11-10-2023 4:47am

DAYTRIPS: HISTORIC

Jeff Barto Editor

These Small Towns On Chesapeake Bay Have The Best Historic Districts

The Chesapeake Bay is one of the most biologically unique bodies of water on the planet. The name, from the Algonquin language, is the seventh-oldest English place name in the country. Early European expeditions found varieties of crab enjoying the estuary’s rare tidal treats. Some small Chesapeake towns have retained more of the history that passed through it than others. Escape to the still thriving towns of the Chesapeake Bay, known for centuries among Epicureans as the Great Shellfish Bay. America’s best Historic Districts are a day trip away for residents in Maryland and Virginia.

Easton, Maryland

Easton, Maryland, has a population of 17,100 who never tire of their 900-building Historic District that has been on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1980. Check in with the Talbot Historical Society between Wednesday and Friday for photos and expertise of the entire county’s history. The oldest section of the Academy Art Museum was built in 1820. Today, their collection includes the likes of Rembrandt, Goya, and Picasso. Score tickets to a show at Avalon Foundation Inc., and try not to focus on the gorgeous interior of a historic 1921-built theater originally intended as a cinema.

Havre De Grace, Maryland

Saunter the ¾ mile promenade for a sneak preview of the historic and scenic treasures of the population-14,800 town of Havre de Grace. Nearly 1,000 buildings make up the historic downtown area, which was added—as a whole—to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1987. The Friends-Concord Point Lighthouse began illuminating where the Susquehanna River meets the Bay in 1827. Visit the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum to get caught up on the Chesapeake’s natural, cultural, and social history. Susquehanna State Park is handy for a getaway into nature.

Gloucester, Virginia

Gloucester is the seat of the county of the same name. There are around 3,000 residents in Gloucester, but the county’s population is just above 39,000. The Gloucester Downtown Historic District spans 57 architectural gems. Expect others from the county to show up for the town’s famous annual events, such as the Daffodil Festival. The building that houses the Gloucester Museum of History was built in 1770. It was once a tavern that serviced weary travelers on their way to the Gloucester Courthouse. Machicomoco State Park’s interpretive pavilion informs visitors about the region’s rich history before the arrival of European settlers. Do not forget to stock up on treats at Northern Neck Popcorn Bag before leaving.