The Evolving Crisfield Harbor
1. Commercial sailing ships once travelled the local waterways and frequently docked in the Crisfield harbor, as shown in this 1875 depiction. Watermen sold their seafood, harvested daily in local waters, to the town’s packing houses. Workers then prepared the seafood for shipmen by train throughout the United States, or by steamboat to regional markets.
2. In this more recent view, train tracks have been removed and condos have replaced several seafood packing houses. Change is inevitable, but Crisfield still celebrates its heritage with numerous seafood-themed festivals.
3. The steamboat “City of Norfolk” is shown here docked at the old depot in Crisfield. It transported passengers and seafood bound in larger cities. Train service on the old wharf enabled local business to ship large volumes of their seafood to metropolitan markets.
4. Sailing ships, trains, and steamboats are gone, but the city dock still serves as a transportation hub. Smith Island and Tangier mail boats make frequent trips to Crisfield to ferry passengers and supplies to and from the islands. Cruise ships also visit the Port of Crisfield.
Crab capital-Crisfield Maryland. *Historical Research by Jason Rhodes *Project of the Crisfield Heritage Foundation *Major Funding by the Crisfield American Legion Post. Production & Design
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.
Location. 37° 58.651′ N, 75° 51.839′ W. Marker is in Crisfield, Maryland, in Somerset County. Marker is on Main Street. The marker is on the City Dock at the foot of Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crisfield MD 21817, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Commerce on the Water (a few steps from this marker); Crisfield (approx. ¼ mile away); J. Millard Tawes (approx. 0.7 miles away); 'Spirit Of The American Doughboy' (approx. 1.1 miles away); The J. Millard Tawes Homeplace (approx. 1.2 miles away); Make Peace (approx. 1.8 miles away); Searching for Water (approx. 2½ miles away); Ye Old St. Peters Methodist Church (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crisfield.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 300 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 13, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
