Eastport in Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Oysters: Vital to Commerce. Vital to Culture.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 10, 2018
1. Oysters: Vital to Commerce. Vital to Culture. Marker
William K. Brooks, The Oyster, 1891
Vital to Commerce
For over 100 years, oysters were one of the Chesapeake Bay's most valuable commercial fisheries. Many mid-Atlantic communities built their livelihood around oysters, and the region was filled with skipjacks and shucking houses. By 1880, the Bay's oyster output exceeded the rest of the world combined.
As harvesting techniques became more efficient, and the railroad and refrigeration allowed for broader shipping, overharvesting became prevalent. Since then, the once-mighty oyster population has plummeted from the onslaught of disease, sedimentation and reduced water quality.
Vital to Culture
Following the Civil War, oysters were a valuable commodity because they were a cheap source of protein and other nutrients. Today, oysters continue to be a healthy food sources. Low in cholesterol and sodium, oysters contain high levels of zinc, an immune supporting mineral, as well as B12, iron and selenium.
Erected by Oyster Recovery Partnership, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Annapolis Maritime
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.
Location. 38° 58.127′ N, 76° 28.563′ W. Marker is in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. It is in Eastport. It can be reached from 2nd Street south of Bay Shore Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 723 2nd Street, Annapolis MD 21403, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Oysters: Vital to Nature. Vital to Our Future. (here, next to this marker); Oysters: Vital to the Lifeline of the Chesapeake (here, next to this marker); From this spot, you can see 1998 - Annapolis: America's Sailing Capital (here, next to this marker); From this spot, you can see 1919 - Oysters: The Bay's "White Gold" (here, next to this marker); From this spot, you can see 1887 - The Age of Steam (here, next to this marker); From this spot, you can see 1672 - Providence: Settlement on the Severn (here, next to this marker); From this spot, you can see 1608 - Captain John Smith's Chesapeake Voyages (here, next to this marker); From this spot, you can see 1774 - The "Annapolis Tea Party" (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Annapolis.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 301 times since then and 9 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on March 11, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
