Shore History presents “Where They Rest: Shore Heroes at Arlington Cemetery,” the story of veterans who were born on the Eastern Shore and buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery is the resting place of over twenty veterans who were born on the Shore, as well as dozens more who at one point called the Shore home. The veterans highlighted in “Where They Rest” made remarkable contributions to the United States military either through lengthy and noteworthy careers or by giving the ultimate sacrifice in service to their home and country. Their service covers nearly every American war starting with the Mexican-American War. Their stories include exciting yet difficult tales of honor and loss that are worthy of remembrance.

Some veterans include John Henry Upshur who was a witness to history when Commodore Matthew Perry opened diplomatic relations between Japan and the U.S. through gunboat diplomacy; and Maurice Jester of Chincoteague Island who gained national recognition in 1942 for his battle against a German U-boat off the coast of North Carolina. Others like Cornelius Byrd, Marvin Pettit, Curtis Kern, and Edward Middleton joined the military and left the Shore at a young age but never returned through a variety of tragic circumstances. A display of historical photographs, documents, service records, uniforms, medals, and the things they carried convey their experience in combat.

Join Shore History in opening the “Where They Rest” exhibit at historic Ker Place Thursday, April 25th at 6pm. This event is free and open to the public. The exhibit will be on display through July 2024.

Matthew Krogh discusses the Virginia Militia and the Royal Navy, who blockaded and attacked the Shore during the War of 1812; the occupation of Tangier Island; and the Battle of Pungoteague in 1814. Matt will bring uniforms, weapons, tools, and a swivel cannon that will be fired at the end of the event. This event is free with a Shore History membership or $5 at the door for not yet members.

Matthew grew up in Onancock and graduated from Nandua High School in 2000. He has a master’s degree in history from Virginia Tech, and wrote his thesis on the Eastern Shore and the Civil War. He researches and reenacts several time periods including the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and World War II. He is a member of Churchland Lodge #276, A.F. & A.M. and serves as a Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist at Ware Insurance in Virginia Beach. He lives in Portsmouth, Virginia with his family.

Ker Place is reopening for tours on Saturday, March 9th from 11am-3pm. The federal-period Georgian-style house was built from 1799 to 1803 for prosperous merchant farmer John Shepherd Ker; his wife, Agnes Corbin Ker; and their family. It is described by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission as “the finest and most elaborate Federal mansion on Virginia’s Eastern Shore” and “one of the Shore’s major architectural landmarks.”

The elegant home has been restored to its original appearance as noted in the 1806 John Ker inventory. Rich colors, detailed plaster work, and finely crafted woodwork are found throughout the house. Period antique furnishings create an authentic ambiance of plantation life in the early 19th century on the Eastern Shore. There are also tales and relics of general Eastern Shore history spread throughout the museum.

Guided tours with a docent will be available, or if you prefer, enjoy a self-led audio tour through the Shore History app click here to download it.

Please join Shore History in inviting portrait photographer Kristin Rutkowski to Ker Place to discuss her amazing book and project, Her Helm. Inside it’s pages, the book is dedicated to showcasing women captains on the Chesapeake Bay and their inspiring stories. The lecture begins Thursday, March 7th at 6pm. Kristin’s event is free with a Shore History membership or $5 at the door for not yet members.

The Her Helm project celebrates boat captains who are women making space for themselves in the maritime world. The Chesapeake Bay edition of the project has been collected into a fine art book, with each captain’s image and biographical story highlighted through the pages. The second half of the book includes stories, poems, essays, and art by a select group of writers and artists around the Bay. Be inspired by the tales of women who have backgrounds such as owning their own watercraft, holding USCG licenses, racing sailboats across an ocean, delivering boats, educating others, operating a ferry, and many more.

Books are available at the Book Bin in Onley and an exhibit is on display at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD through September 2024. To learn more about the Her Helm project, visit herhelm.com.

Join Jenean Hall as she discusses her newest publication, “Another Day: More Stories from the Early Colonial Records of Virginia’s Eastern Shore” at Ker Place Friday, February 9th at 6pm. Jenean’s event is free with a Shore History membership or $5 at the door for not yet members.

In Another Day, Jenean Hall sets her hand to some of the errors told about colonial Virginia’s Eastern Shore history. For example, some historians believe that Sir George Yeardley was in cahoots with Captain Epps against Thomas Savage, yet no evidence supports that premise. Another oft-told tale is that Edmund Scarburgh led an unauthorized raid against the Native Americans in 1651, yet the records tell a different story. Another Day breaks some myths and retells other stories with revealing details. Also in those chapters, we learn that the first Eastern Shore attorney was a woman; the Laughing King was not named for his personality; and “Dunking was not always about doughnuts.” Another Day is well-cited research, written for your enjoyment.

Want to purchase your book before the event? Head to the Book Bin at Four Corners Plaza in Onley or order it on Bookshop here.

Weichert, Realtors - Mason-Davis and Accomack Title & Settlement Inc. present the fifth annual all-you-can-eat Crab Crackin’ at Ker Place from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. On the front lawn at 69 Market Street, home of the Onancock landmark, Shore History will host the feast to showcase the Eastern Shore’s agricultural and aquacultural bounty. Tickets are $75 each. Business and civic sponsorships also are available. Get your tickets, here and your sponsorship, here.

