Easton: Discover Art, History, and Festivals

Get to know Easton through its art, history, and events. The Academy Art Museum combines exhibitions with classes and other educational programs; Plein Air Easton is dedicated to outdoor painting. Historic districts, an early courthouse site, and buildings with their own cultural history add to these themes. Water activities around Easton may also play a part in planning your trip. Offerings vary in content and conditions, so consider which priorities matter for your stay.

Art and Programs at the Academy Art Museum

The Academy Art Museum offers exhibitions, classes, lectures, performances, and educational programs for all ages. Its program therefore covers a range of ways to engage with art and culture: alongside exhibitions, it includes learning opportunities and events. The permanent collection comprises more than 1,400 works; this collection figure may change over time.

The museum is housed in a renovated school building dating from the 1820s. Its 24,000-square-foot facility was created by combining two historic buildings. It includes five galleries, art and dance studios, conference rooms, a library, and a light-filled atrium. The building’s history and its current use as a museum thus belong to different periods in the life of the same place.

Outdoor Painting and Festivals

Plein Air Easton is an annual juried outdoor painting competition held in Easton in July. The program also includes a Quick-Draw competition open to everyone, demonstrations, workshops, exhibitions, and lectures. The competition and other formats sit alongside one another: you can be interested in outdoor painting or in the accompanying program. If you plan your trip around Plein Air Easton, check the dates for that year’s event.

The Waterfowl Festival is also held in Easton. Its visitor offerings include exhibitions, workshops, music, and cuisine from the Chesapeake Bay. This gives it a different thematic focus from Plein Air Easton. If this festival is important to your travel plans, check the dates for the event in question in advance.

Historic Districts and Local History

Easton’s historic zones consist of two districts. The Meeting House District is centered around the Third Haven Meeting House. The Old Easton District largely encompasses the original part of Easton and its immediate surroundings. The two names help distinguish different historic areas of the city.

Easton’s official founding is associated with an act of the Province of Maryland dated November 4, 1710. The act authorized the construction of a courthouse at Armstrong's Old Field near Pitt's Bridge. Maps for a self-guided walking tour of historic downtown are available. If you want to explore Easton’s history on your own, these maps offer a starting point for planning your walk.

The Avalon Theatre also has its own history of construction and restoration. The historic theater was built in 1921 as a movie and vaudeville theater and restored in its original Art Deco style in the late 1980s. The restoration brought modern sound and lighting technology as well as improved comfort. The Historical Society of Talbot County is housed in a 19th-century building and presents an exhibition on Talbot County’s history across three galleries. Check current visitor information before your visit.

Easton and the Surrounding Waters

Easton is located on the upper reaches of the Tred Avon River. The waters around Easton offer docking facilities, charter trips in the Chesapeake Bay, and sightseeing cruises. Check specific providers and conditions before your trip. These water-based offerings differ from walking tours of historic downtown and cultural programs on land, so consider what type of outing you want to include in your stay.

To choose a hotel in Easton, start by deciding what your trip will focus on: Plein Air Easton takes place in July, the historic walking tour maps cover historic downtown, and trips on the surrounding waters depend on individual providers and conditions. Check the dates for the relevant event before comparing hotel options with the purpose of your trip.

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