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 both its youth and mature history enthusiasts can acquire an appreciation of Kent Island's place in the history of Maryland and of our nation.

Latest News!

Kent Island Day is Back!! Saturday May 21st from 10 am to 4 pm. Use the link below to look at the layout, list of vendors, exhibitors, Children's activities, Entertainment, and more! Opening ceremonies begin at 10:15 am followed by a great parade at 10:30 am. Bring the family and enjoy music, food, and fun!!

Layout*

*Due to last minute changes this layout may be slightly different than the printed version available on the day of the event.

Thanks to our sponsors:

William Claiborne Level: Kent Island American legion #278

Isle of Kent Level: I Love Kent Island

Donor: Robert W Timms, Sr

Patrons: Please select the link above to see the huge list of Kent Island Day 2022 patrons - there are many! Thank you to everyone that supports our vision to discover, identify, restore, and preserve the heritage of Kent Island!

Kent Island Day – live and in person – will be celebrated on Saturday, May 21, after a two-year hiatus due to Covid. The iconic celebration of heritage, life, and culture of Kent Island, sponsored and organized by the Kent Island Heritage Society, takes place annually on the third Saturday in May. The celebration itself is part of Kent Island’s history. It was established in 1977 by State Proclamation signed by Lt. Gov. Blair Lee. This will be our 45th year of celebrating the Island, although there have been several years of cancellations due to rain and the last 2 years due to Covid. Kent Island Day takes place in Historic Stevensville featuring vendors and artisans, kids' activities, local food, entertainment, historic displays, artifacts, reenactors, and open historic sites. It also features a large parade through town. It is a family event that attracts over 2,000 visitors for the daylong activities.

For more information click HERE

Historic Sites Opened the First Saturday beginning in May

It was a rainy start to our First Saturdays but some braved the elements to visit our sites including a family from California! Thanks for visiting us!

“Preserving the heritage is what makes a place more of a community,”

Kent Island High School’s graduated senior Juliana Biggam is the recipient of the 2021 Kent Island Heritage Society’s $1,000 scholarship. She will attend Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, where she will major in biological sciences.

Juliana Biggam

Julia wrote in her essay. “The heritage of a place is what gives the community its uniqueness and character.” Read more HERE.

Kent Island Heritage Society stands up for Historic Preservation

The first graduating class of Stevensville High School on Kent Island

President Jack Broderick makes an impassioned plea to the Queen Anne's County Commissioners to support county-wide historic preservation during a hearing on the abandonment of the Historic Centreville High School for a proposed new building. Listen to his short (3 minute) speech HERE and while you are at it subscribe to the QAC YouTube Channel to keep up with the latest news in QAC!

Hidden Gems In Historic Stevensville

WMAR video highlights the Train Depot. Click here to watch! Learn more about our train station and the railroad on Kent Island HERE.

Why the building of a third span across the Chesapeake Bay is "A Clear Threat to the Heritage of Kent island!"

Bay Bridge

Listen in as Kent Island Heritage Society President Jack Broderick joins Harold Wilson on the Delmarva Today podcast to discuss plans to build a new additional span connecting Kent Island to the heavily travelled 50/301 corridor. The Kent Island Heritage Society considers such a project a direct threat to the heritage of Kent Island, the first European settlement in what is now Maryland. During the podcast President Broderick explains how the past is connected to the future of Kent Island and how a third span threatens the island's heritage.

Click here to listen.

Kent Island Heritage Society docents.

The History of the Isle of Kent (Kent Island)

The Grand Old Man of Kent Island

Senator Kirwan explains the history of Kent Island.

Learn about the early settlement of Kent Island in 1631 by William Claiborne and why it is not considered the first English settlement in Maryland even though it is the fourth oldest permanent English settlement in the United States, after Jamestown, Virginia (1607), Hampton, Virginia (1609–10), and Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620). Discover the conflicts that have shaped the history and culture of the island: beaver pelts, oysters, mosquitos, wars, bombing ranges, and more by clicking the link below!

Kent Island Heritage Society Presentation

Did You Ever Wonder What Kent Island Used to Look Like?

