Beach to Bay Heritage Awards
The Beach to Bay Heritage Area (BBHA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve, protect, and promote the natural, historic, and cultural assets on Maryland’s lower shore. We are seeking nominations to recognize exemplary individuals, organizations, exhibits, programs and products that contribute significantly to the community by interpreting, promoting, preserving, researching or supporting our historical legacy. We are seeking nominations in three heritage award categories.
Nominees may reside outside the heritage area, but the work must take place within and contribute to the heritage area.
Heritage Award Categories
Legacy Award: This award recognizes an individual, group, or organization who preserves a tradition that affirms our culture or who continues or preserves a traditional craft or livelihood-a craftsperson, waterman, farmer, quilter, musician, boat builder, etc. Nominees may reside outside the heritage area, but the work must take place within and contribute to the heritage area
Heritage Award: This award recognizes very significant and long-lasting contributions to the community by interpreting, preserving, promoting, researching, and/or supporting local history and heritage. Nominees may reside outside the heritage area, but the work must take place within and contribute to the heritage area. An individual or organization may be nominated.
Tee O'Connor Heritage Professional Award: This award recognizes an individual who is an author, archaeologist, architect, exhibits/publications designer, historian, landscape designer, preservationist, professional staff person, or researcher-for significant contributions to enhancement of local history and/or heritage tourism. Nominees may reside outside the Heritage Area but the work must take place within and contribute to the heritage area.
Nominees may reside outside the heritage area, but the work must take place within and contribute to the heritage area.
Heritage Award Categories
Legacy Award: This award recognizes an individual, group, or organization who preserves a tradition that affirms our culture or who continues or preserves a traditional craft or livelihood-a craftsperson, waterman, farmer, quilter, musician, boat builder, etc. Nominees may reside outside the heritage area, but the work must take place within and contribute to the heritage area
Heritage Award: This award recognizes very significant and long-lasting contributions to the community by interpreting, preserving, promoting, researching, and/or supporting local history and heritage. Nominees may reside outside the heritage area, but the work must take place within and contribute to the heritage area. An individual or organization may be nominated.
Tee O'Connor Heritage Professional Award: This award recognizes an individual who is an author, archaeologist, architect, exhibits/publications designer, historian, landscape designer, preservationist, professional staff person, or researcher-for significant contributions to enhancement of local history and/or heritage tourism. Nominees may reside outside the Heritage Area but the work must take place within and contribute to the heritage area.
2026 Heritage Award Winners
Heritage Award: Dr. Clara Small
|
Legacy Award: Mary Ada Marshall
|
Tee O'Connor Heritage Professional Award: William "Bill" Wilson
|
- Heritage Award: Dr. Clara Small, professor emerita at Salisbury University, for her significant and long-lasting contributions to the community by interpreting, preserving, researching, and writing about local history and heritage.
- Legacy Award: Mary Ada Marshall, coming all the way from Smith Island, for her invaluable role in preserving and bringing attention to the traditional craft of Smith Island Cakes.
- Tee O'Connor Heritage Professional Award: William "Bill" Wilson for his lifelong dedication to preserving our heritage and history, spending over four decades at Pemberton Hall and various preservation groups on the lower shore.
