Welcome to a Wedding Venue, Tours, Free Events, & History

Westside Historical Society is looking for volunteers to assist in the newly renovated Family History Research Library in Mardela Springs, beginning in November.  Anyone interested should contact WHS at westsidehistorical@gmail.com or phone 410-726-8047.

The Museum will be Open the 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month until the end of September from 11am-3pm! Come Visit Us with our NEW Local Historical Exhibits! 

For more information on any of these programs, email us at westsidehistorical@gmail.com or phone 410-726-8047

Westside Historical Society was formed in 1985 by citizens of the western part of Wicomico County in an effort to preserve the rich history and cultural heritage of this part of the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, and to that end now engages in a variety of programs and events. Our focus is on that part of the County originally identified as the voting district of “Barren Creek” (presently encompassing the towns of Mardela Springs, Athol, Riverton, San Domingo, and Sharptown) as well as Hebron, Quantico, and Nanticoke and villages in the area.

A broad cross-section of the population attend events sponsored and produced by the Society, ranging from local school children, farmers and watermen, to artists and professionals, and all who share a concern for and dedication to the preservation of the area’s history and culture. 

We work with other heritage organizations locally and in the area, including the Adkins Historical Museum & Complex, in Mardela Springs, Pemberton Hall Foundation and Pemberton Historical Park, Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, Hebron Train Station Museum, Ward Museum, Quinton Foundation, the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council, Wicomico Preservation Trust, MAC Inc. for the Lower Shore, Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, and more. Students from Salisbury University and Mardela Middle and High School have worked as interns in the Barren Creek Heritage Museum.

Achieving our goals of preserving and promoting our heritage has been assisted by grants from Md. Historical Trust, Preservation Maryland, Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, and the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council, and Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, among others. In 2006 Westside Historical Society was awarded the Heritage Award by the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council for outstanding work in preservation of our history and culture. 

Westside Historical Society office and a Local History/Family History Library are located in Mardela Springs MD. at 413 Main Street, and in the same building is the Barren Creek Heritage Museum. WHS also owns and makes available to the public the historic Barren Creek Springs Church [1842] and the Barren Creek Spring House, central focus of the mineral water spa town of Barren Creek Springs. The Board of Directors and officers of the Society meet quarterly; meetings are open to members, and to visitors by request. 

The Society is recognized for federal tax purposes as a 501c3 non-profit organization, and is registered with the Maryland Dept. of State as a Maryland Charity.