Located along the confluence of the Potomac and Wicomico Rivers in Charles County, Maryland, Cobb Island is a 290-acre island with a quaint historic atmosphere, serving as a day-trip getaway for visitors in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. region.
Cobb Island History
Cobb Island is a 290-acre triangle-shaped island located at the confluence of Potomac and Wicomico Rivers in Charles County, Maryland, approximately 45 minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. The island’s recorded history dates back to 1642, when it was owned by ship captain James Neale, who specialized in capturing Spanish treasures ships within the West Indies region. The island’s name is derived from the term cobb, which referred to Spanish dollar coins that were cut into colonial currency in prior to the American Revolution. The island shares its name with a larger uninhabited island along the eastern shore of Virginia, located within the Virginia Barrier Islands chain. In 1889, the island’s first permanent homestead was established by George Vickers, who won the island for a sum of $5,000 as part of an election-related bet. The island is best known as the site of the first intelligible speech transmission via electromagnetic wave, which was accomplished by Reginald Aubrey Fessenden in December of 1900. Throughout the 1920s, several roads were established on the island, which facilitated the development of modern businesses and housing.
Cobb Island Attractions
Today, Cobb Island serves as a popular day-trip getaway for visitors within the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area, offering several notable seafood restaurants and attractions. The island is an unincorporated community and is home to a population of over 1,100, with many residents moving to the region in recent years from nearby Montgomery County and Northern Virginia. Visitors may reach the island via the 0.11-mile fixed bridge along Maryland Route 254, which crosses Neale Sound. The island is not serviced by bus, train, or ferry from the mainland.
The region retains much of its quaint historic character, with many homes featuring custom-made nameplates on their exterior. A historic post office, Baptist church, and volunteer fire department are operated within the community, which is easily walkable for visitors. The Fisherman’s Field public green space offers a children’s playground and community recreation opportunities, and several boat docking areas offer opportunities to see watermen at work and pleasure craft docked within the region. In mid-June, the Cobb Island Day Festival offers crab races, live musicians, and family-friendly activities.
Two popular seafood restaurants are located on the island, including the Captain John’s Crab House, which serves as a local institution and offers seating overlooking Neale Sound. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner service and offers a variety of popular seafood dishes, including Maryland crab cakes, jumbo stuffed shrimp, fried oysters, and seafood combination platters.Shymansky’s Dockside, open Tuesday through Sunday, serves fresh local steamed crabs and oysters, Maryland crab cakes, rockfish, and a Sunday seafood buffet. New American fare is served at The Rivah, including gourmet burgers, seafood steam pots, and fried seafood baskets, while traditional bar food and sandwiches are served at The Scuttlebutt bar and grill. A location of Mid-Atlantic pizza chain Ledo Pizza is also offered. The Cobb Island Gallery and Coffee Shop is open seasonally, featuring works by local artists and offering free wifi access. The Cobb Island Market grocery store also contains an ice cream parlor serving Trickling Springs Creamery ice cream.
More Attractions
No standard overnight accommodations are offered on Cobb Island, though several private properties are offered for weekly vacation rental. A number of chain hotels and motels are offered in the nearby communities of La Plata and Dahlgren, located approximately 15 miles away from Cobb Island along United States Route 301. Campground accommodations are offered at the nearby Camp Saint Charles, Camp Maria, and Camp Calvert facilities.
A number of visitor attractions are located within a short distance of Cobb Island, including the attractions of the Northern Neck of Virginia, which is accessible from the island via the Harry Nice toll bridge. The historic 1692 Christ Church-William and Mary Parish, one of the oldest Episcopal churches in the United States, is located in Wayside, approximately 10 miles north of the island. A privately-owned 18-hole golf course is operated in nearby Swan Point, and the Saint Clements Island-Potomac River Museum is operated approximately six miles away on Coltons Point. The island is less than an hour drive from the metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., which features the attractions of the National Mall and the facilities of the United States Federal Government, and Baltimore, which is home to the National Aquarium, the Maryland Zoo, Fort McHenry, and the Port Discovery Children’s Museum. Map
