Solomon's Island: living With Change

Explore the distinct zones that define Southern Maryland, each with its own unique character and history shaped by the waters.

By the Bay

By the River

On the Land

These two are taken from roughly the same spot — 113 years apart.

In the 1913 photo, you’ll notice what isn’t there yet: the J.C. Lore Oyster House.

You can also clearly see that Solomons is truly an island. Some folks miss that there is still a 15-foot tide box separating the island from the mainland today — but originally, that span of water was much wider. The causeway visible in the 1913 photo was first built in 1865, and for many years it was rough, low, and dangerous to cross (people literally drowned crossing it). Over time it was raised, filled, and reinforced to protect it from storms.

Another landmark visible in the 1913 photo is the Solomons Mission Center building, originally constructed in 1870 as the first church on the island (Methodist). Today, from this same vantage point, only the cupola peeks above the rooftops — but the building is still very much part of our story.

So much has changed here over the last 113 years — storms, roads, bridges, industries, and the people who’ve called this place home. And yet the heart of Solomons remains the same: a small island built on boats, stories, and the steady rhythm of the Patuxent.

I love being reminded that when we look out over this water, we’re standing where generations before us once stood — and where generations after us will stand