As the leaves start to change and the temperatures are getting cooler, we must sadly say farewell to Summer 2026. This Summer we had two wonderful interns join us at the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area, who got hands-on experience in the CCHA community building connections and working on special projects to support the Heritage Area and their own professional development. You may have seen them at some of our events this summer like River Days, Poets Afloat, and the Spirit of America Reading of the Declaration of Independence. Visits to the Maryland State Archives and the Crownsville Digital Documentation and Storytelling Project & professional exchanges at Mount Vernon helped broaden their understanding of the field.
Pharren Cifuentes shadowed several local heritage and cultural organizations, including Visit Annapolis, Maryland State Archives, Maryland Federation of Art, Historic Annapolis, and the Chesapeake Children’s Museum. These experiences provided firsthand insight into the diverse organizations and professionals who help tell and preserve our region’s stories. Pharren supported several “250th” initiatives commemorating the Nation’s founding, providing critical support for the installation of a DAR exhibition at Rising Sun Inn called “Revolutionary Experience,” gaining practical experience with museum exhibitions and interpretation.
Eliza McCauley joined us as the Maritime Heritage Intern, working with our region’s irreplaceable maritime heritage through hands-on experience and engaging with a variety of community partners. Eliza dug into researching the waterways around the West River and Patuxent as part of a project we hope to expand into the rest of the heritage area. She aided in developing paddling tours for these regions focused on the history, environment, and heritage. She gained hands-on experience testing routes and talking with and interviewing subject experts broadening her perspective and understanding of these histories.
We will miss them!
