Sturgis One Room School

Sturgis One Room School is a museum in Pocomoke City that documents education for African American children in the early 1900s. The space contains original school desks, slates, books, and photographs showing how instruction took place within this single classroom.

The school opened around 1900 and operated until 1937 during a period of strict racial separation in Maryland. It survived this era and was later preserved to bear witness to this important chapter of local history.

The classroom layout shows how teaching happened in rural African American communities, with handwritten lesson materials and personal objects from teachers displayed on the walls. The arrangement gives a sense of how students of different ages learned together in the same space.

The museum sits in a small residential building on Willow Street and is accessible during regular visiting hours. Guided tours are available, and the interior has ground-level access for people with limited mobility.

A separate house from 1850 called Heritage House stands on the grounds and offers context for the broader history of the region before the school opened. This additional building makes this the only museum of its kind in the county.

Location: Maryland

Inception: 1900

Website: https://octhebeach.com/museum/Sturgis.html

GPS coordinates: 38.07560,-75.56990

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:25