The Kent Island Heritage Society
The Kent Island Heritage Society was founded in 1975 for the purpose of discovering, identifying, restoring and preserving the heritage of Kent Island in Maryland. It works diligently to facilitate the processes by which history enthusiasts of all ages can acquire an appreciation of Kent Island's place in the history of Maryland and of our nation.
Another Successful Kent Island Day!
Visitors enjoyed great weather, food and entertainment, historic exhibits, local vendors, and more at this year's Kent Island Day held on Saturday May 17th. Each year the Kent Island Heritage Society is held on the third Saturday of May. Kent Island Day highlights the history and heritage of the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay.
Did You Miss Our Recent Docent Training?
You can still Volunteer!
Please call or text Hanna Wall at 410-924-1069 or email her at [email protected]
Come Visit Us!
Kent Island Heritage Society docents.
Plan your visits to our historic sites for 2025! Our sites are open on the first Saturday of April to November from 12 noon to 4 pm. At each site you will learn about its importance in Kent Island history and other intriguing facts about the building and its past owners from one of our docents. Please read more HERE to learn more about each site.
Another reason to visit is the grand opening of our Kent Island Heritage Center and Research Library. We are currently renovating Schoolhouse No.2 in Historic Stevensville and tentatively plan to have it open to the public in 2025. We have some exciting and unique exhibits planned that you won't find anywhere else! And of course we will have a research library which will house our archives currently held at the Queen Anne's County Library on Kent Island. Please check back here for updates on our progress!
Celebrate our 50th Anniversary of the Kent Island Heritage Society!
Robert Marsteller with KI Heritage Society VP Nancy Cook at Kent Island Day. Image courtesy Doug Bishop, the Kent Island Bay Times.
This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Kent Island Heritage Society and we invite you to join us as we mark this momentous occasion. The Kent Island Heritage Society was formed by a group of forward-thinking Kent Islanders in 1975 who recognized the importance of identifying, preserving, and protecting the rich cultural heritage of Kent Island for future generations. What began with a donation of the Cray House in Historic Stevensville has expanded to include The Old Stevensville Post Office, The Stevensville Train Depot and Caboose, The James E. Kirwan House, General Store and Museum and its farm in Chester, and most recently, Schoolhouse No. 2 which will become The Kent Island Heritage Center. Besides the historic sites being open the first Saturday of each month from April to November, we will be holding Kent Island Day, an Annual Picnic, and will have a grand opening of the new Kent Island Heritage Center which will house a small museum of unique local exhibits and a research library. Be sure to watch the pages for updates of all the exciting activities we have planned for 2025!
The Historic Stevensville Bank gets an outhouse!!
The Historic Stevensville Bank contained no running water or bathroom facilities and had the dubious distinction of being the last bank in Maryland to have outdoor toilets when it closed in 1960. The bank now has plumbing and toilets but in keeping with our history we have recently updated our outhouse to modern standards! Some of you may be old enough to remember using one! What did you call it? Privy? Outhouse? John? Comfort Station? Or something else? Thanks to L & L Construction for making it like new (but only to look at!).
Outhouse on the Cray House Green
Interactive Map of Our Historic Sites on Kent Island
Use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out to view our sites.
What's NEW at the Kent Island Federation of the Arts in 2025?
We love where we live!
Kent Island Heritage Society's 50th Anniversary
In 2025, the Kent Island Heritage Society will celebrate its 50th Anniversary.
Members Gallery Exhibitions: To honor this group's important work in our community, KIFA will reserve the Members Gallery for special paintings and photos of historic Kent Island sites for several months in 2025. We are encouraging artists to bring in completed or NEW works of the following history sites in early January 2025 for display and sales.
- Cray House
- Historic Christ Church
- Kirwan House
- Old Stevensville Post Office
- The Stevensville Bank
- Train Station & Caboose
First Saturdays 2025!
Our historic houses in downtown Stevensville and the Kirwan House and Museum are open on the first Saturday of each month from 12-4 (April to November). Don't miss this opportunity to see unique buildings and artifacts from the 1800's and 1900's. Docents are available to give a brief overview of each site. Special arrangements can be made for group tours. Contact us by EMAIL or phone at 703-216-0449.
Newly painted roof!
Festival of Trains!
If you were one of the many that stopped by our display thanks for dropping by! As always the Queens Anne's Railroad Society did an outstanding job of showcasing model railroading and how railroads continue to maintain importance in transportation and commerce. The railroad from Love Point, Md to points beyond was an important part of Kent Island history in the 1900s before the first Chesapeake Bay Bridge was built. Read more HERE.
What do Artifacts Tell Us? The Marks Collection from Love Point on Kent Island.
Dr. Darrin Lowery
Train Station and Caboose Makeover!
President Jack Broderick with Geoffrey and Ashley MacLeay of the Macleay Family Endowment. The foundation donated an additional $10,000 to help renovate the train station and caboose! Thank you! Without the support of the community, it would be impossible to adequately maintain our historic buildings and provide all that we offer! We've almost completed the train depot (needs a new roof) and the Caboose is next. You can follow the progress HERE!
Geoffrey and Ashley MacLeay and Family with President Jack Broderick next to the Train Station before renovations began. 
Renovated Train Station
Geoffrey and Ashley MacLeay and Family with President Jack Broderick. 
Caboose with removed siding.
Caboose renovation nearly complete on the exterior.
Follow our progress HERE.
Thanks to Our Latest Business Sponsors!
Chesapeake Light Tackle
Harris Marine Financing
Kent Island Learning Cooperative
Kentmoor Marina Properties (Life)
Kentmoor Restaurant
Lundberg Builders
Maryland CPR and Safety
Michael Rosendale Realty
The Grooming Place
Volunteers Needed!
Volunteer your time for a great cause!
The Kent Island Heritage Society is in need of volunteers, members and nonmembers alike! We are always searching for like-minded individuals interested in supporting our mission to discover, identify, restore, and preserve the history and heritage of Maryland’s Kent Island.
Opportunities exist to
- help maintain historic sites
- docent historic sites on First Saturdays
- help with Kent Island Day
- lend your unique talents to our organization
- legal
- financial
- planning and organizational skills
- marketing
- social media
- graphics and web design
- decision makers
- history and genealogical research
- technology
- art and entertainment
- news and grant writing
- teaching
- renovations
- maintenance
To read about our exciting opportunities to volunteer your time towards a worthy cause READ HERE or email interests or questions to [email protected]
Donations
As a non-profit 301(c) organization we depending wholly on the generosity of individuals and the Business Community through memberships and donations (cash and in-kind). Your contribution to our mission no matter what size helps us continue all of our great programs, events, and maintain our historic sites! You can donate to us on our Donations Page. If you are interested in donating items of historical significance or want to contribute funding for a special project please contact us by EMAIL or phone at 703-216-0449. Thanks for your continued support to preserve our Kent Island heritage and culture!