Salisbury, Maryland — The Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion are proud to celebrate their 50th Anniversary this year, marking half a century of preserving and sharing Salisbury’s oldest home with the community. To commemorate this milestone, the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce will host an official ribbon cutting on Monday, August 25, 2025 at Poplar Hill Mansion.
“Poplar Hill is one of my favorite places in the City of Salisbury. Please join us in celebrating this wonderful asset in its 50th year of operation along with all of the donors, volunteers and partners which have made Poplar Hill a success!” – Mayor Randy Taylor
The event will begin with the Chamber’s ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:00 p.m., welcoming Chamber members to tour the museum, connect with local leaders, and enjoy special door prizes including a Poplar Hill Mansion gift basket, complimentary use of the Mansion for a business meeting, and a chance to win an exclusive Wine and Charcuterie Tour for 15 guests hosted by Curator Sarah Meyers.
At 5:00 p.m., the event opens to the general public, inviting everyone to celebrate this golden anniversary. Visitors can:
- Meet the Curator, Sarah Meyers, and Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion Chair, David Scheid, along with Board Members, Volunteers, and representatives from the City of Salisbury’s Arts, Business, and Culture Department.
- Learn the Mansion’s story – from its designation as a museum on August 25, 1975, to the preservation efforts that have protected and restored this historic Federal-era home.
- Tour each curated 19th-century room and explore the special exhibit, “50 Years as a Museum,” showcasing photographs, scrapbooks, and memorabilia documenting its journey since 1975.
- Walk the grounds to view the reconstructed Smokehouse exhibit and the restored Necessary.
In true 1970s fashion, guests can enjoy authentic light fare and drinks prepared from original ‘70s recipes, including Polynesian meatballs, Watergate Salad, pigs in a blanket, fondue, ambrosia, aspics, Harvey Wallbanger Cake, and more – plus wine and beer to toast the occasion.
“This celebration honors not only the Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion for their dedication over the last fifty years, but also the volunteers, community partners, and supporters who have helped preserve this historic home for future generations,” said Curator Sarah Meyers. “We look forward to sharing our history, plans for future exhibits and restoration projects, and of course some retro 1970s treats!”
The event is free to attend thanks in part to the Mansion’s 50th Anniversary sponsor, Robert Nock Insurance, who is also celebrating 50 years of service to Salisbury and the surrounding area.
Join the Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion and the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate this important milestone in Salisbury’s cultural and historic legacy.
For more information, visit www.poplarhillmansion.org or contact Sarah Meyers at smyers@salisbury.md.
About ABCD
The Arts, Business and Culture Department is responsible for fostering Salisbury’s thriving economic climate through supporting business, expanding economic opportunity, promoting artistic expression, hosting unique experiences, and maintaining regional attractions such as the Salisbury Zoo and Poplar Hill Mansion. By producing signature events, facilitating business incentives, and collaborating with stakeholders, this department strives to make Salisbury a place where arts, business, and culture intersect and flourish. https://salisbury.md/departments/arts-business-culture
About the City of Salisbury, Maryland
Founded in 1732, Salisbury is the county seat of Wicomico County, a place where John Smith touched land in 1608 during his exploration of the Chesapeake Bay, bringing him in contact with the Wighcocomoco or Wicomico, the Nause, the Kusk’arawack, and the Nantaquack or Nanticoke tribes who had lived in the region for several millennia. Situated on Maryland’s historic Eastern Shore at the crossroads of the Delmarva Peninsula, Salisbury is now one of the region’s largest cities, and serves as the capital of the Eastern Shore, a rural area defined by its agricultural and maritime traditions, landscapes, and industries.
The Chesapeake Bay is central to this distinctive identity. Though a relatively small city, Salisbury is the geographic and economic hub of one of the nation’s fastest-growing Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The City of Salisbury is working to build its reputation as an arts and culture destination and is aligning its downtown development and revitalization efforts with the arts. Salisbury believes hosting the Maryland Folk Festival is the perfect catalyst to further a cultural renaissance and urban renewal. https://salisbury.md/
