Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

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Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Your Chesapeake adventure begins here! With a park-like setting of outdoor and indoor exhibitions in the historic town of St.
(1460)

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment and people of the Chesapeake Bay; and the values of relevance, authenticity, and stewardship guide us in every aspect of our work. Michaels, CBMM offers changing exhibits, demonstrations, boat rides on the Miles River, and annual festivals celebrating Chesapeake Bay culture, boats, seafood, and history. CBMM’s floating fleet of historic Chesapeake Bay watercraft is the largest in existence and its small boat collection includes crabbing skiffs, workboats, and log canoes. Real shipwrights building authentic Chesapeake wooden boats are part of the CBMM experience, and they are available to share the heritage of traditional boatbuilding with guests. Rediscover the fun of playing on the Bay; take in beautiful, changing exhibits in the Steamboat Building; climb atop the historic 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse; learn about the heritage of oystering and waterfowling; get your hands dirty pulling up a crab pot or nippering for oysters at Waterman’s Wharf; or take part in a hands-on workshop through the Apprentice for a Day program and experience traditional wooden boatbuilding in the CBMM's working Shipyard. Our members even have docking privileges along CBMM’s harbor front campus. For more information, visit CBMM in St. Michaels or on the web at www.cbmm.org.

11/01/2026

Join us aboard PATRIOT for a sunset cruise on Nov. 6 or 20 and enjoy beautiful waterfront views as the sun goes down over St. Michaels.

It's the perfect way to unwind, take in the scenery, and experience the Chesapeake Bay from a different perspective.

🎟️ Reserve your tickets and come enjoy the view with us! https://visit.cbmm.org

📸 Robert Vitale

Shoutout to our Boat Captain Apprentice Ashley for our favorite Halloween costume this year! 🎃🚤She built her own PATRIOT...
10/31/2026

Shoutout to our Boat Captain Apprentice Ashley for our favorite Halloween costume this year! 🎃🚤

She built her own PATRIOT costume, and we think she nailed it!

Happy Halloween from all of us at CBMM!

10/31/2026

Rosie Parks, Old Point, and Mr. Dickie making their way up the Bay for Sultana Downrigging Festival!

If you're heading to Downrigging this weekend, be sure to stop by, say hello to the CBMM crew, and join us for deck tours!

It's a festival you don't want to miss! ⚓

10/30/2026

Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival founder and organizer Kim Hannon is giving us a sneak peek inside CBMM's Small Boat Shed, just one of the spaces that will be filled with talented artists and their beautiful creations on Saturday, Nov. 21!

Join us for a festive day on the waterfront featuring dozens of artisans, unique sea glass jewelry, coastal art, holiday gifts, live music, glassblowing demonstrations, great food and drinks, and more!

Want to make your festival experience extra special? Go VIP for exclusive swag, vendor discounts, and access to the VIP Hospitality Lounge with complimentary b**r and w**e!

Saturday, Nov. 21 | 10am–4pm

🎟️ Save $2 when you purchase general admission tickets in advance, plus enjoy early entry at 9:30am!

Start planning your visit: https://cbmm.org/event/eastern-shore-sea-glass-coastal-arts-festival-holiday-edition/

10/29/2026

Spend a day aboard Rosie Parks! ⛵

From an early morning departure on the Miles River to an afternoon arrival at Deal Island, a 13-hour trip down the Chesapeake Bay offers a look at life aboard one of the Bay's few remaining skipjacks.

Writer Sean Markey joined CBMM's crew for the journey, sharing the people, traditions, and experiences that make sailing aboard Rosie Parks so special.

"Skipjacks are more than museum pieces or historic relics. They are part of the living memory of the Bay, kept afloat by the communities that love them."

📖 Come along for the trip in our latest feature, Under Sail with Rosie Parks: https://cbmm.org/features/under-sail-with-rosie-parks/

Who’s up for a crab cake? 🦀 Last week, we were thrilled to welcome all Talbot County Public Schools third graders to cam...
10/28/2026

Who’s up for a crab cake? 🦀

Last week, we were thrilled to welcome all Talbot County Public Schools third graders to campus for our Chesapeake’s Best Crab Cakes field trip! These students from Easton Elementary were among those who joined us for this immersive tour, which follows the blue crab from the brackish Bay to our picnic tables, sharing lessons in Chesapeake geography, biology, and economics along the way.

We’re proud to share these Bay stories with the next generation and help students discover all that makes this region special!

10/27/2026

Join the celebration at OysterFest! 🎉

After a three-year refit in CBMM's working Shipyard, 1920 Chesapeake Bay buyboat Winnie Estelle is ready for its next chapter as a floating classroom and ecotourism vessel.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, at 3pm during OysterFest, we're excited to host a christening ceremony celebrating Winnie Estelle’s history, the talented shipwrights who have worked on the project, the supporters who made it possible, and the vessel’s exciting future.

Learn more & buy tickets: https://cbmm.org/event/oysterfest/

🦪 Vintage oyster cans aren't just containers. They are works of art!From bold colors and eye-catching illustrations to c...
10/27/2026

🦪 Vintage oyster cans aren't just containers. They are works of art!

From bold colors and eye-catching illustrations to clever branding, vintage oyster cans offer a glimpse into the Chesapeake's past.

CBMM's collection includes more than 650 oyster cans, featuring a wide variety of designs, each with its own character and history.

We've selected eight to share as we count down to OysterFest on Nov. 7, and we're curious which one is your favorite!

Here's a fun twist: One of these eight designs was selected for this year's OysterFest merchandise, including shirts, hats, mugs, and tote bags. Can you guess which one?

👉 Swipe through and let us know your favorite by dropping its number in the comments!

10/26/2026

It's officially oyster season on the Chesapeake Bay! 🦪

And while we love oysters, we're also pretty big fans of the colorful vintage cans they once came in!

CBMM's collection includes an incredible variety of historic oyster cans, many of which feature bold graphics and custom designs meant to help them stand out from the pack. Each one tells a little piece of the Bay's story.

Join our Assistant Curator Gabriella Cantelmo for a look at the history behind these beautiful designs and what makes some of them so special.

As we count down to OysterFest on Nov. 7, we'll be sharing some of our favorite oyster cans from the collection, including the one that will be emblazoned on this year's commemorative OysterFest gear. Stay tuned!

Thanks to the group who joined us last weekend in the Shipyard for our Half-Hull Modeling Workshop! Over three days, gue...
10/25/2026

Thanks to the group who joined us last weekend in the Shipyard for our Half-Hull Modeling Workshop!

Over three days, guest instructor Tom Price guided participants in crafting their own half-hull models, sharing hands-on lessons in maritime craftsmanship and history along the way. The two featured Chesapeake Bay vessels this time were schooner Minnie May Kirwan and the yawl boat from schooner William J. Stanford.

Stay tuned for details on Shipyard Programs ahead this winter, including a one-week presale exclusively for CBMM members next month!

Address

213 N Talbot Street
Saint Michaels, MD
21663

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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