History Solomons, Maryland

1 history

1.1 settlers
1.2 shipbuilding
1.3 supporting u.s. navy during world war ii
1.4 governor thomas johnson bridge

history
early settlers

originally called bourne s island (1680), somervell s island (1740), solomons takes name 19th century baltimore businessman isaac solomon, established cannery there shortly after civil war. solomon s home still stands on front of island.

the area has been inhabited since colonial times.

shipbuilding

in 19th century, shipyards developed support island s fishing fleet. marsh shipyard built schooners , sloops became famous bugeyes, forerunner of skipjack. in war of 1812, commodore joshua barney s flotilla sailed here attack british vessels on chesapeake bay. deep, protected harbor has been busy marine center ever since.

supporting u.s. navy during world war ii

sculpture on watch, commemorating world war ii u.s. naval amphibious training base, 1942–1945, antonio tobias mendez

during world war ii, island chosen allied command site training amphibious invasion forces. lessons learned @ solomons proved invaluable on d-day, @ tarawa, @ guadalcanal, , in numerous other military operations. 3 naval bases established @ mouth of patuxent river. these 3 facilities made major contribution war effort , brought new jobs local residents. between 1942 , 1945, population of solomons increased 263 more 2,600. on 60,000 troops trained @ solomons during war.

coincidentally, many of servicemen trained @ solomons base in maryland sent fight in solomon islands in pacific ocean.

solomons site of following u.s. navy activities during war:

naval mine warfare test station
naval amphibious training base
mine warfare experimental station
naval dispensary, naval amphibious training base

governor thomas johnson bridge

solomons rather isolated boat-building town housing university of maryland chesapeake biological laboratory, until 1977 when governor thomas johnson bridge built. bridge leads off solomons island proper st. mary s county , patuxent naval air station.