From Bridge to Boardwalk: An Audio Journey Across Maryland’s Eastern Shore (review)

Ripe with cultural knowledge, From Bridge to Boardwalk is a travel narrative well-suited to the needs of the steadily increasing numbers of heritage tourists venturing out into communities in search of authentic experiences. Folklorist Elaine Eff describes this seventy-six-page spiral-bound guide, accompanied by two CDs of interview clips, as a revelation of “some of the Shore’s best-kept secrets” and a “rare ‘insider’ opportunity to enjoy [its] sights and conversations.”

Like many cultural tourism efforts of the last decade, From Bridge to Boardwalk is a tool to encourage tourists to venture off of the interstates, get out of their vehicles, and interact with locals in order to discover the true culture of a community. The twelve interview clips included with the guide book offer samplings of stories from the memories of community members. These local voices add a personal context for the visit and also offer a ground of discussion for visitors—a conversation starting point once persuaded to interact with the visiting communities. If a sightseer were to reference the interview by twenty-five-year outdoor and feature television reporter, Scorchy Tawes, imagine the interactions she might have with locals who have witnessed some of the 2000 stories produced on his show.

The guidebook includes a fold-out driving map, conveniently marked with points of interest mentioned in the interview clips as well as a range of historical images from 1676 to 2003 that reflect the changing cultural landscape described in the various chapters. It follows the history of the Eastern Shore from the time of the French exploration in 1524 when Native Americans populated the area, through its farming and waterways heritage and the culture and industry of today. The focus of the guide is really the life of the communities, here defined through folk traditions of family, food, celebrations, material culture, music, dialect, storytelling, worship, and occupation. In this it succeeds, narrowing each chapter of the book to reflect these key components and offering visitors tips on how to discover and experience them.

While the driving guide itself is not meant to lead the visitor through a guided tour along a specific highway, the oral history clips can be played in most cars. When approaching specific points indicated on the map, tourists can play specific tracks that reference physical locations. For example, if someone wandered through the town of Church Creek, they could listen to the clip with Rhonda Aaron, World Champion Muskrat Skinner, who hails from this community. If you could play this oral history clip right now, you would understand how Rhonda’s voice brings this simple fact to life. All of the interview clips are accompanied by short personal biographies and references to the subject of the clips, which helps complete the context of the individuals selected for inclusion (not only is Rhonda a champion, but her mother, brother, and nephew took top honors in 2003).

I often use From Bridges to Boardwalk as an example of a successful cultural heritage tour. This tour balances quality research, vivid photographs, community context, and audio clips of actual community residents in order to invite those from outside the community to experience a taste of the insider’s knowledge. The contributors are an important part of this successful outcome, and the presentation methods reflect their diversity. Among its fifteen direct contributors in this publication are folklorists, oral historians, community scholars, public historians, arts advocates, and ethnomusicologists.

This travel guide bridges more than the mainland to the Eastern Shore, it bridges visitors, outsiders, to the real life inside the communities which have become major tourism destinations. Whether you are planning a physical or armchair vacation to the Eastern Shore, From Bridge to Boardwalk introduces you to the residents, the cultural landscape, and the changing society of these long standing communities in a well-packaged collection of detailed photos, mastered audio, and regional stories. [End Page 87...