CURRENT AND PAST TEMPORARY EXHIBITS

SUMMER & FALL 2025: MAMA-Girl!

Shore History is honored to welcome MAMA-Girl back to her roots in an exhibition honoring the life and work of Eastern Shore artist and pastor Mary Elizabeth “MAMA-Girl” Onley (1953-2018). The Opening Reception will be held Friday July 11 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Ker Place. The exhibit will remain on view from July 12 - November 7 and is free and open to the public.

Born and raised in this vibrant region, MAMA-Girl’s art is a celebration of heritage, memory, and the enduring spirit of home. Her works are deeply inspired by the landscapes, traditions, faith and stories of the Eastern Shore, blending found objects and vivid colors to create pieces that are both personal and universal.

You are invited to explore a diverse collection of some 142 artworks and objects from MAMA-Girl’s studio, generously shared with the public by 10 lenders, including the Barrier Island Center and residents of the Eastern Shore, along with others across Virginia and Maryland.

The exhibit will be open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. We are open Saturday by appointment. If you are interested in visiting on a Saturday, please contact us at (757) 787-8012 or marketing@shorehistory.org

MAMA-Girl left a lasting impression on so many who enjoyed her company and collected her work. If you would like to join in on the tribute, you may share your MAMA-Girl remembrances via the box below or mail them to: Shore History, PO Box 179, Onancock, VA 23417.

SUMMER 2024: True Sons of Freedom by the Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia’s True Sons of Freedom exhibit commemorates World War I through photographs of African American soldiers from Virginia who fought oversees to defend freedoms they were denied at home. The soldiers highlighted in True Sons came from locations across Virginia including the Eastern Shore. Before the conflict, most worked as farmers and laborers.

Reflecting the pride and determination of African American World War I servicemen, the images were submitted by these veterans with their responses to military service questionnaires created by the Virginia War History Commission as part of an effort to capture the scope of Virginians’ participation in the Great War.

You can view the entire exhibit online and learn more about the soldiers by clicking here.

SPRING 2024: Where They Rest: Shore Heroes at Arlington Cemetery

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.

FALL 2017: Architecture & Change: Preserving The Eastern Shore

In the mid-20th century, a physician from Onancock, Dr. John Robertson, traveled the Eastern Shore, camera in hand, photographing whatever subject caught his fancy. During the course of 40 years, Robertson’s photographic collection grew, including more than 500 pictures of Eastern Shore homes. Each house was unique, both in architectural style and history. This exhibit took a look at these homes from then and now, exploring the architecture and stories that make these Eastern Shore houses special. 

FALL 2016: Play Ball! Eastern Shore Baseball from the 1920s to the 1950s

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society showcased an exhibit on the Eastern Shore Baseball League in its heyday from 1922 to 1949. The exhibit featured rare memorabilia, photographs, autographs, and information on the creation of the Eastern Shore Baseball League from three private collections. Residents of the Shore community were encouraged to bring in personal treasures for experts to evaluate. The Parksley Spuds, located in Parksley, Va., would go down in history as the first Eastern Shore League pennant winner, taking three pennants from 1922 to 1928. Future Major Leaguers and Hall of Famers such as Frank “Home Run” Baker; Jimmie Foxx; Red Ruffing; Mickey Cochrane; and Paul Richards honed their skills around the Eastern Shore.