Rock Hall Museums

09/07/2022

08/02/2022

It is with heavy hearts and fond memories that we write of Haven Harbour founder, Mr. William T. Brawner, and his recent passing.

02/18/2022

2018 Life of a Rock Hall Waterman
Produced By Shane Brill on Behalf of Rock Hall Marine Restoration and funded by a grant from the Robert F. Schumann Foundation.

01/31/2022

Celebrating over 35 years of top-notch service to our customers. Learn more about our company and community's history and heritage.

01/12/2022

This weekend marks and celebrates the 47th Maryland Watermen's Association East Coast Commercial Fishermen's & Aquaculture Trade Exposition in Ocean City, Maryland. The trade show began in 1975 just 2 years after the founding of Maryland Watermen's Association (MWA) in 1973 by Captain Admiral Larry Simns of Rock Hall, Maryland.

In the 1950’s Captain Irving Crouch of Rock Hall, along with Captain Frank Beck, originally founded the Commercial Rockfish Association and also served as presidents of the Chesapeake Bay Seafood Industries Association. The goal of the Commercial Rockfish Association was to bring legislation, protection and conservation to the rockfish industry, which Captain Irving and Captain Frank felt was being adversely effected by both recreational fishermen and contaminates. Captain Irving –deeply concerned about the future of the Chesapeake — introduced the concept and legislation for larger gauge nets for commercial harvesters.

Larry said that the Commercial Rockfish Association felt it had done its job and that the battles were over. As a teenager Larry would go to Annapolis with Rock Hall watermen to serve an annual dinner to state legislators and lobbyists. It became clear to Larry that the battles and issues were far from over.
In 1970, Larry took all his respect for and work of Captain Irving and Captain Frank, combined that with his knowledge, concern and experience and helped establish the Kent County Waterman's Association along with Joe Davis, Tommy Kendall, Willis Dagenais, Frank Jester, Glynnie Edwards, Donald Edwards, Charles Edwards, Clarence Hicks, Gil Heinfield, Nick Watson, Buddy Elburn, Marion Townsend and Glynnie Thomas.
MWA was established in 1973 by Larry Simns.
He was president of MWA until his passing in March of 2013. Prior to his passing, he was named Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay by Governor Martin O'Malley in January of 2013.

09/30/2021

PRESS RELEASE:
STEP IN TO HISTORY IN Rock Hall, Maryland
Step into History at the Village in Rock Hall, Maryland
21275 Rock Hall Avenue, Rock Hall, MD
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Go see the whale at Tolchester, lithograph by R.H. Eichner & Co.
https://www.mdhistory.org/marylanders-invited-to-step.../
This poster advertises a unique beachside attraction: an opportunity to go inside a whale’s mouth! According to an article in the May 30, 1899 issue of the Baltimore American newspaper, a 75-ton (species unspecified) whale was captured off the coast of Cape Cod on June 5, 1888. The Egyptian Balm Company in Boston embalmed the beast for a not-so-small sum of $3,000. When the process was complete, the whale was set to be the star attraction during the opening week of a new season at the Tolchester Beach resort on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Unfortunately, no evidence exists to prove that the whale ever actually arrived at Tolchester or was used as advertised in the poster, but the intent and vision of the event planners is preserved. Visitors are encouraged to think about their own beach vacations and think critically about the reality of this advertisement.
The Step into History displays are scheduled to remain on view at Accokeek Foundation and the Village in Rock Hall through November 2021.
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Baltimore, Md. (Sept. 30, 2021) – The Maryland Center for History and Culture invites Marylanders to “Step into History” with interactive displays that are traveling across the state. Brand new Step into History displays are now on view at Accokeek Foundation in Piscataway Park in Prince George’s County, and at the Village in Rock Hall, Maryland in Kent County.
These larger-than-life-size frames allow Marylanders to step (literally) into history and engage with the past through historic images from MCHC’s museum and library collections—safely outside.
The forced perspective of the displays encourages participation and imagination and is a natural photo-taking opportunity. Visitors are encouraged to share their photos on social media using the hashtag . A list of exploratory questions inside each frame invites critical thinking and dialogue, and a QR code links to the mdhistory.org website, providing more historical context. View photos of the installed displays here.
“As the state’s largest museum and library of Maryland history, it is our mission to find creative ways to share and engage people statewide with the unique items in our collection,” said Mark Letzer, President & CEO of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. “Maryland’s parks and community gathering spaces are unique partners in this effort. As people have increasingly turned to Maryland’s outdoor landscape for safe recreational activities, we are pleased to connect their surroundings with stories from the past.”
Here are the stories told by each interactive display:
Step into History at Accokeek Foundation at Piscataway Park
3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, MD (between the Visitor Center and the fishing pier)
Charles Wilson Peale’s George Washington and His Generals at Yorktown
This romanticized post-battle landscape shows an imagined gathering of generals after the American and French allied victory over the British forces at the Battle of Yorktown in October of 1781. The generals include the Marquis de Lafayette on Washington’s left; Comte de Rochambeau, commander of the allied French troops, third from the right; and Maryland-born Colonel Tench Tilghman, who is seen in profile, holding the Articles of Capitulation from Charles Cornwallis and the British Army. Exploratory questions encourage visitors to think about the kind of person George Washington was and why he is portrayed by the artist in this way. Visitors are also asked to think about whose stories are missing from the traditional American Revolutionary War narrative.
Step into History at the Village in Rock Hall, Maryland
21275 Rock Hall Avenue, Rock Hall, MD
Go see the whale at Tolchester, lithograph by R.H. Eichner & Co.
This poster advertises a unique beachside attraction: an opportunity to go inside a whale’s mouth! According to an article in the May 30, 1899 issue of the Baltimore American newspaper, a 75-ton (species unspecified) whale was captured off the coast of Cape Cod on June 5, 1888. The Egyptian Balm Company in Boston embalmed the beast for a not-so-small sum of $3,000. When the process was complete, the whale was set to be the star attraction during the opening week of a new season at the Tolchester Beach resort on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Unfortunately, no evidence exists to prove that the whale ever actually arrived at Tolchester or was used as advertised in the poster, but the intent and vision of the event planners is preserved. Visitors are encouraged to think about their own beach vacations and think critically about the reality of this advertisement.
The Step into History displays are scheduled to remain on view at Accokeek Foundation and the Village in Rock Hall through November 2021.
For updates on Step into History, follow MCHC on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Step into History displays were previously on view at Patapsco Valley State Park, Watkins Regional Park, North Point State Park, and in the courtyard at MCHC’s Museum and Library in Baltimore.

