Crisfield

In William W. Warner's study of the Chesapeake Bay, Beautiful Swimmers, Crisfield was described as a "town built upon oyster shells, millions of tons of it. A town created by and for the blue crab, Cradle of the Chesapeake seafood industries, where everything was tried first." Unfortunately, visitors can see the creeping hand of development changing the face of this charming, end-of-the-road town with the sprawling condominium complex at the end of Main Street. Workers at the bustling seafood processing plants here—down to just three from more than 150—pick crabs and shuck oysters by hand, just as those plying the trade here more than a century ago did.