Crisfield in Somerset County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Crab Pickers Strike

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 12, 2024

1. Crab Pickers Strike Marker

Inscription. From April 6, through May 10, 1938, 600 crab pickers, predominantly Black women, went on strike from Crisfield's packing houses, protesting wage cuts and demanding union recognition. Shiloh United Methodist Church was a meeting place for the strikers, who faced vigilante violence and other extreme measures from white packing house owners, local politicians, and businesses, in attempts to end the strike. Ultimately, the cannery union prevailed and the unions remained active until 1990.

Erected 2024 by Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Historical Trust.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Labor Unions • Women. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Historical Trust series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 6, 1938.

Location. 37° 58.987′ N, 75° 51.265′ W. Marker is in Crisfield, Maryland, in Somerset County. It is at the intersection of North 4th Street and Locust Street, on the left when traveling north on North 4th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 109 Locust

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St, Crisfield MD 21817, 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: The Crisfield Protests of 1961 (within shouting distance of this marker); J. Millard Tawes (within shouting distance of this marker); Hoptown (approx. 0.3 miles away); Crisfield (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chesapeake Treasures (approx. 0.4 miles away); Beach to Bay Indian Trail (approx. 0.4 miles away); Treasures From The Past (approx. 0.4 miles away); Watermen of the Tangier Sound (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crisfield.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Crisfield (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 12, 2024

2. Crab Pickers Strike Marker

with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Press release from MDOT about the unveiling of the marker. The press release was issued on May 10, 2024. (Submitted on October 13, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Shiloh United Methodist Church, where the organizers met image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 12, 2024

3. Shiloh United Methodist Church, where the organizers met

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 346 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 13, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.