Discover Salisbury

Salisbury offers a range of cultural and nature-focused experiences for your stay: historic homes, regional culture, contemporary art, gardens and wildlife. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, you can organize your visits by theme: from the history of the Eastern Shore to exhibitions, walks and wildlife watching.

Eastern Shore History and Culture

Poplar Hill Mansion is a historic house museum near historic downtown Salisbury. Built in 1805, the mansion explores the history of the people who lived there in the context of the American Federal Period. Tours of the house are free. The focus is therefore on the history of a specific house and its residents.

The Nabb Research Center’s ongoing exhibition, “Delmarva: People, Place & Time,” offers a broader look at the region. The self-guided tour covers Indigenous peoples, early settlers, agriculture and water; a house from the early 19th century is also among the exhibition’s themes. The center also offers public talks on historical topics, educational seminars, and exhibitions on the history and culture of the Delmarva Peninsula. It is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; exceptions may apply.

The Museum of Eastern Shore Culture is located in downtown Salisbury, less than half a mile from Route 13. A Gull Card is not required for admission. The museum preserves and shares Delmarva’s cultural heritage and traditional arts across its diverse communities, and hosts workshops with local artisans. The Charles H. Chipman Cultural Center has its own regional focus: this small museum and cultural center honors the history of the African American population of the Eastern Shore region. Visitors can see several display cases containing artifacts and educational objects on the first floor.

Museums, Art and Changing Exhibitions

The Franklin P. Perdue Museum tells the story of the company Arthur and Pearl Perdue founded in 1920, through to the present day. It is located in Perdue Hall at Salisbury University, off U.S. Business Route 13. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Access is limited during the summer months, from June to mid-August, and during winter break. Take these seasonal limits into account when planning, and check visitor information in advance.

The SU Art Galleries present changing contemporary art exhibitions at three locations. On campus, the University Gallery is in Fulton Hall, Room 109, and the Electronic Gallery is in Conway Hall, Room 128. The third location is SU Art Galleries Downtown in the Plaza Gallery Building, 212 W. Main St. These three addresses help you find the exhibition venue you want to visit; each changing exhibition brings new artistic themes into focus.

Gardens, Wildlife and Nature Programs

The Salisbury Zoo covers 13 acres along a branch of the Wicomico River. Its naturalistic habitats showcase animals from the Americas and Australia. The Glenda Chatham Clarke Arboretum has a different focus: landscaped gardens and grounds across Salisbury University’s 200-acre campus showcase more than 3,000 trees as well as numerous woody and herbaceous plants. The arboretum invites visitors to explore the diversity of plants on site.

Strawberries, blueberries and herbs grow in the Riverwalk Edible Garden, where native plants provide habitat for pollinators. Salisbury University’s nature programs also include arboretum tours and bird-watching walks. Together, these offer different ways to experience nature: animal habitats, landscaped plantings, an edible garden and guided nature programs. You can decide which of these themes to explore during your stay based on the opening hours and seasonal access restrictions of the respective museums.

Discover more destinations: Pittsville, Fruitland.

For the regional travel overview: Wicomico.