The menu includes steamed crabs; steamed clams; sweet corn; barbecue; coleslaw; beer and wine (limited quantity of beer and wine included, with additional available for purchase). The emailed order confirmation will serve as your ticket so be sure to bring it with you on Aug. 19. Get ready for some great live entertainment from Nature’s Child. We can't wait to crack some crabs with you!

Thank you to our Crab Crackin’ sponsors: Weichert, Realtors Mason-Davis, Accomack Title & Settlement Inc., Ecosystems Insurance Associates, Pep-Up Inc., Sandpiper Marine, NeuBeam, Bundick Well & Pump, Riverside Health System, Jane Edwards & Lou Neudorff, Kitty & Tim Croke, Claudia & Bill Bagwell, Davis Disposal, Abbi & John Custis, John Monroe & Karin Rush-Monroe, Atlantic Animal Hospital, Leatherbury Broache P.C., Mallards at the Wharf, Pride Antifreeze & Coolant, Barbara & Stephen Johnsen, WESR, Tommy Hines, Shore Produce, and J.C. Walker Brothers.

Shore History has partnered with Accomack County Public Schools to bring the book mobile to Ker Place! From 9am-4pm on July 15th, find the perfect read on the lawn of Ker Place, take a tour of the Onancock landmark mansion, and make a bookmark for your brand new book. Genres include fiction, nonfiction, parent and family engagement, bilingual text and resources, social emotional learning, culture and heritage celebration, and more!

Eastern Shore of Maryland resident and former New York fashion photographer Anne Nielsen unveils her stunning portraiture of Eastern Shore Native Americans at Ker Place. “Catching Shadows” features tintype portraits and recorded voices of Native Americans living on the Eastern Shore in the 21st century. Taken between 2009-2010 by Ann Nielsen, these remarkable images aim to shed light on a marginalized community and document their modern lives through imagery.

Join us in hearing the story of Anne’s breathtaking work and welcome Accohannock tribal members seen in the images to learn more about their heritage, traditions, and culture June 22nd at 6pm in the garden of Ker Place, weather permitting. For questions, call (757) 787-8012 or email marketing@shorehistory.org.

Tickets are $10 for members (membership is gifted with a donation of $50 within the last year) and $15 for not yet members. The portraits will be on exhibit at Ker Place through September.

Join us for a FREE concert on the lawn at Ker Place with live jams from Wavvy Gravy, a Delmarva based rock band from 5:30pm-8:30pm Friday, May 26th. Be sure to have a bit of cash on hand because El Piscachin food truck will be serving up its delicious Mexican cuisine on site. Shore History will have margaritas, beer, wine, and water for sale. Bring a chair and a friend!

Join local artist Melanie Widgeon Lewis for a Wood Burning class Saturday, May 6th from 3pm-6pm at Ker Place in Onancock. Melanie will lead students in burning a custom charcuterie board complete with a very Eastern Shore design. Tickets are $40 each and limited, so order yours today by clicking Ticket Sales on the left-hand bar of the website.

Melanie was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, hailing from Willis Wharf. Her deep Eastern Shore roots run all the way to Hog Island, one of the Shore’s barrier islands.

Melanie has been drawing and painting since she was a young child. In 2014, she began sharing her art and forging her path as a growing artist. Melanie explored with many different mediums in her artisanal journey, eventually challenging herself with pyrography, also known as wood burning. She was drawn to this unique form of art and has enjoyed creating many Eastern Shore inspired pieces over the years. To see more of Melanie’s work, visit https://mwidgeonlewisartist.com/.

“JUMPCUTS” recounts one woman’s journey through a 25 year long career in television. Phyllis Ward narrates how she managed to get into television during a time of glass ceilings and unequal opportunity for women, where she traveled for different projects, and what she as a producer, director, writer, learned about herself and the world.

From hiding in an East German closet with Jane Pauley, to negotiating cows with a Maasai laibon under the night sky in Africa, to quizzing John Glenn about his favorite view from space, Ward’s snippets from her life in television are often surprising and amusing.

Join us for a lively discussion which will be fun even if you haven’t read the book! There will be an open forum to ask questions. Come laugh with us.

Nicole Brown from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation portrays Ann Wager at Historic Onancock School. Wager shaped young free and enslaved Black minds in 18th century colonial Williamsburg, teaching them reading, writing, sewing, and etiquette through a Christian lens. Brown delves into complex topics and explores the intersection of slavery, religion, and education in colonial America. Join Brown and Shore History March 31st at 6pm to meet this Nation Builder. Tickets are $15 each.

Join Shore History in opening its spring exhibit with special guest, Cameron Evans. Hailed from Tangier Island, Evans is a photographer and waterfowl guide who shares striking images of Tangier Island’s beauty in print and social media. Evans will speak about his career and life growing up on Tangier at Onancock Baptist Church at 6pm followed by a reception at Ker Place to meet Evans, view his work, and get a taste of fresh Tangier Oysters! This event is free and open to the public. His work will be on display through May 2023.

Catherine Kehrig, former docent of Windsor Castle, tells stories of the iconic castle and the leaders who have called it home. Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world; 40 monarchs have lived in the stronghold. Some of the greatest treasures in the Royal Collection, as well as all the Royal Archives, Royal Photograph Collection, and Royal Library are based in Windsor Castle. This event is free and open to the public.