Ewell on Smith Island in Somerset County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

State Dessert… Smith Island Cake

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 11, 2025

1. State Dessert… Smith Island Cake Marker

Inscription. Smith Island has its own region-specific traditional cuisine. The most famous dish is a locally produced cake known as Smith Island cake. Traditionally, the cake consists of eight to ten layers of cake with frosting between each layer and slathered over the whole. However, many variations have evolved both in the flavors for frosting and the cake itself. The most common flavor is yellow cake with chocolate icing but other flavors such as coconut, fig, strawberry, lemon and orange are also common. Known simply as the Smith Island cake, the dessert is baked for any occasion and not reserved only for holidays. On April 24, 2008, Smith Island cake was designated as the official dessert of the state of Maryland and the bill was officially signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley on October 1, 2008.

Erected by the National Recreational Trails Program through the Maryland State Highway Administration, with additional funding from the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is October 1, 2008.

Location. 37° 59.726′ N, 76° 1.939′ W. Marker is on Smith Island

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

, Maryland, in Somerset County. It is in Ewell. It is on Caleb Jones Road east of Smith Island Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20846 Caleb Jones Rd, Ewell MD 21824, 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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Smith Island (a few steps from this marker); World Wars I and II Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Armed Forces Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Korean and Vietnam Wars Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Smith Island Cake (within shouting distance of this marker); Smith Island Work Boats (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome…this is Ewell (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Commerce on the Water (approx. 9.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Smith Island.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 11, 2025

2. State Dessert… Smith Island Cake Marker

Smith Island Cake display inside the Smith Island Cultural Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 11, 2025

3. Smith Island Cake display inside the Smith Island Cultural Center

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 44 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 12, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.