From Friday–Sunday, Sept. 30–Oct. 2, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will once again host one of the nation’s largest gatherings of small boat enthusiasts and unique watercraft at Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XXXIX.

Over the three days, CBMM guests can marvel at the craftsmanship and innovation used in traditional and contemporary small craft while enjoying CBMM’s waterfront campus and indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Hundreds of amateur and professional boatbuilders and enthusiasts, hailing from near and far, are set to showcase their boats at the 39th annual festival.

Sailing skiffs, rowing shells, kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, prams, and one-of-a-kind boats will be on display and in the water throughout this family-oriented event, and small craft owners from across the country will be available to share their knowledge and boating experiences with guests.

On Saturday, CBMM Shipyard staff and Chesapeake Wooden Boat Builders School instructors will be on hand to offer boatbuilding and maritime demonstrations. Also, beginning at 1pm on Saturday, there will be a lively Miles River race of small craft, which can be viewed from CBMM’s waterfront and docks.

Festival-goers will be able to vote for their favorite boat, with the People’s Choice award and others announced among participants on Saturday evening. Limited offerings will be available for the public to see on Sunday.

For safety reasons, dogs are not permitted on museum grounds during CBMM festivals, with the exception of certified service dogs.

Public entrance to the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival is included with CBMM’s general admission, which is good for two consecutive days and free for CBMM members. Hours are 10am–5pm each day. For more information, visit cbmm.org/smallcraftfestival. Anyone looking to participate as an exhibitor should visit cbmm.org/mascfparticipants.

After three years of construction and a festive summer send-off, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is officially bidding a fond farewell to a now-complete Maryland Dove.

“I could not be prouder of the work that CBMM has achieved on the project,” said Kristen Greenaway, President & CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. “We were absolutely honored to be awarded the build contract, and it has been an organization-wide effort, and an absolute delight, to fulfill it.”

In 2018, it was announced that CBMM had been selected to build a brand-new Maryland Dove for Historic St. Mary’s City. The ship, a representation of the late 17th-century trading ship that accompanied the first European settlers to what is now Maryland, is owned by the state of Maryland, and operated and maintained by the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission (HSMCC). An earlier version of the ship, built in the 1970s by Cambridge’s Jim Richardson, was nearing the end of its useful life and decades of new research meant that a new ship could be designed to be a more historically accurate representation of the original Maryland Dove.

Since that first announcement, construction of the iconic state ship has been the central focus of CBMM’s working Shipyard. Work over the past few years, all done in public view, has seen the new ship move from concept to reality, and Maryland Dove will finally sail to its homeport in Historic St. Mary’s City at the end of August. Staff from both organizations joined the public for a celebration of the ship in St. Michaels, Md., at a CBMM-hosted Dock Party in May.

Upon returning to HSMCC, Maryland Dove will serve as the organization’s floating ambassador, flagship exhibition, and a key tool in its educational programming. And thanks to key design elements and a summer of testing and certification, the new ship is authorized to carry passengers by the U.S. Coast Guard, allowing HSMCC to take passengers for an on-the-water experience.

“We are so looking forward to having this exhibit,” said Regina Faden, Executive Director of Historic St. Mary’s City at the Dock Party celebration. We have educated about 500,000 students about early Maryland history and are looking forward to the ship helping us educate the next 500,000. We are very grateful.”

To keep up with the ship as it moves into the next stage of its life, visit marylanddove.org

On Sunday, Aug. 14, Watermen’s Appreciation Day returns to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., featuring a spirited boat docking contest, steamed crabs and other regional food, live music, beer, boat rides, family activities, and more. The fundraising event is organized by CBMM in cooperation with the Talbot Watermen Association, with proceeds benefiting both organizations.

The opportunity to meet the Chesapeake’s watermen, along with local steamed crabs, beer, and other food and beverages continue to highlight the waterfront festival. Eventgoers can also take part in a silent auction in the Small Boat Shed, with all proceeds supporting the Talbot Watermen Association.

Beginning at noon, the event’s “watermen’s rodeo” boat docking contest returns to the Miles River near CBMM’s 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse. Bleacher seating will be provided for spectators to the contest, and children’s activities will be offered throughout the day.

“It’s a great day of celebrating the Chesapeake Bay’s watermen—from the rodeo to the cold beer, hot crabs, and live music” said TWA President Jeff Harrison. “And we’re grateful to partner with CBMM on this important fundraising event for more than a decade now.”

