 Mission
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is dedicated to furthering an interest in, understanding of, and appreciation for the culture and maritime heritage of the Chesapeake Bay and its environs. General Information Founded in 1965, the Museum is located on 18 waterfront acres and occupies over 35 buildings, 10 of which house exhibits that are open to the public. Its daily operation is managed by a full-time staff of 50 with the help of over 200 volunteers. Attendance exceeds 70,000 per year and includes visitors from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries. Museum membership numbers more than 6,700, most of whom are from the Mid-Atlantic states. The Museum is a private, nonprofit educational institution and does not receive regular operating funds from state, local or federal governments. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a fully accredited member of the American Association of Museums. Programs, Activities & Events More than 20,000 children and adults participate annually in over 20 educational programs offered at the Museum. Major seasonal events include annual festivals that celebrate Chesapeake Bay culture, boats, seafood, and history, as well as concerts, photography and art exhibits, and lecture series featuring nationally known authors and historians. Exhibits Ten exhibit buildings trace the geological, social, and economic history of the Chesapeake Bay through the age of sail and the steamboat era to the advent of the gasoline and diesel-powered engines. Oystering on the Chesapeake, an exhibit building housing an authentic skipjack, was opened in 2001. The Museum’s newest and largest exhibit, At Play on the Bay, focuses on the transition of the Chesapeake as a place of work to a place of play. This two-story exhibit building was opened in June 2005. The Museum’s Howard Chappelle research library, which holds more than 10,000 volumes, is open to the public. Vessels The Museum’s collection of Chesapeake Bay watercraft is the largest in existence, numbering about 85 boats. A part of the collection, including crabbing skiffs, workboats, log canoes and one-design boats, is on display in the Small Boat Shed, while six of the collection’s largest vessels are on floating display at the Museum’s docks. Hours of Operation Spring (Mar. 1 - May 31): daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Summer (Jun. 1 - Sept. 30): daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fall (Oct. 1 - Nov. 13): daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Winter (Nov. 14 - Feb. 28): daily 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Closed: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day |
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