The Other Side of the Bridge: The History of Maryland's Eastern Shore

Maryland is divided into several distinct regions, one of which is the Eastern Shore. European colonists settled on the Eastern Shore early and it was, of course, already home to Native peoples. American slavery had a strong presence on the shore bringing forth some of our country's most famous Black abolitionists. Located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, the region grew slowly, almost lacking an urban identity. Today many Marylanders know it simply as a weekend summer retreat or a retirement enclave. In this course we will discuss how and why the Eastern Shore developed differently along with learning aspects of its own unique culture. Come "down the shore" and see the Eastern Shore and its communities with fresh eyes.