Queen Anne’s County boasts one of the first colonial settlements in Maryland, and the third settlement in what would be the United States. From the earliest days of settlement on Kent Island to the establishment of Queen Anne’s County and the development of towns, colonial history is evident throughout the county. These first settlements were influenced by the availability of natural resources and early transportation routes, both waterways and land routes. Mills sprung up around waterways, which provided power and transportation. Early mail routes and ports dictated the location of the first county seat, which was later moved to a more central location. Tour-goers will learn how geography and economics influenced the development of colonial Queen Anne’s County. They will explore the public and private aspects of life in colonial times.

Tour themes include: How the location of colonial settlements was influenced by the geography and natural resources of the region; how courthouses were the centers of political activities in the colonies; how farming was the major economic activity of colonial Queen Anne’s County; and how towns were the communication hubs for the colonies. Students will visit five of the county’s historical sites and organizations including: the Colonial Courthouse in Queenstown, the original county seat constructed in 1708; the Wye Grist Mill, first mill built in 1668; the Tucker House, the oldest original house built in Centreville in 1794; Wright’s Chance, built in the early 1700s and moved to its current location to be saved; and the Queen Anne’s County Courthouse, the oldest continuously operating court house in the state of Maryland built in 1792.

For more info, contact Historic Sites Consortium of Queen Anne’s County at 410-758-2502.

Megan wrote: “My family loves to go boating and jetskiing in the Bay all summer long. Sometimes we go crabbing bright and early on a Saturday morning or we may just go for a boat ride and pull into a local restaurant like Kentmorr, Big Owls or Bridges and enjoy lunch or dinner on the water. Every summer, we always go to the Thunder on the Narrows boat races along with friends on their boats and make a day out of watching the races, swimming and hanging out. There is so much to do on the Island in the summer, why go anywhere else?”