Crisfield Heritage Themes

Crisfield Heritage Themes:
J. Glenn Eugster
U.S. EPA, Chesapeake Bay Office
1993

The intent of heritage themes is to develop a focus for present and future
action which recognizes Crisfield's past and uses it to shape the future.
The heritage themes, which follow, are "place rooted" community images that
express Crisfield's unique identity. These images attempt to speak to the
people and the sense of Crisfield as a special place. The themes can be
used to help address the social, ecological and economic needs of the
community.

These heritage themes are also the unique images that attract a person to
visit Crisfield. These themes describe why a particular destination offers
something better or more valuable than or different from what another
destination would offer.

Crisfield's past, present and future presents the community, region and the
State of Maryland with a variety of authentic heritage tourism themes for
marketing and community strategies for tourism. The primary heritage
community and tourism themes for Crisfield include:

* The City of Crisfield is recognized as "The Crab Capital of the World".
The waterfront piers , Janes Island State Park, crabhouses, harbor tours,
retail shellfish markets and restaurants give residents and visitors the
chance to catch, eat, buy, experience and learn about the Atlantic blue
crabs of Crisfield and the Chesapeake Bay. Come and enjoy the town created
by and for the blue crab!

* The crabhouses, soft crab pounds, shanties, workboats and support
industries of Crisfield are part of a traditional working watermen
community of the Chesapeake Bay. The daily activity of the watermen
illustrate the harvesting of the Chesapeake in a location referred to by
experts as the "cradle of the Chesapeake seafood industries". Experience
one of the last authentic watermen community's where hundreds of vessels,
of many sizes and rigs, bring thousands of tons of seafood from many
directions.

* Crisfield is the gateway to "another world, a unique world where time
holds still and where Elizabethan speech may yet be heard". The City Depot
provides passenger ferry service to Virginia's Tangier Island and
Maryland's Smith Island. Located approximately twelve miles into the Bay,
the Islands offer visitors the opportunity to visit communities which are
dependent upon and help to manage the Chesapeake's blue crab fishery.
Participate in a well-practiced ritual and ferry to the Islands soon.

* In the summer residents and visitors celebrate the heritage of the
Chesapeake Bay in Crisfield. From Memorial Day through October special
events, activities and entertainment is scheduled for residents and
visitors to enjoy the folklife of the Lower Eastern Shore. Whether it is a
Saturday night "Sunset on the Bay" concert on the City Dock, or one of the
eight major events, such as the Waterman's Folklife Festival or the
National Hard Crab Derby, Crisfield is the place for entertainment,
delicious food, education and good compan