Do you want to learn about heritage activities on the Lower Eastern Shore?
The newsletter of the Beach to Bay Heritage Area features something new each month. Get anecdotes, read stories, tour heritage sites and win prizes! We will bring you all the ways of the residents and visitors to the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.
2022 Beach to Bay Heritage Area Newsletters
February 2022 OurWays:
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New Exhibits Coming to the Taylor House MuseumThe Beach to Bay Heritage Area is pleased to announce that there were six recipients of our annual mini-grant program. These mini grants are given to promote heritage tourism and community involvement on local cultural heritage projects on the lower shore.
This month’s feature is the Berlin Heritage Foundation (Taylor House Museum). The Taylor House has been awarded funds to create two new exhibits for the Reverend Dr. Charles Albert Tindley and Briddletown. The Taylor House Museum will be researching, creating, and installing these two exhibits to amplify the stories from the African American communities in Berlin. The first will be about Briddletown, which refers to the east end area of Flower Street that was established in 1866 by free blacks and formerly enslaved people who settled there in the years following the Civil War. The second exhibit will revolve around the history of Reverend Dr. Charles Albert Tindley, an American Methodist minister and gospel music composer who was born in Berlin, MD and whose composition "I'll Overcome Someday" is credited as the basis for the U.S. Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome." You can find out more about the Taylor House Museum and this exciting project here. |
Chesapeake Country All-American Road Interpretive Planning Process to Begin in March
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Federal Highway Administration officials announced last February that the Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway was designated an All-American Road. The 417-mile Chesapeake Country All-American Road links together the region’s most unique resources and provides travelers with the opportunity to learn about the area's rich history and culture while gaining appreciation for the traditions and working life of our local watermen, farmers, fishermen, artisans and merchants.
The Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway Alliance was awarded funding last year to develop an interpretive plan to provide the group with the tools to position the Byway as a gateway to the region and improve local capacity to interpret and showcase its unique history and culture. An interpretive plan was seen as a priority project essential for strengthening the Byway’s identity and improving the visitor’s experience. The Byway Alliance has hired Conservation by Design, a consulting firm who has experience here on the shore, to create an interpretive Plan for the entire byway. The consultants will begin next month with site visits to familiarize themselves with all sites as well as a review of all existing relevant plans and to enlist community engagement as much as possible. Additional site visits will take place this summer, with a draft of the interpretive plan to be completed in July. With continued stakeholder engagement, the final draft of the interpretive plan should be completed by November of this year. The Beach to Bay Heritage Area has four key sites along the Byway, including Pemberton Historical Park, the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Smith Island, and the Delmarva Discovery Center. Our hope is to develop themes that highlight important people, places and events in our region and develop strategies for strengthening authenticity and continuity. Strategies include enhancement of existing interpretive sites, interpretive programming, and creating new interpretive sites. To learn more or to be included in the interpretive planning process email LisaChallenger at info@beachesbayswaterways.org. |
Maryland Coastal Bays Program Education Coordinator Receives AwardAt this year's MAEOE (Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education) conference, MCBP's Education Coordinator, Liz Wist, was honored with the Robert Finton Outdoor Educator of the Year award! This distinguished award recognizes an individual who demonstrates leadership and innovation in environmental and outdoor education, and Liz is incredibly deserving of this award. Liz is also a board member of the Beach to Bay Heritage Area and we are so happy to share this good news! Congratulations, Liz!
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January 2022
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The Beach to Bay Heritage Area releases the Annual ReportThe Beach to Bay Heritage Area had a very exciting year in 2021. We completed our virtual tour series, received funding to embark on an African American tourism project, grew our boundaries and so much more! For a complete look at 2021, view our Annual Report.
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Join the Beach to Bay Heritage Area in 2022
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Help us to preserve, protect, and promote the Lower Eastern Shore's cultural traditions, historic sites, and natural landscapes by becoming a member of the Beach to Bay Heritage Area! Stay connected to our exciting projects and programs; learn about funding opportunities and ways to get involved.
We are partnering with the Rural Maryland Council to create new African American Heritage Tourism products, including more interpretive signs at key sites, murals, and public art – and tying it all together through our app with a self-guided driving tour experience. We are partners with the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to encourage and enable all of our heritage area stakeholders here on the shore to apply for capital improvement projects, whether it is façade improvements, building a new exhibit, or creating handicap accessibility. Join Beach to Bay Heritage Area. |
January 2022 OurWays:
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The Beach to Bay Heritage Area releases the Annual ReportThe Beach to Bay Heritage Area had a very exciting year in 2021. We completed our virtual tour series, received funding to embark on an African American tourism project, grew our boundaries and so much more! For a complete look at 2021, view our Annual Report.
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Join the Beach to Bay Heritage Area in 2022
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Help us to preserve, protect, and promote the Lower Eastern Shore's cultural traditions, historic sites, and natural landscapes by becoming a member of the Beach to Bay Heritage Area! Stay connected to our exciting projects and programs; learn about funding opportunities and ways to get involved.
