Chesapeake Suite - Michener's Cottages at Sandaway

The Chesapeake Suite at Michener's Cottages in Oxford, Maryland, offers a unique getaway that honors renowned author James Michener and his novel "Chesapeake." This suite comprised of two unique cottages celebrates the rich history and cultural heritage of the Chesapeake Bay area, including its Native American roots, highlighted by the names of the cottages like Michener's Beach Cottage Cabana and Choptank Cottage Hideaway. Guests can enjoy picturesque views and explore the natural beauty surrounding the area, which plays a significant role in Michener's storytelling. With a focus on literary tribute and local culture, a stay here promises a delightful mix of relaxation and education about the Chesapeake's vibrant past.

Chesapeake Suite

Are you looking for the ultimate in Chesapeake Bay accommodations?

Chesapeake Suite inside Michener's Cottages at Sandaway is a suite like no other on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Michener's cottages at Sandaway honors James Michener, who wrote his outline to the novel "Chesapeake" in Oxford, Maryland. Michener became friend's with the Gibson family while researching his novel "Chesapeake" and eating one of his favorite foods, the Maryland crab cake. It also honors the Native Americans featured in the novel "Chesapeake", and there contributions to the area. The name “Chesapeake” is derived from the Algonquian word “Chesepiooc,” which means “great shellfish bay” or "place where water is spread out".

Micheners's Beach Cottage Cabana

Beaches are mentioned numerous times in James Michener’s novel Chesapeake. The novel spans several centuries and covers a wide range of geographical features in the Chesapeake Bay area, including its beaches. These settings are often used to highlight the natural beauty of the region and the interactions between the characters and their environment.

For example, the beaches along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries serve as important locations for various events and activities, such as fishing, oystering, and moments of reflection for the characters. The natural landscape, including the beaches, plays a significant role in shaping the lives and stories of the people in the novel.

Renaming Sandaway’s Beach Cottage Cabana to Michener’s Beach Cottage Cabana is our thoughtful way to honor James Michener and his novel Chesapeake. Here are a few reasons why we have done this:

Literary Tribute: The name directly acknowledges James Michener, celebrating his contributions to literature and his connection to the Chesapeake Bay area through his novel.
Cultural Connection: It ties the cottage to the rich history and culture depicted in Chesapeake, enhancing the sense of place and storytelling for guests.
Recognition: Michener is a well-known author, and his name can attract travelers who are fans of his work or interested in the historical and cultural themes he explored.
Unique Identity: The name gives the cottage a unique identity that sets it apart, making it memorable for visitors and enhancing the tourist attractions in Oxford, MD.
Educational Value: It can spark curiosity and encourage guests to learn more about Michener’s work and the history of the Chesapeake Bay area.

Michener's Choptank Cottage Hideaway

Choptank Cottage Hideaway is a short walk from Michener's Beach Cottage Cabana. It also honor James Michener, his novel Chesapeake, and Native Americans. The Choptank River is a significant location in the book, and the name evokes the rich history and natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay area. It also adds a sense of place and connection to the novel’s themes and settings. Choptank Cottage Hideaway is hidden behind majestic trees, and you can see the Choptank River just farther down the waterfront lawn.

Renaming Tuckaway Cottage to Choptank Cottage Hideaway not only pays tribute to Michener’s work but also create a charming and inviting atmosphere for Sandaway guests. It ties in nicely with the local heritage and the novel’s exploration of the region. The name Choptank Cottage Hideaway also honors Native Americans in several meaningful ways:

Historical Significance: The Choptank River is named after the Choptank tribe, a Native American group that lived along its banks and other nearby shores including Oxford's. By using “Choptank” in the name, we acknowledge and honor the indigenous people who originally inhabited the Chesapeake Bay area.
Cultural Recognition: Incorporating the name of a Native American tribe into the cottage’s name helps to preserve and promote awareness of the rich cultural heritage and history of the region’s indigenous communities.
Connection to the Land: The Choptank tribe, like many Native American tribes, had a deep connection to the land and water. The name reflects this relationship and pays tribute to their way of life, which was closely tied to the natural environment of the Chesapeake Bay. Artifacts from the Choptank tribe have been found in Oxford, Maryland.
Educational Value: The name can serve as a conversation starter, encouraging guests to learn more about the Choptank tribe and the broader history of Native Americans in the Chesapeake Bay area. This can foster greater appreciation and respect for the region’s indigenous heritage.

Pentaquod's Cedar

In front of Michener's Choptank Cottage Hideway you will find both Pentaquod's Cedar and Oyster Bay Nook.

Pentaquod's Cedar: Named after the Susquehannock Indian character who seeks peace and settles with the Choptank tribe. This name honors the indigenous heritage and Michener's storytelling. The significance of cedar trees in Native American culture reflects their symbolism of healing, purification, and protection.

Oyster Bay Nook

Oyster Bay Nook is a charming and fitting name for the original and historic Triple Privy to Sandaway, paying homage to James Michener's Chesapeake. The space currently serves as a garden shed for Sandaway. In James Michener's novel Chesapeake, Oyster Bay is a fictional location that represents the rich oyster harvesting grounds of the Chesapeake Bay area. It's one of the many settings where the lives of the characters, particularly the Turlock family, intersect with the natural resources and maritime culture of the bay. The bay serves as a backdrop for the historical and ecological themes explored in the novel. In the Fall at Sandaway Suites & Beach, hotel guests can watch oysters being harvested by local watermen. Michener's Beach Cottage Cabana offers an awesome view.

Naming each door on Oyster Bay Nook after prominent families from the novel adds an extra layer of character and storytelling to the space.

Steed Door: For the Steed family, representing their landowning legacy.

Turlock Door: For the Turlock family, celebrating their life as watermen.

Paxmore Door: For the Paxmore family, highlighting their Quaker values and abolitionist stance.

This setup together with the 2 cottages, not only honors the novel but also adds a unique historical and literary touch to Sandaway's property. Sandaway not only honor's James Michener and his novel Chesapeake but also pay homage to the Native American history integral to the story and the region. We invite you to book the Chesapeake Suite - Michener's Cottages at Sandaway and have the ultimate Chesapeake Bay Getaway!

Tags: Chesapeake-Bay, Sandaway, Choptank Indians, Oxford, history, James Michener