Founding of the Communities
Exploring the resilient legacies and visionary founders of Highland Beach and Venice Beach, preserving a vital chapter of African American history on the Bay.
A legacy of resilience and vision: exploring the origins of Maryland's historic African American shoreline townships.
Highland Beach
Highland Beach was founded in 1893 by Charles R. Douglass, the youngest son of Frederick Douglass. While visiting the Bay area, Charles and his wife Laura stopped at an all-white resort where they were denied service because of their race.
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Crossing the nearby creek, they were welcomed by Daniel Brashears, a free black farmer. With a vision of establishing a resort community where family and friends could spend their summers without fear of racial rejection, Charles purchased the farmland.
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In 1922, Highland Beach was incorporated, becoming the first African American township in the State of Maryland.
Charles R. Douglass
Daniel Brashears
Osborn Taylor and his grandson,
John Leak
Venice Beach
Venice Beach came into being in 1922 when Osborn T. Taylor purchased the remaining acres of the Brashears' farmland and established an independent community adjacent to Highland Beach.
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While surveying the land, it struck Mr. Taylor that the houses would be laid out on the water, just as they were in Venice, Italy. He decided to name his new development Venice Beach. Venice Beach is a progressive community with its own legacy of achievers that continues to celebrate proud traditions.
