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In October 1997, the National Park Service sponsored a heritage workshop to explore heritage development in the
region. Following this workshop, the Heritage Partnerships for Marylandâs Upper Eastern Shore formed to study heritage development options for the region. It formed an ad hoc task force, the Heritage
Area Planning Team (HAP, now ESHI) Team, consisting of representatives from county offices and local organizations. The HAP Team, with financial and technical support from the
Maryland Historical Trust, hired JMA/Watson, a consulting firm based in Bladensburg, Maryland, to help determine the feasibility of the region becoming a successful heritage area. Chambers of commerce,
historical societies, county commissioners, museums, educational institutions, and environmental organizations are among the interests represented in the HAP Team. The consultant met regularly with the team to
discuss and direct the course of the project. During these meetings the team generated the themes and analysis represented in this study.
The consultant gathered the necessary background information on the cultural, historic, and natural resources.
This was collected from the state and county departments of planning, natural resources, and tourism; local historical societies and museums; and other locations. To this end, the consultant worked with county staff
and other interested individuals, whose assistance proved extremely valuable during the course of the study. By collecting relevant project information, coordinating meetings and other work sessions, and
providing guidance about whom the consulting team should interview, everyone who assisted the consultant enabled the data review and analysis portions of the study to move forward efficiently.
Caroline, Kent, Queen Anneâs, and Talbot Counties possess an abundance of literature documenting the history and
cultural traditions of the region. In preparing this study, the consultant undertook an ongoing process of gathering and gleaning information from the available literature. Types of literature reviewed
as part of the study included local histories, historic resource surveys, soil surveys, National Park Service documents, local planning documents, open space plans, recreation plans, tourism studies and information,
regional calendars of events, natural and historic resource maps, historical maps, oral histories, folklore books, and archeological reports. These sources were supplemented with interviews with local
interested individuals, groups, and institutions. The HAP team added input received from a series of public workshops held before the consultant was retained. The consultant pursued field reconnaissance throughout the region and took part in guided tours of each county to gain an understanding of the character of the region.
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