Carr's Beach in Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Carr's and Sparrow's Beach
"The Beach" as it was known, were two different Chesapeake Bay resorts, Carr's Beach and Sparrow's Beach, that between the 1930s and 1960s, catered to African Americans and all were welcomed. Barred at other beaches due to racial segregation, the two locations were owned and operated by sisters, Florence Carr Sparrow (Sparrow's Beach) and Elizabeth Carr Smith (Carr's Beach).
In 1948, when Elizabeth died, William L. "Little Willie" Adams, formed the Carr's Beach Amusement Company and infused capital into resort operations, expanding opportunities and creating a major stop on the Chitlin' Circuit.
During the day, the resorts drew visitors for recreation and events like beauty pageants. In the evening and on weekend nights, The Beach became known for hosting jazz legends including Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dinah Washington and Lionel Hampton. By the 1950s, soul and R&B artists were the draw, including a July 21, 1956 performance by Chuck Berry that drew 70,000 people (only 8,000 made it past the gates due to capacity).
By the 1960s, civil rights victories ended Jim Crow and the popularity of the
this page online
In 2022, the City of Annapolis, Blacks of the Chesapeake, Chesapeake Conservancy and the State of Maryland entered an agreement with The Conservancy Fund to acquire the property and preserve it in perpetuity.
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Carr's and Sparrow's beaches were two of only seven beach resorts ever listed in the Green Book, a guide for Black Americans to thousands of businesses. the so-called "colored only beaches" of the Jim Crow South were places where black vacationers could live, laugh, play, sing, dance and reject the oppression of racial segregation. Above photos courtesy Maryland State Archives.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is July 21, 1956.
Location. 38° 57.717′ N, 76° 28.468′ W. Marker is in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in the Chesapeake Bay Region, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: Chitlin' Circuit (here, next to this marker); Hoppy Adams & WANN (a few steps from this marker); A History of 'The Beach' (within shouting distance of this marker); CBOS Buoy - Smart Buoys to Save the Bay (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Skipjack Lydia D (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carr's Beach (approx. half a mile away); From this spot, you can see 1998 - Annapolis: America's Sailing Capital (approx. half a mile away); Oysters: Vital to the Lifeline of the Chesapeake (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Annapolis.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
