy. Europeans had begun settling the Somers Cove area in the 17th century, with Benjamin Summers founding a community named Annemessex (named after the indigenous peoples) in 1666. However, it was the arrival of the railroad that really put Crisfield on the map. John W. Crisfield, a U.S. Representative from Kent County, Maryland, is credited for bringing the Eastern Shore Railroad to the city in 1866 to take advantage of the recently discovered oyster beds in the Tangier Sound. The city was renamed in his honor. Several prominent events such as the National Hard Crab Derby, which has lasted over 70 years, are held in Crisfield.
- Deal Island - Once called "Devil's Island," residents of Deal Island depend largely on working the water as was done in the past. The island itself is linked to the mainland by a bridge and is composed of two towns: Deal Island Historic District in the north and Wenona in the south. Wenona's harbor is the home port of several of the last remaining Skipjacks; sailing vessels that dredged for oysters in the Chesapeake. Every year, Skipjack races and a festival celebrating watermen culture on the island are held on Labor Day weekend.
Outdoor Recreation on the Bay
The Chesapeake Bay isn't just for working - it's also for playing! Paddling the bay or going for a leisurely boat ride are favorite pastimes. Janes Island State Park, Deal Island Wildlife Management Area, and Pocomoke Sound Wildlife Management Area all encourage the exploration of this national treasure. Bring (or rent) a kayak, canoe, or other watercraft and immerse yourself in the largest estuary in the United States!
Janes Island State Park
Pocomoke Sound Wildlife Management Area
Deal Island Wildlife Management Area
