Annapolis Maritime Museum

Annapolis Maritime Museum is a maritime museum located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States, showcasing the Chesapeake Bay's rich maritime history, with a focus on the oyster industry, boat building, and sailing. The museum is situated in the historic McGarvey Salmon Seafood Building, a former oyster packing plant, and is near the United States Naval Academy and the Maryland State House. The museum's mission is to preserve and interpret the maritime heritage of Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay region, with connections to notable figures such as John Smith, Captain John Barry, and Joshua Barney. The museum also highlights the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to the American Revolution and the War of 1812, with events like the Battle of Baltimore and the Burning of Washington.

● History

The Annapolis Maritime Museum was established in 2004 by a group of local historians and maritime enthusiasts, including Donald G. Orr, Richard J. Dodds, and Robert L. Gates, with the goal of preserving the maritime history of Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay region. The museum is located in the historic McGarvey Salmon Seafood Building, which was built in 1936 and was once a thriving oyster packing plant, supplying oysters to New York City and Philadelphia. The building was restored and renovated with the help of the National Park Service, the Maryland Historical Trust, and the City of Annapolis, and now features exhibits on the maritime history of the region, including the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the Maryland Navy. The museum has also partnered with other organizations, such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program, and the Maryland State Archives, to promote the preservation of maritime history and the conservation of the Chesapeake Bay.

● Exhibits

The Annapolis Maritime Museum features a variety of exhibits showcasing the maritime history of the Chesapeake Bay region, including the oyster industry, boat building, and sailing. The museum's exhibits include artifacts and displays on the history of the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the Maryland Navy, as well as the role of the Chesapeake Bay in the American Revolution and the War of 1812, with notable events like the Battle of Lake Erie and the Burning of Washington. The museum also features exhibits on the maritime art of Thomas Hart Benton, John Singleton Copley, and James Bard, as well as the ship models of Donald McNarry, John F. Leavitt, and William Rush. Additionally, the museum has exhibits on the Chesapeake Bay's marine life, including oysters, crabs, and fish, and the importance of the bay to the ecosystem and the economy of the region, with connections to organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

● Collections

The Annapolis Maritime Museum has a diverse collection of artifacts and objects related to the maritime history of the Chesapeake Bay region, including ship models, nautical instruments, and maritime art. The museum's collection includes items such as oyster dredges, sailing ships, and boat building tools, as well as artifacts from the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the Maryland Navy, including uniforms, medals, and documents from notable figures like John Paul Jones, Stephen Decatur, and Isaac Hull. The museum also has a collection of maritime photographs and documents, including logbooks, diaries, and letters from sailors, ship captains, and maritime historians, such as Samuel Eliot Morison and Alfred Thayer Mahan. The collection is used to support the museum's exhibits and educational programs, and is also available for research by historians and scholars from institutions like the Library of Congress and the National Archives.

● Education and Programs

The Annapolis Maritime Museum offers a variety of educational programs and activities for students, teachers, and the general public, including lectures, workshops, and tours. The museum's educational programs focus on the maritime history of the Chesapeake Bay region, and include topics such as oyster conservation, boat building, and sailing, with partnerships with organizations like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program. The museum also offers summer camps and scouting programs for children, and professional development opportunities for teachers and educators from institutions like the University of Maryland and the United States Naval Academy. Additionally, the museum hosts special events and exhibits throughout the year, including lectures by historians and authors like David McCullough and Nathaniel Philbrick, and re-enactments of historical events like the Battle of Baltimore and the Burning of Washington.

● Visitor Information

The Annapolis Maritime Museum is open to the public and offers a variety of amenities and services for visitors, including a gift shop, a research library, and exhibit galleries. The museum is located in the historic McGarvey Salmon Seafood Building in Annapolis, Maryland, and is within walking distance of the United States Naval Academy and the Maryland State House. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the museum's exhibits, or participate in a guided tour led by a knowledgeable docent or historian. The museum also offers special discounts for groups, students, and seniors, and is accessible by public transportation from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. The museum is a member of the American Alliance of Museums and the Maritime Heritage Grant Program, and is accredited by the American Association for State and Local History. Category:Maritime museums in the United States