Furnace Town is a living heritage “outdoor” museum in the Pocomoke Forest, believed to be the “most haunted forest” in Maryland. On the grounds of the living museum are a collection of restored historic buildings and the remains of the old iron furnace. Although the buildings were not original to the site, paranormal activity has […]
heritage tourism
Annapolis’ Hidden History
In Annapolis (as elsewhere), slaves usually weren’t sold out in public, but rather through word of mouth, often the transactions took place in the back of taverns such as this one. Annapolis, with its narrow, streets with historic houses overlooking the water; its interesting boutiques and restaurants, and the Maryland Capitol building is a great […]
The Underground Railroad in Caroline County, MD
I started exploring the Underground Railroad last year, inspired by the opening of the new Harriet Tubman Visitor’s Center in March 2017. This year, I followed the UGRR further north, into Caroline County. Whether you see it in a day or over a few years, it’s worth exploring the Harriet Tubman Byway to gain a […]
All Aboard! the Depot at Doolittles
To paraphrase Paul Simon, there’s something about a train … that’s very romantic and nostalgic and hopeful. There’s a place in Clearfield County, PA not far off Rt 80, that offers all the romance and nostalgia anyone could desire! Five restaurants, one location, and each one of those restaurants in a very cool historic railroad […]
Bucktown General Store
Born in Maryland in 1820, Harriet Tubman escaped slavery in 1849 to become a leading abolitionist. She led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom along the Underground Railroad. To understand Harriet Tubman, you must first understand her first act of defiance, when she was still a child. Just minutes from The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad […]
Governor Ross Mansion Brings You Back in History
The Gov. Ross Mansion was built in the 1850s by William Henry Harrison Ross for himself and his family. Ross served as the Democratic Governor of Delaware from 1851 to 1855. Extremely popular with the white community, he brought the railroad into Southern Delaware, and indeed, right past his own property. Trains running daily to […]
Chasing Patty Cannon
March is Women’s History Month, an excellent time to share the story of one of the mid-Atlantic region’s remarkable although monstrous women. If you’ve ever traveled on the Delmarva peninsula and wondered about those historical markers about Patty Cannon or the Cannon Gang, this post is for you! The Nanticoke River, at Woodland Ferry (formerly […]
Murals of Chesapeake Country
All too frequently, folks drive right through Cambridge without recognizing its rich history and everything Cambridge and Dorchester County have to offer as a day trip destination it their own right. I’ve blogged about the region before The murals highlight Dorchester County’s culture and history and were inspired by James Michener’s famous novel, Chesapeake. Created […]
Hammond-Harwood House Through the Eyes of Those Enslaved There
As history tourists in America’s great mansions in the mid-Atlantic region, we often remark upon the intricate carvings around the fire-places and window and door moldings, the lovely grain of the mahogany wood of the sideboard, the fine fabrics used in the bed-curtains. I recently toured the Hammond-Harwood House, an “elegant townhouse” located on Maryland […]
More Romance on the Rails
We first went on the Romance on the Rails two years ago, and enjoyed it so much we went on it again this year. Every year the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad offers this romantic excursion in February (throughout the year, other excursions are offered). Bruce, the train conductor, welcomes each guest personally onto the excursion! […]
Freedom Bound: Runaways of the Chesapeake
Update June 2019: The Freedom Bound exhibit — and in fact, the entire Historic Annapolis Museum — is currently closed. The Freedom Bound exhibit will re-open in the fall at the Reginald F Lewis Museum at 830 E Pratt St, Baltimore. The building at 99 Main Street, Annapolis is currently undergoing renovations and will reopen in […]
Truth in History at Belle Grove Plantation
Belle Grove Plantation, in King George, VA, is a gorgeous place, high up on a bluff on the eastern shore of the Rappahanock River. James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, was born there on March 16, 1751, although the house, which was the childhood home of his mother, Eleanor Rose Conway, where […]
Falling in Love with the C&O Canal All Over Again
I’ve frequently biked portions of the C&O Canal (although this year, not as much as I’d hoped) and of course, any good weather entices me to bring the mutts for a satisfying walk along some of my favorite sections. The towpath is a go-to destination, over and over. I’m constantly impressed by the beauty of […]
National Museum of Industry History
A relatively recent addition to the area, the National Museum of Industrial History, just opened in late 2016 and is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution; it seeks to preserve, educate, and display the industrial history of the nation. It’s not just a cool place to visit — it’s in a cool place, an old building […]
Abandoned School Photo Safari
The J.W. Cooper School was originally scheduled to open in 1918, but the Spanish Flu epidemic was tearing across America, and thus the school building was commandeered and used as a temporary hospital and morgue because the local hospital was unable to accommodate the large number of victims. Finally, in May 1919 the building was […]