05/31/2021

On this Memorial Day we remember and honor those that gave their lives. We will never forget their sacrifices. We will tell their stories and we will celebrate their legacies.

Who Was Sgt Preston Ashley of Rock Hall, Maryland
Rock Hall American Legion - Sgt. Preston Ashley Post 228

Sgt. Preston Ashley was born in 1919 on the Ashley family farm in Piney Neck, Rock Hall, Maryland. He was one of 10 children of Joseph Columbus Ashley and Augusta “Miss Gussie” Crouch Ashley.
He enlisted in the US Army, Engineer Co 427 at the age of 19 in 1938. He served in England, Northern Ireland, the seaport of Oran, Algeria and North Africa.
On May 10, 1943 Preston was wounded in battle and died at age 23 at the 1st Mobile British Military Hospital in Sousse, Tunisia, North Africa. He was laid to rest in the North Africa American Cemetery.
A bronze marker was erected by the Ashley family at Wesley Chapel in Rock Hall. The family has visited his grave site in North Africa.
Rock Hall American Legion Post 228 is named after Preston Ashley. There is a beautiful memorial and record book containing his letters home and photos at the post.
Rock Hall American Legion Post 228 was formed in 1948 and remains active with full membership. Many events are held at 228, as well as fundraisers that provide money to assist vets and members of our community.
The first officers in 1948 were: Commander – Fred Poole, 1st Vice Commander – Edwin Urie, 2nd Vice Commander – Allan Urie, Adjutant – Arthur Wheat, Service Off – Emil Myers, Finance Off – Calvin Jacobs, Historian – Bayard Parsons, Chaplain -Louis Neilson, Sgt. At Arms – William Hill.
From the 1957 Rock Hall Historical Collection the following was included: “The Post was purchased from William Mercer on November 24, 1948. Members met with Mrs. Ashley of Piney Neck and received her permission to name our home after her son, Sgt Preston Ashley, he being one of the first Rock Hall Boys to be killed in WW II. Each year Sgt. Preston Ashley Post donates money to Perry Point Hospital to buy ci******es, help with Children’s Welfare and many other donations. We also distribute baskets to families at Christmas.”

05/29/2021

From Rock Hall United Methodist Charge
This weekend we gather together as a community of churches in order to help Rock Hall Church launch into a year of celebrating their Bicentennial Birthday. In 1821, the group of Methodists in Rock Hall decided to build a church on what would become Main Street. For over 200 years, Rock Hall Church has served as a fixture in our community.
Follow this link :

Worship Schedule Announcements Order of Worship Sermon Notes This Week's Prayer Focus Take it Home NT Reading Plan This weekend we gather together as a community of churches in order to help Rock Hall Church launch into a year of celebrating their Bicentennial Birthday. In 1821, the group of Methodi...

05/12/2021

Theresa Worden, Maryland Humanities Program Director for Traveling Exhibitions and Program Evaluation, will visit Rock Hall on Monday, May 24, 2021. The purpose of her visit is to perform a space and collections evaluation for the Smithsonian Institution Museum on Main Street Crossroads : Change In Rural America exhibition. Rock Hall has made an application for the tour and exhibition.
Crossroads: Change in Rural America offers the nation's small towns a chance to look at their own paths to highlight the changes that affected their fortunes over the past century. The exhibition will prompt discussions about what happened when America’s rural population became a minority of the country’s population and the ripple effects that occurred. Photo Credit : The Emory Hogans/Hogans Motor Corporation Photo Collection of Main Street Rock Hall.
Follow this link for exhibition information :
https://museumonmainstreet.org/content/crossroads

04/26/2021

In preparation and for Rock Hall's final application for Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Museum on Main Street (MoMS) a tour with President of Stories of the Chesapeake and Grant Writer Robert Forloney, Rock Hall Museum Board and friends will be conducted on Monday, April 26th.