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 well-documented 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. Harriet Tubman mural in Cambridge @nicolecaraciaphotography Photo: Cambridge Creek (Jill Jasuta) 58 / VISITMARYLAND.ORG
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2021 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 58
