Town of Berlin, Maryland

Incorporated in 1868, Berlin became a popular spot for tourists enjoying hunting and fishing in the region or traveling to Ocean City. Main Street in Berlin, Maryland, follows the same path that the Assateague and Pocomoke Indians traveled well before the colonial period. That path became the Philadelphia Post Road, the main route connecting centers of commerce to the north and west. The Town area was part of the Burley Plantation, a 300-acre land grant dating back to 1677 and the Town’s name is said to be a contraction of “Burleigh Inn” a tavern at the corner of Post Road and Sinepuxent Road, now South Main and Tripoli Streets Berlin is noted as the birthplace of Stephen Decatur, the 19th-century naval hero. Berlin’s beautiful tree-lined streets, Victorian town center, museum and historic homes captivate those who visit. The late 1980’s renovation and revitalization of the town center and the historic preservation of the commercial and residential districts are a result of the cooperative efforts of citizens, businesses and the Town government. 47 individual structures are noted in the National Register of Historic Places, dating from the Federal, Victorian, and 20th Century periods, and represent nearly two centuries of architectural heritage through preservation or renovation. The town center features mostly brick structures with compatible rooflines, proportionate window and door openings, uniform setbacks from the street, and bulkheads beneath the lower windows. Magnolias, sycamores, tulip poplars, bald cypress, and ginkgo trees add to the beauty of the town’s setting. Located just minutes from Ocean City and Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin enjoys a superb location and offers visitors a variety of shopping and dining experiences. Berlin has also starred in two major motion pictures: 1998’s “Runaway Bride” starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts and 2001’s “Tuck Everlasting” starring Sissy Spacek, Ben Kingsley, and William Hurt.