The Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance welcomes you to the
Handsell Historic Site – Celebrating 20 years!
Handsell in October 2021
It is time now for the 2026 annual Membership Renewal and Capital Campaign Support! Please join us!
The NHPA was formed in 2005 to purchase and restore one of Dorchester County, Maryland’s most interesting and intriguing historic structures, an old ivy-covered brick building located in the middle of what is known as “the Indiantown”. After just a little bit of research, we knew we were on to something BIG. As the layers of the story unfolded, through research in archives, deeds, Wills and historic family letters, a better yet not fully complete story emerged of Native people, licensed Indian traders, English settlers, British attacks, merchant activity and structural devastation. Much of the Handsell story is STILL a mystery, but it seems each day brings a little more light to this amazing, yet previously unknown saga of the Steele family’s mark on the Eastern Shore.
The “old brick house” at Chicone, known as Handsell, was purchased by the Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance with a Preservation Easement from the Maryland Historic Trust. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, the site is now used to interpret the Native People’s contact period with the English, the enslaved and later African American story and the life of all those who lived at Handsell land grant and Indiantown area.
Recent News:
NEXT BIG EVENT AT HANDSELL:
Battle of Vienna (a.k.a. Nanticoke River Jamboree)- Saturday August 29, 2026. In partnership with the Vienna Heritage Society. Military encampment, music, food trucks, colonial craftspeople, children’s games and more! Return soon for the link and QR code for advance sale tickets to day time event and special “Meet the Military” dinner (advanced tickets ONLY).
The Pocomoke Indian Nation will join us to offer the perspective of the Indigenous People of the Revolutionary cause.