Zoraida Díaz 2020-12-15 04:43:53
To explore Maryland’s Historic Main Streets is to reconnect with a vivid past. In Historic Ellicott City, along Frederick’s hip Market Street, and Cambridge’s thriving downtown, dine with exciting chefs, sample the wares of dedicated craft brewers, hear the musicians, see the artists, and meet the people who make our small towns so special. HISTORIC ELLICOTT CITY In 1772 three Quaker brothers from Pennsylvania, John, Andrew, and Joseph Ellicott, founded Ellicott Mills—introducing the city of Ellicott, who’s founding reflects the American spirit that paved the way for an industrial boom for the region. Drive from Baltimore to Ellicott City on the Historic National Road and imagine the road being cut from swaths of virgin forests in the last decades of the 18th century so that the Ellicott brothers could get their flour to market. Ellicott City’s spirit is unbreakable. After 16 recorded floods since 1817, including two recent catastrophic ones, its residents have come back stronger than ever. This resilience is palpable during a walk through town: There are the quirky shops that specialize in vintage photographs and Americana paraphernalia, nook and cranny favorites with outdoor seating areas, and cafés with freshly planted outdoor gardens nestled within imposing boulders that point to the town’s solid foundations. Some shops have relocated and rebuilt after each flood—and even sell treasures crafted from reclaimed wood or other lost materials. It is this resilience that inspired a recent episode of Gordon Ramsay’s “24 Hours to Hell and Back.” The show’s celebrity chef lent a hand in the resurgence of the ironic Little Market Café, and the Phoenix Upper Main, a joining of the Phoenix Emporium and Ellicott Mills Brewing Company. Walking up the hill, visitors are sure to stumble upon repeated instances of the town’s respect for the lore of the past, like whimsical haikus offered on signs outside local cafés, the occasional sightings of people in period dress, or the accomplished murals painted on the centuries-old brick houses. Along with the thriving street art, you’ll find fantastic local music with a bit of the sound of the mountains, great dining, fantastic beer and wine bars, and truly unique shopping. FREDERICK’S MARKET STREET Founded in the mid-1700s, Frederick has always punched above its weight, which is probably why it’s consistently named one of the “Top 10 Most Liveable Downtowns in America.” And here’s a fun fact—all of those incredible qualities that make Frederick such a great place to live also make it an amazing place to visit. Sure, it’s got history, having played a pivotal role in both the Civil War and America’s story of immigration, but it’s also got beautiful, classic American architecture, welcoming walkable streets, great wineries, awesome music and theater communities, topnotch foodie restaurants, and a truly world-class and world-recognized brewing scene. Frederick’s iconic Market Street features 50 blocks of pristine 18thand 19th-century architecture, with more than 200 specialty shops, restaurants, art galleries, and museums. Market Street is home to many a local favorite—from mouth-watering barbecue joints to antique stores with vintage clothing and irresistible retro pieces. Frederick is also home to a Public Art Trail reminiscent of childhood treasure hunts: Discover whimsical sculptures like the cast-iron Newfoundland dog guarding the portico of an 1820s building or murals like the “Earthbound,” “The Edge of Gravity,” the “Egress,” or the “Dinosaur” mural, a children’s favorite. Just off the main drag you’ll be enthralled by findings such as the Delaplaine Arts Center, a handforged fairy tale Art Nouveau-style steel bridge, and the “Community Bridge” mural, a trompe l’oeil work that took more than five years to complete. Speaking of history, Frederick’s location along the B&O Railroad ensured the city would be at the heart of the Civil War. Union and Confederate armies passed back and forth through the city and fought the famous Battle of Monocacy just outside of town. During the war, Union troops recovered in Frederick, and the town is now home to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Those same unique geographic qualities that made Frederick integral to history today make it a paradise for urban adventurers. With its welcoming, walkable, waterfront downtown, Frederick’s got everything you could want in a city getaway. And Market Street is just minutes from beautiful vineyards, flatwater and white-water kayaking, epic cycling, great hiking, and the perfect countryside for a leisurely Sunday drive. Frederick really does have it all. DOWNTOWN CAMBRIDGE Cambridge, a waterfront town on the banks of the Choptank River, may be small but it has giant history. Its picturesque setting has made Cambridge one of Maryland’s most fascinating historic stops. With its setting on the Chesapeake’s Eastern Shore, just north of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, the city’s historic downtown district is in the midst of a vibrant, community-led revitalization. Stop in at one of the many restaurants and bars offering outdoor service and you’ll find everything from local trendy offerings to more traditional eats, plus trendy waterfront cafés and restaurants. Known to many as “The Soul of the Shore,” Cambridge is also called “Groove City” in the Urban Dictionary. During the heyday of jazz and blues, Cambridge’s African-American community made this waterfront town a haven for musicians and a hub of the shore sound. Today, Groove City Studios keeps that spirit alive with local and national touring acts in an intimate space. Groove City Culture Fest takes over Cambridge’s revitalized downtown, which includes hip, tourist-friendly spots like RAR Brewing, for a celebration like no other. A walking tour through Cambridge will uncover unexpected gallery experiences, a history welldocumented by historical markers prominently displayed, and by striking public art such as the mosaic mural, a community effort which combines mosaic and paint in a pictorial recreation of Cambridge’s weighty history. No other town in Maryland has deeper ties to the country’s tumultuous history than Cambridge. From its early founding in 1684 when British colonists developed tobacco farming on the land of the Choptank Indians, to its tragic role as a major trading center for enslaved peoples in the area, to its place as a vital stop on the Underground Railroad, Cambridge’s history is deeply intertwined with the story of our country. Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery to become a heroic “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, was born just a few miles from Cambridge. Today, Cambridge is dedicated to reckoning with its history, and is home to The Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center, run by dedicated volunteers who’ve been working for four decades to preserve and celebrate Tubman’s considerable legacy. The powerful “Take My Hand” mural on the museum’s outer wall depicts Tubman with steely-eyed determination, beckoning the viewer to join her. And the nearby Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center is an essential stop for those looking to come to grips with Tubman and the at-once horrific and inspiring story of the Underground Railroad.
©Maryland. View All Articles.