Founded in
1642, Kent County, Maryland is in itself a virtual museum of American history—from
Native American and colonial settlements to the development of important ports
and African American progress. Venture anywhere within this charming area and
you’re surrounded with reminders of its historical, maritime, agricultural and
civic significance, though you won’t want to miss these 10 richly diverse museums.
1. Home to
the Historical Society of Kent County, the Bordley History Center in Chestertown holds a treasure trove of historical
and genealogical archives. Their library and exhibits embody the area’s past
through documents, photographs, artifacts and oral narratives. Stop by the
first Friday evening of each month for History Happy Hour, when they pair wine
and cheese with fascinating presentations of the past. Or, arrange a guided group
walking tour to learn about significant historical sites. Other happenings they
host include the Historic House Tour every October, when notable historic
homes open their doors. And, Saturdays in October, get in the spirit of the
season on the candlelight Ghost Tour where you’ll roam the storied
streets that infamous others have roamed for centuries, and perhaps still do.
2. When
Captain John Smith and his crew landed on the shores of the Sassafras River in
August of 1608, he was welcomed by the Tockwogh tribe. Though much of the
tribe’s archaeological evidence has yet to be unearthed, what is known of these
civilized Paleoamericans and their encounter with Smith is showcased at the Knock’s Folly Visitor Center. Located at Turner’s Creek Park in the Sassafras Natural Resources
Management Area, this 1796 Federal-style brick house was a cornerstone of the
small village of Turner’s Creek which would become fundamental to British efforts
in the War of 1812 when, due to the intricate shoreline of the Sassafras River,
Turner’s Creek resident James Stavely was kidnapped by the British Navy and
made to pilot them upriver to Georgetown.
3. Fortunately,
Stavely was returned unharmed, though the British helped themselves to the
town’s supplies. See his family’s ancestral grave at Kent Museum, also located in Turner’s Creek Park, and view artifacts
representing agricultural and domestic life from those times gone by. Also visit
Charley’s House, an 1840s whitewashed, clapboard home relocated from an African
American community near Chestertown.
While in the
Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area, explore the trails, home to
songbirds, waterfowl and other wildlife, or paddle the waterways and imagine
what life might have been like for our earliest ancestors in this bountiful
wetland.
4. Another
structure representing Kent County’s black heritage is the African American Schoolhouse Museum in Worton. The interpretive panel at
this quaint, one-room schoolhouse, originally built as a church in 1890, reveals
the commitment toward education within the early black community and chronicles
the lives and contributions of students and teachers who attended the
institution until it was closed in 1958.
5. Sumner Hall, one of the nation’s two remaining
African American posts for the Grand Army of the Republic, was built in 1908 to
serve as a community center for black Civil War troops. Today, the museum continues
to honor the service of African American Civil War veterans and celebrates
cultural traditions with regular events. Legacy Day, held annually in August,
commemorates various aspects of the area’s African American experience.
6. Probably
the most prolific pastime in this county is boating. Ever since Chestertown was named a royal port of entry and Rock Hall became a seafarer’s landing more than 300 years ago, mariners have
continued to tie-up here. Rock Hall Marine Restoration and
Heritage Center is a
testament to these ongoing nautical traditions with their focus on the ecology
and history of the Chesapeake Bay. From collection and preservation to
restoration and education, their efforts celebrate and nurture the past and
present lifestyle of Maryland’s eastern shore watermen. Make plans to attend an
open house, or drop in anytime their door is open.
7. Expect a
feeling of nostalgia as you browse the collection of old-fashioned fishing tools
and nautical equipment, handcrafted models of various watercraft as well as a
decoy-carving shop diorama at Rock Hall Museum. Also on display are antique
nautical charts and fishing maps, a rare ice buoy—used to indicate patches of
thin ice—and other interesting memorabilia from the early days of Rock Hall’s
citizenry.
8. Delve
deeper into the past and present lives of Kent County’s mariners at Haven
Harbour Marina’s Waterman’s Museum. See inside a fishing shanty from yesteryear
and imagine the risks involved in a life of fishing, crabbing and oystering at
that time. Explore the evolution of equipment and technological advances, and
how those have brought both convenience and safety to a trade that continues to
sustain communities along the waterfront.
9. One such
community that’s enjoyed a celebrated past on the shores where the Chesapeake
meets the Sassafras is Betterton. From its early days as a fishing
and farming village to its heyday as a bustling seaside resort town, the Betterton Heritage Museum provides glimpses of those times
through vintage artwork, postcards and publications along with other exhibits
that celebrate the livelihood of its residents including renowned decoy carver,
Charlie “Speed” Joiner. Step inside “The Ark,” a restored floating fishing shanty
where watermen took shelter during expeditions in remote areas. Purchase
replicas, souvenirs and other memorabilia in the gift shop.
10. The
horizons of historic Kent County aren’t limited to land and sea. Community
aviators and aficionados of flight applaud the Massey Air Museum, where colorful and classic aircraft
are on display amid planes that still soar from the Massey Aerodome. Explore a
lumbering DC-3, or if you’re looking to spread your wings, take a biplane tour
or a glider ride. With a robust calendar of events, there’s always something
abuzz—like the Chili Fiesta Fly-in when aviators and landlubbers alike convene
for a chili cookoff; the Antique Aeroplane Fly-in, a competitive celebration of
privately owned, vintage aircraft; Young Eagles Day when kids fly for free; and
the annual Open Hangar Day and Fly-in, their public holiday potluck.
If you
happen to be in the area in early May, tour these sites with the free Museums of Kent Driving Tour. Museums will hold special
activities and events, and you can win a prize by tagging photos with #tourMOK on
your Instagram posts.
Continue
your immersive experience by staying at an historic inn or bed and breakfast—they’re guaranteed to make you feel
gentrified. Dine at a dockside restaurant or tavern to
toast the mariners with every blast from a ship’s horn. Browse specialty shops and antique stores for gifts and keepsakes to take home,
but what’s certain you’ll take with you are the fond memories and stories from
Kent County—priceless possessions that will become part of your own personal
history.
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