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August 14, 2026 |  |
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From Will O'Donnell, our incredible summer intern!
As the summer winds down and our shorelines begin to cool off, I find August to be a great time to reflect. The semiquincentennial has come and gone, our community has embraced its history through countless events, and the country is beginning to close this chapter of American history.
Over the past several weeks, I've interned with Sarah Kilmon— the incredible Talbot250 Administrator— and uncovered more about the place where I've grown up than I could have ever imagined. I had previously joined the County last summer, but I could have never imagined just how much I would learn while immersed in all of the work Sarah and the Commission are doing to honor America's 250th.
This month, I encourage you to continue to explore history and your place in it. Learn about your family lineage, connect with our many local traditions, and seek to challenge your understanding of what Talbot County is. While Talbot250 ends in a few months, the memories we make and stories we carry on will last a lifetime — and I'm endlessly grateful to have been able to be a part of it for the past two summers.
Warm regards,
William O'Donnell
Communications Coordinator
Talbot County Government
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Talbot 250 @ Avalon Summer Concert Series
Join Talbot250 at select Avalon Summer Concert Series performances throughout the summer. Stop by our table for family-friendly activities, learn about upcoming Talbot250 events, and enjoy outstanding performances from some of the nation's premier military bands.
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August 8: U.S. Air Force Band's Singing Sergeants
In Front of the Tidewater Inn, 11 South Harrison Street, Easton, MD 21601
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Tilghman Working Opening Reception
Step into the Tilghman Island Watermen’s Museum's brand-new Water Room exhibit, Tilghman Working, to meet and learn about the watermen currently working on the Chesapeake Bay. Discover the unique methods Tilghman watermen use to make their living on the water through a stunning collection of photographs by Jay Fleming.
Tilghman Island Watermen's Museum, 6031 Tilghman Island Road, Tilghman Island, MD 21671
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Loyalty and Zeal: Algonkians of the Revolution
Join Drew Shuptar-Rayvis, citizen of the Pocomoke Indian Nation, to honor the contributions, struggles and sacrifices made by Algonkian peoples during the War of American Independence.
Explore the unique material culture and trade objects of Algonkian and Iroquoian people during the Revolution. Navigate the complex political paths of patriotism, Toryism and neutrality trod by Algonkian and Iroquoian people as they worked to preserve their way of life in the face of overwhelming odds. Consider both the devastation of the Sullivan Campaign and the contributions to the shape of history made by numerous Algonkian people, both patriot and loyalist.
Talbot County Free Library, 100 West Dover Street, Easton, MD 21601
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Commerce & the Decorative Arts
The Hammond-Harwood House, a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1774 and was the final work of architect William Buckland. The house is known for its decorative arts collection, much of which was imported from England, Europe, and China and came by way of ship into various Maryland ports.
The five part Anglo-Palladian mansion (derived from 16th century Italian architect Andrea Palladio) features some of the best woodcarving and plasterwork in America as well as a collection of fine and decorative arts.
Ms. Lucinda Dukes Edinberg, curator of the Hammond-Harwood House, will speak about some of the highlights of the collection and their importance in the history of American decorative arts.
Oxford Town Hall, 103 Market Street, Oxford, MD 21654
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Dinner in Colonial Maryland
Discover the foods that sustained Marylanders from the earliest days of settlement through Annapolis’s 18th-century Golden Age. This program highlights how diet varied across class, wealth, race, and time, revealing the rich complexity of daily life in colonial Maryland.
Explore the ingredients grown, raised, and harvested locally, and uncover the lasting influence of Indigenous Marylanders, British settlers, and African Americans in shaping the region’s foundational cuisine.
You’ll also take a closer look at the fascinating array of imported goods that arrived by ship—from spices and fine cheeses to tamarind, Durham mustard, and isinglass—offering a glimpse into Maryland’s connections to a wider global marketplace.
Registration is $10.
Oxford Community Center, 200 Oxford Road, Oxford, MD 21654
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Coming Up: Constitution Week
Each year, the MidShore Constitution Alliance hosts Constitution and Citizenship Week to celebrate the U.S. Constitution and promote civic engagement among the public.
Events will be held throughout Easton from September 12th to the 19th, including the Constitution Bowl, Constitution Day, and the Constitution Bowl Championship.
More details to come next month.
Talbot County Free Library, 100 West Dover Street, Easton, MD 21601
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Community Spotlight: The Talbot Historical Society are welcoming the community to join their monthly showings of Bear Me Into Freedom: Frederick Douglass and the Struggle for America’s Promise. The 60-minute immersive experience portrays the odyssey of Frederick Douglass from his birth and enslavement in the Eastern Shore’s Talbot County to his life’s work championing abolition, emancipation, and equal rights. Learn more about the August and September showings. |
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Watch Now — Divided Loyalties: The Tilghman Family and the American Revolution
In this dynamic presentation, Dr. Richard Bell, Professor of History at the University of Maryland, explores the story of Colonel Tench Tilghman— George Washington’s most trusted aide-de-camp—and his complicated ties to a family torn between loyalty to the Crown and the cause of independence.
Link
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A Sea Change at Sardis Chapel By Jeff McGuiness
On Sunday, July 5, 2026, worshippers gathered at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, whose cornerstone still bears the name “Sardis Chapel.” The occasion will quietly embody one of the Declaration of Independence’s most enduring promises: that all people are created equal.
Link
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Bayside Quilters Celebrate America’s 250 with Display at the Library
More than 35 patriotic quilts created by members of Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore are on display at the Easton Branch of the Talbot County Free Library through August 28. The exhibit celebrates America’s 250th anniversary through a diverse collection of quilt styles, patterns, and techniques that reflect both the nation’s history and the enduring tradition of American quilting.
Link
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 📣 Plenty More to Come This Year
While July 4th may have come and gone, there’s still plenty more to come as Talbot County continues celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through the rest of the year!
The Talbot 250 Commission is excited to support events and projects throughout the rest of the year that celebrate our history, preserve our stories, and create something meaningful for future generations.
Coming up, we’re especially excited about the planting of Liberty Tree, the installation of a new interpretive panel at the Little Red Schoolhouse, and a time capsule podcast project with Schoolhouse Farmhouse Studios that will capture voices and stories from Talbot County today for generations to come.
Plus, all the great community events that were mentioned up top! Stay tuned. There’s much more to celebrate as Talbot 250 continues!
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Get Involved
Talbot250 is powered by community voices. Whether you join an event, share a story, or volunteer, you’re helping us preserve Talbot’s past and inspire its future. Learn more at Talbot250.org.
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