The state of Maryland, Charles County, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared Mallows Bay, an 18-mile stretch of the Potomac River that is home to a “ghost fleet” of more than 100 abandoned steamships dating back to World War I, a national marine sanctuary. Maryland nominated the site for sanctuary status in 2014 noting the historical significance of the ships, the site’s Native American history, the important habitat it represents, and the unique recreational opportunities it fosters. Mallows Bay was the first new site to receive national marine sanctuary status since 2000.

“We are thrilled by NOAA’s announcement of the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary designation,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “Preserving our history, heritage, and natural resources have always been a priority for our administration and designating this national treasure as a marine sanctuary is yet another example of our stewardship; and will ensure that people from both Maryland and beyond will have the opportunity to experience this amazing site for years to come.”

Civil War Trails, a network linking more than 1,550 interpretive sites in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia is set to release a new, GPS-based interactive page guiding visitors through the Civil War Trails sites. The new page will be officially open on September 6, but is open at this link as of today, allowing trail partners, sites, and other stakeholders to familiarize themselves with this valuable new tool. Civil War Trails is also seeking help from their partners to improve both the quality of the interactive experience, and the market penetration of the map. To find out what you can do to improve your representation on the map, please contact Chris Brown (administrator@civilwartrails.org) or Drew Gruber (executivedirector@civilwartrails.org).

Members of the OTD team, including Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director, Tourism & Film; Lucy Chittenden, Assistant Director for Interactive Services; Marci Ross, Assistant Director for Tourism Development; and Brian Lawrence, Assistant Director for Communications and Marketing, OTD; and jurisdictional tourism partners from Anne Arundel, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Queen Anne's counties and Baltimore City attended the U.S. Travel Association’s annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO). ESTO is the premier annual learning and knowledge-sharing forum for destination marketing professionals and was established to help destination professionals develop new tools and techniques and to debate pressing issues affecting destinations. This year’s event was held in Austin, TX, and drew approximately 1,000 leaders in the travel and tourism industry from across the nation.

OTD is seeking nominations for the 2019 Destination Maryland Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding work of the tourism industry in its quest to increase revenue from visitor spending while providing unforgettable customer experiences for our visitors. Individuals, businesses, organizations, and governmental agencies that have significantly and positively impacted the local, regional, or statewide economy between October 1, 2018 and August 31, 2019 are eligible for nominations. Submissions are due September 18, 2019.

This year’s categories include the Maximizing Opportunities Award, the Market Expansion Award, the Leveraging Partnerships Award, and the Transactionable Outcomes Award. The awards will be presented during the Maryland Travel & Tourism Summit, November 6-8 in Flintstone. For more information, including eligibility guidelines, and to make a nomination, follow this link to the OTD industry website.

Now in its second year, Maryland’s Summer of Music has been a success in promoting multi-day music festivals from the mountains of Western Maryland to the shores of Ocean City. Make your plans now to catch one of the nine remaining festivals, including the National Folk Festival celebrating the second year of its three-year run in Salisbury. Head to our website for all the info on Maryland’s Summer of Music, and contact OTD if your event might make a good fit for 2020’s third annual Maryland Summer of Music in 2020.

For the latest on events and everything going all around Maryland, view the latest edition of Visit Maryland Now! here.

Each week, the Maryland Minute provides highlights and insights on this weekend’s events around the state. Maryland Minute is featured on Entercom radio stations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., WERQ and on Baltimore’s WBAL-AM 1090.