DISCOVER TILGHMAN ISLAND, MARYLAND

Tilghman Island, situated at the southern tip of Talbot County, Maryland, boasts a rich history spanning over 13,000 years. Initially inhabited by Indigenous peoples, the island saw its first English settlers in 1656. Originally known as Great Choptank Island, it was granted to Seth Foster in 1659 and later inherited by Matthew Tilghman in 1741, whose family owned the island for the next century. For its first 175 years, Tilghman Island functioned primarily as a family farm, producing grains, vegetables, fruit, cattle, pigs, and timber. ​Tilghman Watermen's Museum

In the 1830s, the Tilghman family began selling parcels of land, attracting new residents interested in harvesting the bay's resources. The island's strategic location in the Chesapeake Bay allowed watermen to work the waters in all seasons, leading to a thriving maritime community. The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked a period of prosperity for Tilghman Island, driven by the booming oyster industry. Seafood processing enterprises emerged as parcels of land were sold to oystermen seeking proximity to prime harvesting grounds. ​

Today, Tilghman Island honors its maritime heritage through institutions like the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum, which celebrates and preserves the history, traditions, and culture of the island's watermen and their families. The island's historic district, encompassing a collection of houses, a church, cemeteries, and public spaces dating from 1830 to 1945, reflects the architectural evolution and cultural significance of this unique community. ​