The Eastern Shore of Maryland is between the Chesapeake Bay in the West and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean in the East. The region's tourism industry is influenced primarily by the area's proximity to the water. Activities include boating, fishing and game viewing. Museums, small town charm and recreation opportunities abound in towns such as Anapolis, Chestertown, Cambridge, St. Michaels and Ocean City.
The museum has an 18-acre waterfront campus in St. Michaels featuring nine exhibit buildings. Visitors have access to the fully restored 1879 Hooper Straight Lighthouse. The museum receives about 100,000 tourists every year, according to its website, who "encounter Chesapeake Bay history first-hand." Educational classes and lectures are conducted at the museum. Special events include the OysterFest in November at which the Chesapeake's oyster is celebrated at the museum. Live music is featured during the event.
Built in 1891, the museum was originally called Ocean City Life-Saving Station. It was part of the coastal system established by the U.S. Treasury Department to save vessels in distress and in danger in the water. It is now a non-profit organization that works to preserve and interpret the rich "natural and cultural history of this coastal community through memorabilia collections, exhibits, educational programs and even research," according to its website. Visitors will learn the history of the U.S. Life-Saving service in Delmarva Peninsula, the lifestyle in the bygone era of Ocean City and the local ancestry family records and artifact collections. The city's Beach Patrol demonstrates the latest techniques in lifesaving on Mondays.
Salisbury is situated in southeastern Maryland in Wicomico County. It is the largest city in the eastern shore region. One of the city' major attraction is the Salisbury Zoo. Founded in 1954, Salisbury Zoo now provides "naturalistic enclosures for species native to North, Central and South America," according to its website. The mission is centered on encouraging an appreciation for wildlife and to "inspire conservation of our natural world." When you visit, apart from viewing wildlife, the zoo's staff will school you on the importance of conservation. The Salisbury Zoo's mission is to change "attitudes and [promote] action to make a positive impact on our environment" by its programming, according to its management. The program includes educational themes, research and green efforts.
