St. Michaels in Talbot County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Tolchester Beach Bandstand
From 1880 until 1962, musicians entertained summer visitors from this bandstand at Tolchester Beach, a resort town and amusement park in Kent County, Maryland. Constructed to attract daytrippers traveling by steamboat from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Tolchester Beach was part of a golden era of nineteenth century amusement parks (with Coney Island serving as the most famous example).
Like many amusement parks today, Tolchester Beach boasted a roller coaster, a penny arcade, and a shooting gallery. Visitors could rent a bathing suit and take a dip, and enjoy an ice cream or picnic under the trees while listening to the latest tunes played on the bandstand. Today, the bandstand is one of the few structures remaining from Tolchester Beach, which was closed in 1962 and later demolished.
Erected by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 47.262′ N, 76° 13.185′ W. Marker was in St. Michaels, Maryland, in Talbot County
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Regionally, this marker was on the Eastern Shore. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found 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 location: A different marker also named Tolchester Beach Bandstand (here, next to this marker); Point Lookout Fog Bell Tower (a few steps from this marker); Smith Island Crabbing Skiff (a few steps from this marker); Bushwack Boat (within shouting distance of this marker); Sharptown Barge (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Michaels Packing Company Warehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Chesapeake Bay Small Craft (within shouting distance of this marker); Smith Island Power Crabbing Skiff (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Michaels.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Tolchester Bandstand (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).
More about this marker. [Caption:] The Bandstand as it appeared in a lithograph of Tolchester Beach, c. 1890. Lithograph by R. H. Eichner & Co. Collection of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Harris.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 331 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on October 24, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