We are partnering with the Rural Maryland Council to create new African American Heritage Tourism products, including more interpretive signs at key sites, murals, and public art – and tying it all together through our app with a self-guided driving tour experience. We are partners with the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to encourage and enable all of our heritage area stakeholders here on the shore to apply for capital improvement projects, whether it is façade improvements, building a new exhibit, or creating handicap accessibility. Join Beach to Bay Heritage Area. |
April 2021 OurWays:
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Plans Begin to Restore Green Hill ChurchThe Green Hill Church Committee seeks to restore the historic 1733 brick Green Hill Church in order to make it accessible and available to the public as a heritage tourism destination. The Green Hill Church Preservation Plan will look at both the interior and exterior of the church. The committee's long-term goal is to offer public programming and regular use of the site. But this can't happen until some of the structural and capital improvements can be identified and corrected. A historic preservation architect has been engaged to draft a preservation plan that will guide and prioritize phases of restoration work, including looking at ADA compliance, conducting in-depth research on the structure and its history, presenting recommendations on future use and drafting a plan for long-term maintenance. The preservation plan will also address the development of interpretive programs and public uses of the church, which would broaden public participation at the site. The completion of the plan will position the site to regularly host public events, tours, liturgical ceremonies and special events such as concerts or recitals. Learn more about Green Hill Church.
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Beach to Bay Heritage Area Adds Two New Heritage Sites
The Beach to Bay Heritage Area has added two new heritageresources to our existing state-certified boundary. Included in the boundary amendment is the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church on Polks Road in Somerset County. Built in 1887, the church is on the National Register of Historic Places. The second boundary amendment includes the West Ocean City Commercial Harbor,which supports the seafood industry in the region and serves as an important venue for events such as Harbor Day at the Docks. Both of these sites will now be eligible for Maryland Heritage Area Authority grants.
March 2021 OurWays:
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Berlin Heritage Foundation receives mini-grant for oral historiesThe Berlin Heritage Foundation / Calvin B Taylor House Museum is creating an archive of local oral histories through audio and video recording of people's stories related to their life and experiences living in Berlin. From these oral histories the museum curator will identify areas for future exhibits. The curator will also look for connections between existing artifacts in the collection and experiences shared in these oral histories. The second phase of the project will consist of creating interactive exhibits allowing visitors to interact with the oral history recordings at various displays throughout the museum.
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We are proud to say Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway has been elevated to All-American Road status!
Federal Highway Administration announced on February 16, 49 new designations to the America's Byways collection, including 15 All-American Roads (AAR) and 34 National Scenic Byways (NSB) in 28 states. We are celebrating the designation of the Chesapeake Country All-American Road, a more than 400-mile route from Chesapeake City to Smith Island (pictured above), with side routes continuing onto many key places of interest throughout the shore. The inclusion of the Chesapeake Country All-American Road in the National Scenic Byways network will open new doors for federal funding that can help our communities preserve, showcase and monetize our historic, cultural, natural, recreational and tourism resources. |
February 2021 OurWays:
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Beach to Bay Receives Grant from the Humphreys FoundationWe are so excited to join forces with the Humphreys Foundation to further build our library of virtual tours for our museums, historic sites, and our beautiful heritage area. Humphreys Foundation has awarded us $10,000 in funding to advance these efforts.
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Grants available for properties important to African American history and culture in Maryland
The Maryland Commission on African American Heritage and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust are hosting webinars for prospective applicants for the African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP). Grants are competitively awarded for construction projects on properties important to African American history and culture in Maryland. Learn more about the program at their website.
Applications will be available April 1, 2021 on MHT's website and will be due July 1, 2021.
They will host three workshops – two general program overview sessions and one proposal-writing 101 session. Webinars are free and open to the public.
- Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 10-11:30am: General Overview
- Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 1:30-3pm: General Overview
- Wednesday, April 14, 2021 from 1:30-3pm: Proposal-Writing 101
Visit the AAHPP website to register for a webinar. Access links will be emailed to registrants the day before each session.
The Maryland Commission on African American Heritage and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust are hosting webinars for prospective applicants for the African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP). Grants are competitively awarded for construction projects on properties important to African American history and culture in Maryland. Learn more about the program at their website.
Applications will be available April 1, 2021 on MHT's website and will be due July 1, 2021.
They will host three workshops – two general program overview sessions and one proposal-writing 101 session. Webinars are free and open to the public.
- Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 10-11:30am: General Overview
- Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 1:30-3pm: General Overview
- Wednesday, April 14, 2021 from 1:30-3pm: Proposal-Writing 101
Visit the AAHPP website to register for a webinar. Access links will be emailed to registrants the day before each session.
January 2021 OurWays:
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Become a Member!
Mini-grant Spotlight:
Purnell Museum's new exhibit takes a local look at past medical epidemics Each month we hope to bring you a feature on one of our successful mini-grant applicants. This month meet the Julia A. Purnell Museum and their new exhibit they will be introducing this spring: Epidemic: A Local History of Medical Crisis. |
December 2020 OurWays:
Winter is the perfect time for birding
The Beach to Bay Heritage Area Contributes $230 million impact. Read the full study here.
November 2020 OurWays:
October 2020 OurWays:
A Ferry Tale: Exploring Wicomico by Bicycle
Biking in White Haven and Wicomico County
October's OurWays Contest:
Beach to Bay Photo Contest
September 2020 OurWays:
Fall Road Trip:
Travel the Chesapeake Country Byway from Vienna to Crisfield
September's OurWays Contest:
Beach to Bay Photo Contest
Travel the Chesapeake Country Byway from Vienna to Crisfield
September's OurWays Contest:
Beach to Bay Photo Contest
