Bert and Anthea Smith capture the color and charm of Chesapeake beach resorts, the legendary steamships that served them, and the beauty and recreation that give the "Land of Pleasant Living" its identity.

In 1952, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened for travelers in Maryland and created unprecedented access from the mainland to the Eastern Shore and the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Before then, the Chesapeake Bay itself was the “seaside” for residents of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Popular bay-side vacation spots sprang up in Maryland during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and began to transform the rural fringes of the Chesapeake’s Western Shore. People journeyed by railroad, steamboat, and automobile to escape the sweltering city summers and to swim, fish, and boat along the bay. Amusement parks, casinos, and dance halls enlivened the scene. Developers actively promoted the sale of summer cottages near resort areas that dotted the Patapsco, Magothy, Severn, and South Rivers, as well as the open bay, and laid the roots for many communities that still exist today. The images presented in this book evoke a shared heritage in the pleasures of the Chesapeake Bay and depict an era that triggered permanent changes along its shores.

In 1952, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened for travelers in Maryland and created unprecedented access from the mainland to the Eastern Shore and the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Before then, the Chesapeake Bay itself was the "seaside" for residents of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Popular bay-side vacation spots sprang up in Maryland during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and began to transform the rural fringes of the Chesapeake's Western Shore. People journeyed by railroad, steamboat, and automobile to escape the sweltering city summers and to swim, fish, and boat along the bay. Amusement parks, casinos, and dance halls enlivened the scene. Developers actively promoted the sale of summer cottages near resort areas that dotted the Patapsco, Magothy, Severn, and South Rivers, as well as the open bay, and laid the roots for many communities that still exist today. The images presented in this book evoke a shared heritage in the pleasures of the Chesapeake Bay and depict an era that triggered permanent changes along its shores.

This guide to the Chesapeake Bay crab culture includes dozens of recipes, a history of Bay crabs, and illustrated instructions on buying and cleaning the popular crustacean. As the main ingredient in chowders, pastas, and appetizers, the taste of blue crab is part of life in the Chesapeake Bay area, a region steeped in crab culture. Home to the oldest commercial fishing industries in the country, it provides approximately one-third of the crabs consumed in the United States. Not only does this compilation of crab heritage contain tips on how to steam a crab without losing the claws, it is also a useful tool to take to the docks or market. A handy glossary helps readers tell the difference between a Jimmy and a Sally, not to mention a jumbo and a swamp dog. After listings of themed festivals and museum profiles early in the book, hearty recipes fill the pages with Crab Spring Rolls, Roasted Corn and Crab Chowder, Deviled Crab-Filled Crepes, and many more culinary delights.