Travel & Tourism - St. Michaels, Maryland
1. WADES POINT INN - Located on a point of land overlooking majestic Chesapeake Bay, this historic inn has been welcoming guests for over 100 years. Thomas Kemp, builder of the original "Pride of Baltimore," built the main house in 1819.
2. HARBOURTOWNE GOLF RESORT - Bay View Restaurant and Duckblind Bar on the scenic Miles River with an 18 hole golf course and tennis courts.
3. MILES RIVER YACHT CLUB - Organized in 1920, the Miles River Yacht Club continues its dedication to boating on our waters and the protector of the heritage of the log canoes, the oldest class of boat still sailing U. S. waters. The MRYC has been instrumental in preserving the log canoe and its rich history on the Chesapeake Bay.
4. THE INN AT PERRY CABIN - The original building was constructed in the early 19th century by Samuel Hambleton, a purser in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. It was named for his friend, Commodore Oliver Hazzard Perry. Perry Cabin has served as a riding academy and was restored in 1980 as an Inn and Restaurant. The Inn is now a member of the Orient Express Hotels.
5. THE PARSONAGE INN - A Bed and Breakfast Inn at 210 N. Talbot St., was built by Henry Clay Dodson, a prominent St. Michaels businessman and State legislator around 1883 as his private residence. In 1874, Dodson, along with Joseph White, established the St. Michaels Brick Company, which later provided the brick for "the old Parsonae house."
6. FREDERICK DOUGLASS HISTORIC MARKER - Born at Tuckahoe Creek, Talbot County, he lived as a slave in the St. Michaels area from 1833-1836. He taught himself to read and taught in clandestine schools for blacks here. He escaped to the north and became a noted abolitionist, orator and editor. He returned in 1877 as a U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia and also served as the D.C. Recorder of Deeds and the U.S. Minister to Haiti.
7. CHESAPEAKE BAY MARITIME MUSEUM - Founded in 1965, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of the hemisphere's largest and most productive estuary - the Chesapeake Bay. Located on 18 waterfront acres, its nine exhibit buildings and floating fleet bring to life the story of the Bay and its inhabitants, from the fully restored 1879 Hooper Strait lighthouse and working boatyard to the impressive collection of working decoys and a recreated waterman's shanty. Home to the world's largest collection of Bay boats, the Museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, special events, festivals, and education programs. Docking and pump-out facilities available. Exhibitions and Museum Store open year-round.
8. THE CRAB CLAW - Restaurant adjoining the MARITIME MUSEUM and overlooking St. Michaels harbor.
9. PATRIOT - During the season (April 1 - Nov. 1) the 65' cruise boat can carry 170 persons, runs 4 daily historic narrated cruises along the Miles River. Luncheon cruises by reservation. Daily cruise times - 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
10. THE FOOTBRIDGE - Built on the site of many earlier bridges, today's bridge joins Navy Point to Cherry Street. It has been variously known as "Honeymoon Bridge" and "Sweetheart Bridge." It is the only remaining bridge of three that at one time connected the town with outlying areas around the harbor.
11. VICTORIANA INN - The Victoriana Inn is located in the Historic District of St. Michaels. The home was built in 1873 by Dr. Clay Dodson, a U.S. Army officer during the Civil War, and occupied as his private residence and office. In 1910 the property, then known as "Willow Cottage" underwent alterations when acquired by the Shannahan family who continued it as a private residence for over seventy-five years. As a Bed and Breakfast, circa 1988, major renovations took place preserving the historic character of the gracious Victorian era.
12. HAMBLETON INN - On the harbor. Historic waterfront home built in 1860 and restored as a Bed and Breakfast in 1985 with a turn-of-the-century atmosphere. All the rooms have a view of the harbor.
13. MILL HOUSE - Originally built on the beach about 1660 and later moved to its present location on Harrison Square (Cherry Street near Locust Street).
14. TALBOT COUNTY FREE LIBRARY - Located at 106 S. Fremont St., Hours: Mon., Tues., Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wed., 2 p.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
15. CARPENTER STREET SALOON - Life in the Colonial community revolved around the Tavern. The traveler could, of course, obtain food, drink, lodging, or even a fresh horse to speed his journey. This Tavern was built in 1874 and has served the community as a bank (the vault presently serves as a cooler), a newspaper office, post office, and telephone company.
16. TWO SWAN INN - The Two Swan Inn on the harbor served as the former site of the Miles River Yacht Club, was built in the 1800s and renovated in 1984. It is located at the foot of Carpenter Street in a central but secluded part of the historic district of town.
17. TARR HOUSE - Built by Edward Elliott as his plantation home about 1661. It was Elliott and an indentured servant, Darby Coghorn, who built the first church in St. Michaels. This was about 1677, on the site of the present Episcopal Church (6 Willow Street, near Locust).
18. CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH - 301 S. Talbot St. Built of Port Deposit stone, the present church was erected in 1878. The first is believed to have been built in 1677 by Edward Elliott.
19. THE INN - Built in 1817 by Wrightson Jones, who opened and operated the shipyard at Beverly on Broad Creek. (Talbot St. at Mulberry).
20. THE CANNONBALL HOUSE - When St. Michaels was shelled by the British in a night attack in 1813, the town was "blacked out" and lanterns were hung in the tree tops to lead the attackers to believe the town was on a high bluff. Result: The houses were overshot. The story is that a cannonball hit the chimney of "Cannonball House" and rolled down the attic stairway. This town "blackout" was believed to be the first such "blackout" in the history of warfare.
21. AMELIA WELBY HOUSE - Amelia Coppuck, who became Amelia Welby, was born in this house and wrote poems which won he fame and the praise of Edgar Allen Poe.
22. TOWN DOCK RESTAURANT - During 1813, at the time of the Battle of St. Michaels, it was known as "Dawson's Wharf" and had 2 cannons on carriages donated by Jacob Gibson, which fired 10 of the 15 rounds directed at the British. For a period up to the early 1950's it was called "The Longfellow Inn." It was rebuilt in 1977 after burning to the ground.
23. ST. MARY'S SQUARE MUSEUM - Main building is a restored and furnished colonial house moved here from the Maritime Museum Road site originally patented to John Hollingsworth in 1659. Constructed of "half-timbers" hewn with broad axe: all joints are mortised and tenoned with wooden dowels. Fine example of earliest construction in St. Michaels. "Teetotal" building, circa 1860, moved from Willow Street. Quaint name given due to resemblance to old fashioned top. Was once a magistrate's office, saddlery shop, mortuary, and barber shop. Contains exhibits of items of historical and local interest. Open May through October, Sat. & Sun., 10-4, other days on request. Donations accepted.
24. KEMP HOUSE - Now a country inn. A Georgian style house, constructed in 1805 by Colonel Joseph Kemp, a revolutionary soldier and hero of the War of 1812.
25. THE OLD MILL COMPLEX - The Old Mill was a functioning flour mill from the late 1800s until the 1970s, producing flour used primarily for Maryland beaten biscuits. Today it is home to the St. Michaels Winery, artists, furniture makers, a baker and other unique shops and businesses.
26. ST. MICHAELS HARBOUR INN & MARINA - Located at 101 N. Harbour Road and was newly constructed in 1986. It has overnight accommodations, conference facilities and the Shore Restaurant.
©2008 Tidewater Times
