Downtown Cambridge is a central district with cobbled streets and charming redbrick architecture. On the western side of the picturesque Cambridge Creek, the area is at the core of local culture, with museums and historic buildings. Learn about the rich history of the town, which has blossomed on the banks of the Choptank River since its inception in 1684.
Gain an understanding of the place, its culture and its history through its museums. The Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center is in the heart of downtown. Study Take My Hand, the poignant mural of Tubman on the exterior brick wall. The mural consists of an image of Tubman, her hand outstretched to help others, risking her life to free enslaved people. Watch the short film about her life and learn how she used secret networks as part of the Underground Railroad, before working as a nurse, a suffragist and a Civil War spy.
Another important museum in the heart of the district is the Richardson Maritime Museum, which takes its name from a former boat builder. Look through the exhibits to learn about the importance of maritime crafts to the local area. Check out examples of Eastern Shore wooden boats, before learning about skipjacks, bugeyes, log canoes and other types of vessels. See live demonstrations of the boat-building craft in the Ruark Boatworks barn across the creek.
Near the museums, Christ Episcopal Church is the home of one of the oldest parishes in the region, dating back to 1692. Admire the gothic façade and large rose window of the current building, constructed in1883.
The area stands on the western side of Cambridge Creek, which runs through the center of the town, before flowing into the Choptank River. Ride a bus to one of the stops scattered across the district and get around the downtown area on foot.
