Westside Historical Society is pleased to offer

a full range of tours for varying groups:
Take a tour through the area's history as you visit our beautiful restored Barren Creek Springs Church, built in 1842, the Barren Creek Spring House, built ca. 1865, and the exhibits in the Barren Creek Heritage Museum.
We charge no admission fee for students or groups under twelve persons, but donations are welcome and help us continue to provide a service to the community. 

Museum Hours  ~~ the museum is open from late April through October on Sundays from 1 to 4 pm, and at other times by appointment.     

Schools – Public school students and Home Schooled students

1. we can supply teachers with in-class, pre-tour information sheets and activities for students to make their tour more meaningful
2. outdoor walk & talk activities
3. interactive fun-learning opportunities in museum
4. graded lesson plans meeting Maryland Voluntary Standards available upon request
5. tours can be geared to elementary through high school grades
6. museum tours can be inclusive or focused on specific themes

Families

1. guided tours for family groups available
2. labels on all exhibits make it possible to take self-guided tours

Senior Centers

1. larger groups can be divided and smaller groups can tour the Church, Spring House, and Museum simultaneously.
2. for visitors who have difficulty walking, we can offer assistance if requested prior to the tour. The walk from Church/Spring House to the Museum usually is an easy ten to fifteen minute walk.
3. an on-site pre-tour orientation talk is available.
4. a catered lunch is available to groups of eight or more who would like an all-day tour; requests for this must be made a week ahead of the tour.  Other eating facilities in town are limited to light fare at Subway and Goose Creek.

Community Groups

1. service clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, 4-H, Church classes, and others
2. we can customize a tour to your group’s needs and desires
3. evening tours available

Approximate time for tours:
     Barren Creek Springs Church and grounds          20 to 25 minutes
     Barren Creek Spring House                                  15 to 20 minutes
     Barren Creek Museum                                          45 minutes to 1 hour

Arranging a Tour ~~
 To arrange a tour:
phone 410-742-9122,  302-875-7601,  410-726-8047  or
email sxbradley@salisbury.edu  or
write to Westside Historical Society at P.O. Box 194, Mardela Springs, MD 21837.

 

Combine your group’s event with a tour…
      As part of our mission to promote awareness of the significant cultural heritage of this part of the Lower Eastern Shore, we offer individual and small groups the opportunity to use the Church and grounds, for a fee, as a gathering place for weddings, picnics, reunions, receptions, and tea parties.
        We would be happy to offer attendees a guided tour of the sites. We hope you will consider having your event here. You will enjoy a unique and beautiful setting, and will be doing the Society a service by providing needed income to support its programs.
       For further information about renting the Church, please don't hesitate to phone the Church Curator, Claudia Hudson, at 410-742-9028 or write to her at Westside Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 194, Mardela Springs, MD 21837. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have and offer any assistance you might need.

A Walking Tour of Mardela Springs brochure is available from the Museum, and a guided tour of the town can be arranged.
A Windshield tour of our area  is under development. It will highlight points of interest in: Riverton - San Domingo - Sharptown - Double Mills - Hebron - Vienna - Nanticoke towns - Whitehaven

Conduct Research in WHS Collections of Documents and Records . . .
Westside Historical Society maintains a small library of local historical papers, genealogical resources, photographs, and clippings. These are available to students and other researchers, but do not circulate. There is a small reading room available on the second floor of the Museum.

To use research facilities, please make arrangements at least a week before your plan to visit.

A Gift Shop is in the Museum, specializing in local history items and books about local history.
Toilet Facilities are available at the Museum and at the Church.
Parking is available on Main street, on the corner of Bridge and Main Streets, and at the Church.