Starting at noon, the day’s catch of steamed crabs—served by watermen—will be available for purchase, in addition to beer, water, soda, hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, and more. Steamed crabs will be sold by the dozen, with pricing set by July 29 and posted at cbmm.org.

Also beginning at 11am, live music with Bird Dog and the Road Kings from the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand will have people tapping their toes and dancing along CBMM’s waterfront.

Admission to the 10am–5pm, rain-or-shine, event includes the boat docking contest, live music, numerous family activities, entrance to all CBMM exhibitions and historic structures, and is set at $18 for adults, $8 for children 6–17, with all children 5 years of age and under admitted free. CBMM members along with licensed watermen and their immediate families get discounted admission at $10 per adult, and $6 per child ages 6–17. Food and beverages are additional.

Advanced admission tickets can be purchased online at cbmm.org/watermensday, with tickets also sold at the door the day of the event. Discounted watermen’s tickets will also be available at the door the day of the event, with an active watermen’s license shown. Boat rides, steamed crabs, beer, and additional food and beverages will be available for purchase. Free event parking will be available at St. Michaels High School, with a complimentary shuttle service to and from CBMM running throughout the day.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including Watermen’s Appreciation Day. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is also prohibited. Spectator boats wishing to view the competition from the water must remain outside the buoyed channel.

For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is pleased to announce that it has broken ground on its new Welcome Center—a major milestone marking the start of Phase II of its ongoing Master Plan campus upgrades.

Opening in 2023, the new, fully ADA accessible building will house CBMM’s Welcome Center, Museum Store, and two exhibition spaces.

“The new building will immensely enhance the guest experience at CBMM and provide an even warmer welcome to campus,” said Kristen Greenaway, CBMM’s President & CEO. “Our Master Plan is designed to create increased space for CBMM’s core museum offerings—including exhibitions, education, and in the shipyard—and we can’t wait for you to see it!”

CBMM’s Master Plan also includes a Phase III focus on utilization of outdoor space and an expansion of Shipyard facilities, designed to showcase the ever-expanding range of shipyard education, boatbuilding, and exhibitions.

Three phases make up the Master Plan, with the scope and timeline contingent upon funding. Funding sources will come from individual donations and naming opportunities, grants, and operations. You too can support CBMM’s efforts to enhance campus and create better public offerings by donating to The Annual Fund. Visit cbmm.org/donate to learn how.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and making this resource available to all.

Every aspect of fulfilling this mission is driven by CBMM’s values of relevance, authenticity, and stewardship, along with a commitment to providing engaging guest experiences and transformative educational programming, all while serving as a vital community partner. For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is proud to be able to offer several sessions in its Chesapeake Perspectives Workshop Series this summer.

Led by teaching artists who draw inspiration from the Chesapeake, participants in the Chesapeake Perspectives Workshop Series will explore mediums and techniques to reflect their own identity, viewpoint, and experiences through art. For a quick look at upcoming programs, go to bit.ly/ChesapeakePerspectives.

The first offering, Living Shoreline in Living Color, is scheduled from 10am–noon on June 11 & 12. Participants will draw inspiration from CBMM’s living shoreline, then learn how to use colorful chalk pastels and chalk pastel pencils turn drawings of it into vibrant pastel “paintings.”

The workshop, which will cover color theory and blending tips and is open to beginners and up, is designed with the principles of Creative Aging for older adults in mind. It will be led by Constance Del Nero, Director of Children’s Education and Community Programs at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, Md. To register and for additional details, visit bit.ly/LivingShorelineWorkshop.

Living Shoreline in Living Color is made possible by a grant provided by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in partnership with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy in addition to support from the Maryland State Arts Council. Thank you to the Maryland Micro-Credentials for Creative Aging Grant Programs for supporting this arts experience.

On June 30, from 5–6:15pm, Translating Life into Literature with Pete Fortenbaugh will be held in CBMM’s Van Lennep Auditorium. In his recently released novella, The Monday after Father’s Day, author Pete Fortenbaugh presents a fictional community of complex characters, exploring transcendent themes of religion, race, and community through the eyes of his eight-year-old protagonist. Informed by the close friendships he made while living and working as a carpenter on isolated Tangier Island, Fortenbaugh’s work spotlights life in small communities sustained by the Bay.

