Cambridge
Around Cambridge
Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Maryland · 33k people
Cambridge
Small town, big water
Chesapeake BlueCrab Orange
Welcome to Cambridge, where the Choptank River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Enjoy the slow pace, the water views, and the friendliest folks on the Eastern Shore. Grab a bushel of crabs and settle in.
Clubs for Cambridge
No clubs for Cambridge yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Cambridge. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Cambridge. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Commemorates the Underground Railroad
- Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Prime birdwatching and marshland
- Long Wharf Park Scenic views of the Choptank River
- Cambridge Creek Historic harbor and marina
- Richardson Maritime Museum Exhibits on local maritime history
- Dorchester County Courthouse 19th-century courthouse in the historic district
- Outdoors Crabbing and fishing on the Choptank
- Outdoors Kayaking and paddleboarding in the creeks
- With kids Visit the Harriet Tubman museum
- With kids Explore Blackwater Wildlife Refuge with kids
- Evenings Waterfront bars and restaurants
- Evenings Live music at local venues
- Locals love Crab houses
- Locals love Marinas
Through the year
- Dorchester County Fair August August
- Cambridge Jazz Festival October October
- Cambridge Waterfront Concert Series Summer Summer
- Cambridge Christmas Parade December December
Humid subtropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall
Talk like a local
- “warter”
- Water (local pronunciation)
- “crab pickin'”
- Eating steamed crabs
- “the bridge”
- The Chesapeake Bay Bridge
- “Eastern Shore”
- The region itself
Getaways
- Easton Arts and dining
- Salisbury Shopping and dining
- Ocean Pines Beach and boardwalk
- Baltimore Inner Harbor and museums
Local flavour
Rooting for Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Maryland Terrapins
Eat and drink
- Blue crabs Steamed and seasoned with Old Bay
- Crab cakes Broiled or fried, lump meat
- Oysters Choptank River oysters
- Rockfish Local striped bass
- Maryland crab soup Tomato-based with vegetables and crab
Where people go
- Crab houses Steamers and casual seafood spots
- Marinas On the Choptank River
- Waterfront parks Views of the bay and river
- Historic sites Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
- Farmland Soybeans, corn, and poultry country
- Small-town main streets Quaint shops and local diners
Heritage and traditions
Cambridge is proud of its deep ties to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, its living watermen heritage on the Choptank River, and its small-town Eastern Shore charm.
This time of year in Cambridge
- Oyster roasts Fall/Winter Fall and winter bring church and fire hall oyster roasts.
- Bird migration Spring/Fall Spring and fall see huge flocks of waterfowl at Blackwater.
- Taste of Cambridge October A downtown food and wine walk showcasing local restaurants and seafood.
Say it like a local: “The Shore” — The Eastern Shore of Maryland, often said with pride.
Festivals
- Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival June Held in June on the waterfront, featuring national and regional blues acts.
- Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Festival September Celebrates Tubman's legacy with reenactments, music, and community events.
- Taste of Cambridge October A downtown food and wine walk showcasing local restaurants and seafood.
- Cambridge Arts and Crafts Show August Local artisans display paintings, pottery, and maritime crafts.
Landmarks with a story
- Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center Located in downtown Cambridge, it tells the story of Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
- Stanley Institute A one-room schoolhouse built in 1865, one of the oldest African American schools in the county.
- Christ Episcopal Church Founded in 1693, the current building dates to 1883 and is a landmark on High Street.
- Dorchester County Historical Society Museum Housed in a 19th-century mansion with exhibits on local history and the county's maritime past.
- Cambridge Post Office A New Deal-era building with a WPA mural depicting Eastern Shore life.
- Bethel AME Church Cemetery Burial place of several African American families, reflecting the town's free black community.
Food traditions
- Steamed crabs and crab picking A summer ritual of covering a table with newspaper, steaming blue crabs with Old Bay, and picking them with mallets.
- Oyster roasts In fall and winter, churches and fire halls host oyster roasts with roasted oysters on the half shell.
- Soft-shell crab sandwiches In spring and early summer, watermen sell soft-shells, and locals fry them for sandwiches.
- Fish fries at community events Fried rockfish and perch are staples at volunteer fire department fundraisers.
- Smith Island cake A multi-layered yellow cake with fudge frosting, often found in local bakeries.
Music and arts
- Jazz tradition The Cambridge Jazz Festival draws on a local love of jazz, with performances at the waterfront.
- Eastern Shore bluegrass Bluegrass and country music are popular at local venues and festivals.
- African American spirituals and gospel Churches preserve gospel music traditions, often performed at community events.
- Maritime folk music Sea shanties and work songs of the watermen are kept alive at maritime museums.
A little history
- 1822 Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Dorchester County
- 19th century Cambridge became a shipbuilding and seafood processing center on the Choptank River
- 1960s The Cambridge Movement, led by Gloria Richardson, fought for civil rights and desegregation
- Late 1800s–mid 1900s The town's waterfront was a hub for oyster packing and crab picking, employing many watermen
- Pre–Civil War The Choptank River was a route for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad
Rivalries
- Cambridge-South Dorchester vs. North Dorchester High school football rivalry
- Cambridge vs. Easton Friendly rivalry over crab cakes and waterfront
- Game day High school football
- Game day Watermen's races
- Outdoors Crabbing off a pier
- Outdoors Kayaking the creeks
- With kids Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center
- With kids Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Locals speak with a soft Eastern Shore accent, often dropping the 'r' in words like 'water' (warter) and 'oyster' (oystuh). You'll hear maritime terms and a relaxed, rural cadence.
Only here
- The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway runs through Dorchester County, with many sites in and near Cambridge.
- The Choptank River Lighthouse is a replica of the 1871 original, a symbol of the river's maritime past.
- Cambridge Creek's drawbridge still lifts for boats, a daily sight locals enjoy.
- Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places on the East Coast to see bald eagles and migrating waterfowl.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce it 'CAM-bridge' (like the English city, not the university).
- Expect hot, humid summers and mild winters; mosquitoes can be fierce near the water, so bring repellent.
- Try the local seafood: steamed crabs in summer, oysters in months with an 'r'.
- Drive carefully on rural roads—you'll share them with farm equipment and deer.
- Get a 'crab mallet' and learn to pick crabs; it's a social ritual.
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Part of Washington–Baltimore
Nearby
Every areaEastonMarylandChesapeake calm, Eastern Shore soul.DentonMarylandWhere the Choptank runs slow and the harvest runs deep.Lexington ParkMarylandWhere the Chesapeake meets the sky.SalisburyMarylandSalt air, crab pots, and slow sunsets.SeafordDelawareWhere the bay meets the farmChestertownMarylandWhere the bay meets small-town rhythmDoverDelawareWhere the First State’s heart beats steady.Ocean PinesMarylandSun, sand, and the smell of Old Bay.
Cambridge, MD. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.