Oxford Museum Publications
We are excited to announce the publication of our new book on Oxford with over 170 images.
Click here to order from our Museum Shop.
Introduction from Oxford by the Oxford Museum
Oxford is a well-preserved waterfront community on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Although Oxford has weathered wars, economic changes, and shifting demographics since the mid-17th century, many of its most distinguishing features—both natural and man-made—have survived. By the end of the 19th century, when photography had become widespread in the United States, Oxford was growing from a sleepy backwater village into a bustling working-class town. Most residents made a living by harvesting and selling oysters and crabs or working in the trades that supported those thriving industries. Schools, churches, and civic organizations expanded as families moved to town. The year-round population, which barely reached 300 in the 1870s, was over 1,200 by 1910. That changed by the end of World War II, as overfishing and marine diseases decimated the native oysters and led to the shuttering of local seafood businesses. Gradually, tourists and retirees began to discover the quaintness of Oxford. Recreational sailors replaced working watermen, and the seafood packinghouses were replaced by waterfront restaurants. Today, Oxford remains undeniably picturesque, and just beneath its surface lies a deep and rich history.
Other Oxford publications available in the museum store:
Cookbook- The Museum Collection