Western Shore Beaches

Historical narrative

In the 1940s and 1950s, before improved highways and bridges made more distant resorts increasingly accessible, Maryland’s western-shore Chesapeake Bay beaches were among the most popular summer destinations for families from Washington, Baltimore, and nearby communities. Resorts such as Sandy Point Beach, Beverly Beach, Triton Beach, Mayo Beach, and the Chesapeake and North Beaches offered sandy shores, swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, fishing, and boating. Many visitors arrived by automobile, while others still arrived by excursion boat or train. Children built sandcastles, played in gentle Bay waters, and enjoyed amusement rides, arcades, and dance pavilions found at several resorts. Families packed picnic baskets and spent entire days by the water. These beaches provided an affordable escape from city heat and became cherished gathering places where generations created lasting summertime memories along the Chesapeake Bay. The beach locations shown on this map are approximate, intended to illustrate their relative positions and highlight just a few of the many Chesapeake Bay beaches available to visitors.

Watercolor

© Stephen B. Hales — All Rights Reserved