On the Antiques Trail
By Katherine Calos

Treasures of the past tempt travelers in the present. Whether it’s a chandelier or a wrought-iron gate you seek, you probably can find it somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic region. Here are a few places worth poking around, according to tourism organizations in the area.

Maryland

• Annapolis caters to your inner antiquer at several shops in the “village” of West Annapolis. For 18th- and 19th-century furniture, Ron Snyder Antiques displays its wares in room settings.

Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference & Visitors Bureau, 888-302-2852 or www.visitannapolis.org.

• Baltimore gives you lots of choices. Try Antique Row on Howard Street, the Antique Center in the Federal Hill neighborhood or the variety of shops in historic Fells Point.

Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, 877-BALTIMORE or www.baltimore.org.

• St. Michaels on the Eastern Shore offers Guyette & Schmidt Inc., the world’s largest antique decoy auction firm. You’ll find antique duck, shorebird and fish decoys; fish carvings; waterfowl paintings and prints; duck calls; and ammunition advertising. Details: www.guyetteandschmidt.com.

Talbot County Office of Tourism, 410-770-8000 or www.tourtalbot.org.

Pennsylvania

• In New Hope, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, Rice’s Sale and Country Market opens every Tuesday morning at 7 o’clock for about 700 vendors and 15,000 shoppers. Antiques and collectibles share space with fresh vegetables and Amish baked goods. Near Doylestown, drive along Route 202/263 to broaden the possibilities.

Bucks County Conference & Visitors Bureau, 800-836-BUCKS or www.buckscountycvb.org.

• Ligonier, Somerset and Greensburg make the most of August in the mountains. The second Saturday in August brings the annual Streets of Somerset Antique Show, while the next day in Greensburg, the Antiques and Collectibles Show fills the grounds of Historic Hanna’s Town. In Ligonier, on the fourth Saturday during Antiques on the Diamond, visitors browse items from more than 70 dealers while classical music plays from the town’s bandstand.

Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-747-0561 or www.lehighvalleypa.org.

• Adamstown in Pennsylvania Dutch Country calls itself Antiques Capital, USA. Hundreds (possibly thousands) of dealers fill several antiques centers and malls. Nearby Strasburg and Lititz offer more treasures from the past.

Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-PA-DUTCH or www.padutchcountry.com.
Virginia

• Alexandria’s King Street in the heart of Old Town is sometimes referred to as the Arts and Antique Miracle Mile, with antiques from all over the world and from every time period.

Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association, 800-388-9119 or www.funside.com.

• In Roanoke, a stroll through Black Dog Salvage will uncover architectural antiques, commercial salvage and an eclectic mix of garden statuaries.

Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-635-5535 or www.visitroanokeva.com.

• Smithfield and Isle of Wight are home to eight antiques shops that include estate and vintage jewelry, furniture, dolls, clocks, fine art and period lighting.

Smithfield & Isle of Wight Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-365-9339 or www.smithfield-virginia.com.
West Virginia

• Lewisburg’s list of antiques shops is long, and there are more than a dozen others in the nearby countryside, specializing in everything from art to furniture to glassware.
Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-833-2068 or www.greenbrierwv.com.

• Around Morgantown, the best antiques and collectibles (and best prices) can be found at a good, old West Virginia country auction. Two family-run auction houses offer consignment and estate auctions. www.wadesauction.com, www.joerpyleauctions.com.

Greater Morgantown Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-458-7373 or www.tourmorgantown.com.

• Parkersburg boasts more than 200 antiques dealers ranging from eclectic antiques malls to shabby chic shops.
Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-752-4982 or www.greaterparkersburg.com.


* Calos is a staff writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond.