Preserving Caroline's History & Culture
The Society has worked to preserve over fifty historic buildings. We also preserve and safeguard sacred sites, precious artifacts, and shared stories.The Society is almost certainly the most active historical society in rural America in terms of the number of buildings being preserved. Located from Goldsboro to Choptank Village, our projects are found throughout the county. All preserved buildings must have a specific future use. Most will become the centerpiece or parts of multi-building and multi-site educational “interpretive centers” to tell unique stories that highlight the national historical signifcance of Caroline County as well as the qualities that make us so exceptional.
For example, Caroline’s resilience produced an extraordinarily unique 350+ year history of commercial agriculture as our only major industry; our service to country led to Caroline’s unmatched record of residents fighting in every major battle save one in American history; and our moral courage gave Caroline the best Underground Railroad history in rural America.
Historic Brickwork of Significant Caroline County Homes
Please join us for a program titled “Historic Brickwork of Significant Caroline County Homes” to be presented by Mr. Drake Witte, at 6 PM on November 18, 2026, at the Rural Life Museum in Denton, MD. Mr. Witte has been performing historic brick and masonry restoration...
The Flow of Progress: Transportation Evolution on the Choptank River
From the blowing sails of schooners in the 1700s to the steady hum of steamboats in the 1800s, the Choptank River has been a silent witness to the evolution of vessels that carried not just goods and passengers, but also the dreams and aspirations of those who lived...
William Still Center – a U.S. National Park Service Network to Freedom Historic Site
We are honored that the William Still Family Interpretive Center has been accepted as a U.S. National Park Service Network to Freedom historic site.Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony was Monday, May 23, 2022 The William Still Family Interpretive Center and Historic Site Caroline...
Help us preserve the 1802 Tuckahoe Neck Quaker Meetinghouse
Donate to save the Meetinghouse. It takes just a minute.The Tuckahoe Neck Quaker Meetinghouse was built in 1802. The building was later used by the "Dunkards" as a place of worship and a school. The Committee for the Preservation of the Tuckahoe Neck Quaker...
Gadow Dwelling (c. 1851) Being Restored
Despite living his life in the local Long Depression (1819-1895), Jesse Hubbard (c. 1811-1879) was determined to erect for his wife and nine children a fine house in the Greek Revival style of architecture, a style then prevalent in the Deep South and other prosperous...
Rebecca Tylor Dwelling (c. 1810) Rescued
Despite being a widow with seven children, Rebecca Tylor (1823–1884) was indomitable in addressing local ills: She educated free and enslaved blacks, sought fair treatment for county “Poor House” inmates, demanded equal rights for women, advocated prohibition, took in...
1927 Firehouse Being Exposed and Repurposed
The 1927 Denton Firehouse was the epitome of the bygone era of a true "community project". This photo c. 1927 shows original truck doors to be reinstalled and façade to be restored. The original was doubled in size by an addition in 1954. In the 1970’s, when a new...
Site of Barwick’s Inn (1775) Studied
Thee location of Barwick’s Tavern (c. 1775–c. 1790) was part of a colonial commercial cluster of now-vanished buildings that once included a government-mandated tobacco warehouse, a "jail", a ferry crossing and several buildings that all predated 1747. The site is...
James H. Webb Cabin Restored
James Webb, a free African-American farmer, built this hand-hewn log home in 1852. He lived here with his enslaved wife, Mary Ann, and their four children, Charles, Elizabeth, John and Ann, and Webb’s father, Henry. The Webbs were members of Mount Pleasant Church....
Ridgely Train Depot (ca. 1892) Restored
With its broad Victorian porches stripped away and surviving interior woodwork behind cheap wallboard and 1970s partitions, the 1892 depot was recommended by town staff in 2008 as a site for public toilets. As an alternative, the Society prepared concept plans for...
Hear All of Our Stories
Historic Black Schools since 1870. Eight are still standing.
Through 90 years of racial segregation and funding disparity, black schools in Caroline County were sacred ground in the fight for literacy, democracy, and civil rights.
Eight are still there.
Stand in the Place.
Historic Brickwork of Significant Caroline County Homes
Please join us for a program titled “Historic Brickwork of Significant Caroline County Homes” to be presented by Mr. Drake Witte, at 6 PM on November 18, 2026, at the Rural Life Museum in Denton, MD. Mr. Witte has been performing historic brick and masonry restoration...
Anna Murray Douglass: A Revolutionary Life
November 21, 2026 from 11 AM - 12 PM at the Central Branch of the Caroline County Library, Denton, Maryland Join Celeste-Marie Bernier to explore the remar ble life and legacy of Anna Murrt91 Douglass, a freedom-fighter, strategist, activist, and co-revolutionary with...
