Sail Away” while learning the history of the Chesapeake Bay aboard the 74-foot Schooner Woodwind

Before the Bay Bridge, History of the Chesapeake Bay Beach Resorts by Stephanie Sperling. From the mid-1800s through the 1950s, countless resorts and summer communities sprung up along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. People from Washington D.C. and Baltimore flocked here using new transportation networks, like steamships, trains, and paved roads. Most resorts featured rustic cabins for rent, swimming piers, and sandy beaches, and some even had animal shows, amusement rides, and gambling halls. Nearly all of these places were segregated, forcing African Americans and other minorities into forming their own leisure destinations. Most resorts closed after the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the opening of the Bay Bridge, which allowed people of all colors to bypass the Bay on their way to the ocean. However, traces of this resort heyday are still visible today in waterfront communities and parks all around Annapolis and throughout Anne Arundel County.
Cruises depart from the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel at 6:30pm and returns 8:30pm. Tickets are $46/adult, $29/child under 12 yrs. and include a soft drink and snack. www.schoonerwoodwind.com
410-263-7837