View what Kent Island used to look like from the present all the way back to 1937. You'll be amazed! You can even compare two years side by side! Link here.

Zoom to History!

The Kent island Heritage Society is planning in person presentations again and we are are able to Zoom some of the presentations. Please stay tuned for updates! The Heritage Society has various historical Kent Island presentations available for your school, local organizations, or groups.

Click the link below to read summaries of the historical presentations or download the brochure:

Historical Presentations

Please allow a month's notice and, if possible, we will provide a speaker from the Heritage Society for that interactive session.

Each presentation runs forty-five minutes to an hour.

The Society works diligently to assist our youth and mature history enthusiasts to acquire an appreciation of Kent Island's place in the history of our state and nation.

Blast from the Past!

Enjoy this video from 2012 starring our Nancy Cook (Queen Anne's County Historic Sites Chair) and Linda Collier (curator of the Kirwan House General Store and Museum). Two Minutes of History

Bay Point Wealth

A Little Farm Nursery

Four Seasons at Kent Island

Chesapeake Light Tackle

Harris Marine Financing

Kentmorr Marina Properties, LLC

Lundberg Builders

Rosendale Realty

Interesting in supporting our efforts through membership or donations? GO HERE!

Due to Covid our annual induction of officers and new board members occured telephonically. See our latest NEWSLETTERS for updated information.

New Board Members and Officers are sworn in at the annual brunch and business meeting.

From left to right: Seated in foreground Lynne Riley-Coleman, Treasurer; Nancy Cook, Recording Secretary; Robert Lowe, Vice President; Lynnda Kratovil, officiant; Jack Broderick, President; Carol Frederick, Corresponding Secretary; Louis Crouch, new Board Member; Linda Moore, new Board Member; Leslie Moore, new Board Member; and Kristin Green, new Board Member. Welcome new Board Members! We look forward to your contributions as we work to promote the heritage of Kent Island.

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS

The Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc. is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law - if the Kent Island Heritage Society has provided no goods or services to the donor in exchange for these donations

Use this link to join or make a donation.

AmazonSmile!

Do you shop on Amazon.com? Did you know you can link your AmazonSmile purchases to to your favorite registered charity or non-profit organization? The Kent Island Heritage Society Inc. is registered. Simply type in The Kent Island Heritage Society Inc into the search box for ALL Charities and select it!

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.

Clio: Your Guide to History and Culture

Besides your PC you can use a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) to access Clio on the go! Clio is your guide to the history and culture around you. There are 31,448 historical entries from all across the country. You can now access information about the Kirwan House, General Store, and Museum on your mobile device! We will be adding other sites in the near future and a walking tour.

Besides text and text to speech, Clio offers Google maps, Streetview, Photos, and more! Give it a try! It is available for Android and Apple platforms. It's FREE!!

Historic Stevensville Train Station and Caboose adjacent to the Cray House and Stevensville Bank.

*Please refer to our latest announcements at the top of the page.

We Need Volunteers!!

The Kirwan House and Museum

The Kirwan House, headquarters for the Kent Island Heritage Society

Kirwan House and Museum

There are always little jobs that need doing at our historic sites. If you are so inclined and have a little free time, please contact us. Repair a window pane, water some flowers, paint a chair, rake, wash a window, feed the fish, help out with the fish pond, etc, etc., etc., One time or sometimes, your help is needed. Contact Robert Lowe at kent.island.heritage.society@gmail.com or speak to any Kent Island Heritage Society Board Member. We are grateful for any help you can offer! Thanks!

JOIN THE KENT ISLAND HERITAGE SOCIETY!

Nancy Cook displays period artifacts at the Cray House

Nancy Cook, holding a clay pipe, discusses items used by early inhabitants of Kent Island.

Nancy Cook at Cray House Stevensville MD

We are always interested in having individuals, both young and mature, join the Kent Island Heritage Society. There are many benefits to being a member including the opportunity to learn more about our Kent Island Heritage and support our ongoing activities to preserve the rich history of Maryland's earliest European settlement! Join, you'll be glad you did! For more information go to the Membership/Donate page or contact John L. Conley at 703 216 0449 or jconcomm@gmail.com.