St. Michaels in Talbot County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Delaware
River Tug
| | Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum | |
Large sailing vessels carrying cargoes of lumber, wheat, fertilizer, and coal, were common on the Chesapeake Bay until the 1930s. With its narrow, winding rivers and shallow harbors, many of the Bay's waterways were difficult to maneuver.
Tugs like Delaware met the larger vessels and towed them nimbly into port or up rivers. By doing this, tugs prolonged the economic viability of large sailing vessels on the Bay. Today, with the expansion of coastwise trade, most freight is carried by tug and barge.
Built: 1912, Bethel DE by William H. Smith
Length: 39 ft, 8 in (12.13 m)
Beam: 11 ft, 4 in (3.47 m)
Erected by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 38° 47.244′ N, 76° 13.179′ W. Marker is in St. Michaels, Maryland, in Talbot County. It is on Mill Street east of Burns Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 213 North Talbot Street, Saint Michaels MD 21663, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, 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: Dorothy Lee (here, next to this marker); Too Much of a Good Thing (a few steps from this
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Miniature Skipjack, Spat (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).
Additional keywords. Delaware
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 251 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