Music of the New Nation – A program of songs and tunes to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday
Date: September 18, 6-7pm, Caroline County Public Library, Denton, MD Caroline County Historical Society – Co-sponsor "A Grand CONCERT of Vocal and Instrumental MUSICK with the band Ampersand - Crooked Shanks, a Tune by a formerly enslaved person - Revolutionary Tea,...
Anna Murray and Annie Douglass: Sharing A Mother and Daughter’s Life Stories
The Caroline County Public Library and the Caroline County Historical Society are honored to welcome speakers Nicole King (University of Oxford) and Celeste-Marie Bernier (University of Edinburgh) for a program that explores the remarkable lives of the Douglass...
Medford’s Wharf – Choptank
The Agriculture Center at the Medford DwellingThe Caroline County Historical Society gratefully acknowledges the support from the Rural Maryland Council, which provided grant funding to help us create the interpretive pathway. You can find more information about the...
Rivers of the Eastern Shore
The public is invited to a talk by Karen Footner about her grandfather, author Hulbert Footner, and his Maryland public history classic book, "Rivers of the Eastern Shore", at the Museum of Rural Life, 16 North 2nd Street, Denton, MD, on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 6...
Author Talk – Robin Michel Caudell on “Black Heel Strings: A Choptank Memoir”
Join us as Robin Caudell will be discussing her book "Black Heel Strings: A Choptank Memoir" at the Museum of Rural Life, 2 N. 2nd Street, Denton, MD on June 25, 2026, at 6 PM. She will be discussing her memoir, as she traces her childhood in a Black family navigating...
Motherhood – A Force For Change
The Caroline County Historical Society is hosting a presentation by Kennedy Thomason at the Museum of Rural Life on Thursday, May 7th, 2026 at 6 PM. Please join us as Kennedy takes us on a journey discussing the impacts of mothers throughout the history of the United...
Deeds, Not Words – Buffalo Soldiers Italian Campaign
Please join us on May 23rd, 2026, at 6 PM for a Memorial Day Weekend presentation on the 92nd Infantry Division, the Buffalo Soldiers, presented by Colonel (Retired) Robert D Rouse. The talk will cover the Division's contributions to the World War II Italian Campaign,...
CCHS Art Challenge
A few months ago we set forth the challenge of taking a surplus reprint of the 1897 Saulsbury Map and a surplus copy of local historian Eleanor Horsey’s "Origins of Caroline County, Maryland From Land Plats, Volume II," and breathing new life into them for a...
Chicone Village Day 2026
The 13th annual Chicone Village Day will take place Saturday, April 25th at the Handsell Historic Site (4837 Indiantown Road) in Vienna, MD. Sponsored by the Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance (NHPA), the day-long celebration features demonstrations, workshops,...
2026 Annual Membership Meeting
Please come and join us for our 2026 Annual Membership Meeting to be held April 21, 2026, at 5:30 PM, to be held at the Wharves of Choptank Visitor and Heritage Center, located at 3 Crouse Park Ln, Denton, MD 21629. The membership meeting is held each year to provide...
Land, Legacy and Freedom: Native American Strength Shapes a Nation
Image is property of the Pocomoke Indian Nation, Inc., taken and donated by John Brinton Photography Saturday, April 11, 2026 (rain date April 12), from 10 AM to 5 PM, The Leverton Hubbard Foundation in partnership with the Caroline County Historical Society will host...
GIANTS!
GIANTS! Presented by Terry Crannell of Dorchester County Historical Society At Preston Historical Society, 167 Main Street. Preston, MD Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 6-7 PM Terry Crannell, of Dorchester County Historical Society (DCHS), will present his research on...
Twilight Walk In The Footsteps of Freedom Seekers
Update - Due to significant damage to the trail from the recent storms, the walk has been cancelled. Numerous downed trees, limbs, and some sinkholes preclude having a safe trail, especially at dusk. All ticket holders have been contacted, and have been offered...
Uncle Nace: The Day Freedom Came
The Talbot Historical Society presents A Living History of Nathaniel “Uncle Nace” Hopkins Starring: Darius Wallace This event is free to the public and will be held at 6 P.M. on Thursday, February 26th at Lockerman Middle School, 410 Lockerman Street, Denton, MD 21629...
Tom Horton Talk on the Choptank River
The Caroline County Historical Society will be hosting an event with author/writer Tom Horton to be held at 5 PM on March 3, 2026 at the Museum of Rural Life in Denton, MD. Mr. Horton will be giving a talk about the Choptank River, the largest river on the Eastern...
Civil War Living History Event
Join us at Linchester Mill (3390 Linchester Rd, Preston, MD 21655) at 10 AM - 4 PM on March 28, 2026 for a memorable day of history, heritage, and hands-on learning. Step back in time and experience the sights, sounds, and stories of the American Civil War at...


























