African American Heritage Walk and self-guided tour - download: Book Brochure

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The Historical Societyof Kent County

Win A Beautifully Decorated Patriotic Christmas Tree

In the Historical Society’s Stars & Stripes & Christmas Raffle

Click the image below for more details and to buy tickets. 

Kent County History at a Glance

Kent County’s documentary history starts in 1608, when the first Chesapeake Bay mapping expedition, led by Captain John Smith, mapped the Sassafras River, the county’s northern border today. In 1642, Maryland’s governor and council formally established Kent County at Kent Island and encompassing nearly the whole Eastern Shore. As settlements increased, smaller counties formed within the region, and, in 1675, the Kent County seat was moved to near Chestertown.

In 1706, Chestertown was named a Royal Port of Entry, making it the primary port for the upper Eastern Shore and leading the county to flourish in trade, culture, shipbuilding and agriculture. A significant part of Kent County’s prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries was the work of enslaved people, but also that of free black entrepreneurs, laborers and artisans who, by 1850, were more than a quarter of the county population.

Kent County also lay along the shortest route from Virginia to Philadelphia, making it a stopover site for several founding fathers, including George Washington. In the mid- to late 18th century, many substantial homes and businesses were built, and today Chestertown has the largest number of 18th century buildings in Maryland, except for Annapolis. 

Visit Us

Our home is in the heart of Chestertown’s National Historic District at the Bordley History Center, at the corner of High and Cross Streets (301 High St), itself a historic building rebuilt in 1910 after a devastating fire swept through our commercial downtown.

Regular hours:

Thursdays: 11 am – 2 pm

Fridays: 11 am – 2 pm

Saturdays: 10 am – 1 pm 

First Fridays 5 pm – 7 pm

Our Mission

The Historical Society of Kent County, Maryland, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the collection and preservation of artifacts, documents, and information that aid in the interpretation of all aspects of Kent County’s history. The Society shares this information through its research library, museum space, programs, publications, and website in order to foster a knowledge and understanding of the shared heritage of our community. The Society supports and encourages the preservation of historic buildings and sites throughout Kent County.  

Learn more about The Historical Society.

Walking Tours

Newly Revised Historic District Walking Tour

Custom House, 101 North Water Street, Chestertown, Maryland

For the first time since it was originally produced in 1985, new sites have been added to the tour, increasing the total number of stops from 24 to 29. Significant sites of African American history have been added, including Jane’s United Methodist Church,  the Levi Rogers House, and the properties of Thomas Cuff at 104, 106, and 108 Cannon Street. Vernacular houses, which were missing from previous versions of the tour are also now part of the tour.

All the additions have stories to tell of how people lived in Chestertown in earlier eras, to offer “a deeper look at the town of Chestertown, how it grew, and how it’s changed over time,” in the words of Ashley Flory, who, along with Michelle Carroll, and Barbara Jorgenson collaborated on the project, with special assistance from Carol Combs.

The revised tour brochures were printed with the generous support of the Kent County Department of Tourism and Economic Development, and are available at the Office of Tourism, the Visitor’s Center on Cross Street, and the Bordley History Center, at 301 High Street. 

The original architectural tour was commissioned by the Town of Chestertown and written by local historian Robert J.H. Janson-LaPalme. Kathleen White assisted with research, and Bill Ingersoll served as Project Coordinator. The text was subsequently edited in October 2000, and in January 2016. 

We also offer guided walking tours!

Please call (410) 778-3499 or email director@kentcountyhistory.org to inquire about setting up a guided tours for your group.  

 

Exhibits

Open now: SPACE

From November 1 through 17, come see which faces have been matched with names.

Additional exhibits produced by the Historical Society are on display throughout the county: at Chestertown Marina’s Cerino Center, the  Kent County office building, and in the Galena Town Museum. 

For past exhibit brochures, click here.

Upcoming Programs & Events

 

Research

The Historical Society of Kent County Library collection includes thousands of items pertinent to regional history including reference works, manuscript collections, documents, ledgers, maps, genealogies, cemetery records, photographs, and oral histories.

Learn More

Membership

The Historical Society of Kent County always welcomes new members. You do not have to live locally to join; a number of our members support our efforts from afar. If you are a resident, however, we hope you will not only become a member, but join us at our events and activities, or consider volunteering. We offer a welcoming venue for community involvement for all ages. A donation of $25 is required for an individual membership, and a donation of $40 is required for a family membership. Student memberships are free.

Register online securely now with Square or send your check to our office at P.O. Box 665, Chestertown, MD 21620.  Please include your email address as we communicate with our members primarily by email.

Learn More

Newsletter

We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter here!

Contact Us