History, Heritage & Homelands of Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore
check with the trail manager for updated details before visiting.
History, Heritage & Homelands of Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore
Nonprofit
- Length
100 miles
- Elevation Gain
--
- Route Type
out & back
- Length
100 miles - Elevation Gain
-- - Route Type
out & back
A self-guided journey offering a deep dive into life on the shore, its people, the heritage, and the profound connection to the shore's natural wonders.
Photo by Jill Jasuta
Worcester County Welcome Center, Pocomoke City
Pusey Branch Nature Trail, Pocomoke State Forest
Assateague Beach
Location: Worcester County and Somerset County between Ocean City and Crisfield
- States: Maryland
In collaboration with the Pocomoke Indian Nation, the Beach to Bay Heritage Area has endeavored to re-imagine the former Beach to Bay Indian Trail in order to create a more authentic representation of Native American heritage on the Shore. Using primary source information, this renewed interpretation is called History, Heritage & Homelands of Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore and is a designated National Recreation Trail spanning over 100 miles through lands once called home by several indigenous groups, including the Pocomoke and Assateague tribes.
Maryland's lower eastern shore offers not only a scenic adventure along the coasts of the Atlantic and Chesapeake, but also a rich cultural history to explore. This self-guided journey offers a deep dive into life on the shore, its people, the heritage, and the profound connection between the people and the land throughout our rich history. Our heritage does not start with the arrival of European settlers, but with the original inhabitants of the land that thrived here. They each have their own histories, social organizations, cultures, and traditions that deserve to be recognized as an inseparable part of not only Maryland heritage, but American heritage. They left their mark upon the region through interactions with early explorers, assisting settlers in times of need, and through the historical record. Many place names and food ways bear their name or language, yet the connection is often overlooked.
Through these shared interactions and deep connections to the landscape, European, Black, and Native American heritage became intertwined. Living descendants continue to shape our understanding of the past by bringing these traditions and histories into the future. This guide honors our shared history and the Native American groups that inhabited our lower shore in the past by highlighting areas of cultural significance, museums, and historic sites that help share this history.
Download our guidebook or pick up a physical copy at a local visitor center or museum!
Accessibility Information
No text provided.
Allowed Uses:
Bicycling Boating, human-powered Hiking/WalkingOther Activities
- Camping
- Wildlife viewing / observation
Public Contact
Lisa ChallengerBeach to Bay Heritage Area
14 South Main Street
Berlin, MD 21811
(410) 251-3163
www.beachesbayswaterways.org/history-heritage--homelands.html
More Details
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- Certified as an NRT
Oct 7, 1993