In his talk, Fortenbaugh will share his process for translating his experiences in the Chesapeake into a fictionalized world, as well as excerpts from the novella. To register, visit bit.ly/PeteFortenbaughWorkshop.

A series of three photography workshops rounds out the Chesapeake Perspectives Workshop Series in the coming months. Environmental Portraiture and Camera Fundamentals is scheduled for 9am–noon Wednesday, June 29; Going Beyond the Snapshot to Photograph Environmental Architecture & Objects will be 1–4pm on Wednesday, July 20; and Photographing Boats from a Boat is planned for 4–7pm on Wednesday, July 27. Visit bit.ly/ChesapeakePerspectives to register.

Each of these workshops, which are designed for beginner and intermediate photographers, will be led by George Sass. After running his international advertising agency for more than 25 years, Sass started a second career as a photojournalist for the marine industry. Over 100 of his feature stories and photography were published in national magazines including Yachting, Power & Motoryacht, Yachts International, Cruising World, Passagemaker and more. Several of his stories have won magazine awards of excellence. Today, Sass mainly focuses on his fine art photography and exhibits his work in galleries and art organizations throughout Maryland where it has won numerous fine art awards.

Translating Life into Literature with Pete Fortenbaugh, and each of the upcoming photography workshops,are funded through CBMM’s Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

Participants are encouraged to participate in one or more programs as part of the Chesapeake Perspectives Workshop, and to use this experience to create a submission for CBMM’s upcoming community response exhibition, The Changing Chesapeake. Learn more at bit.ly/ChangingChesapeake.

Join the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum aboard the 1920 buyboat Winnie Estelle this summer for an up-close and personal view of the Chesapeake Bay sailing log canoe races on the Miles River.

Log canoe races are a quintessential Chesapeake pastime, and from a shady spot onboard Winnie’s deck you will get an up close and exciting look at the action. Amateur photographers, sailing aficionados, and wooden boat enthusiasts will all find something to enjoy on CBMM’s log canoe cruises!

 The two-hour scenic cruises are scheduled for select times on June 25 and 26, and July 30 and 31. Boarding is limited, with all cruises dependent on marine conditions.

These iconic Chesapeake Bay sailing log canoes only race along the Chester, Miles, Choptank, and Tred Avon rivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. With long masts and large sails, these boats keep upright as they accelerate to speeds of 10 knots or more, thanks to crew members climbing to the ends of 15-foot boards that hang off the side of the canoe.

The cost is $40 per person, with a 20% discount offered to CBMM members. Cruises fill early, with dates, departure times, and online registration at bit.ly/CBMMCruises.

CBMM members play a critical role in supporting CBMM’s rich legacy of educational programs, fascinating and ever-changing exhibitions, and maintenance of the largest collection of Chesapeake Bay watercraft in the world, and have access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

The 34^th Antique & Classic Boat Festival and the Arts at Navy Point begins Friday, June 17, at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., this year celebrating the theme: “Chesapeake Bay Built.”

Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, this Father’s Day tradition brings a sense of nostalgia to the Miles River and CBMM’s docks and campus, drawing some of the area’s finest classic boats, nautical and maritime treasures, and entertainment to the waterfront festival.

Organizers plan to highlight Bay-built boats, including finely crafted deadrises and bugeyes, as well as other marque classic boats, including cruisers, runabouts, and racers. Wooden, as well as pre-1997 fiberglass and metal boats, will be on display both in water and on land, and there will be a Field of Dreams for those who are looking to own one of these beauties.

An exciting addition to this year’s show will be the USAAF P-520, the last of the 85-foot US Army Air Corps Crash boats used to rescue downed pilots during WWII that is still represented in its original wartime configuration. Maintained by the Veterans Heritage Foundation, the boat will be open for tours throughout the festival.

From Friday, June 17, through Sunday, June 19, the festival’s signature Arts at Navy Point pavilion brings juried fine artists, craftspeople, and vendors to CBMM’s waterfront campus, offering nautical and maritime-themed items for boat and home. Festival hours are10am–5pm Friday and Saturday, with the Arts at Navy Point and limited displays continuing Sunday from 10am–3pm.

For advance tickets and more information, visit cbmm.org/antiqueandclassic. For information on the Antique & Classic Boat Society’s Chesapeake Bay Chapter, visit chesapeakebayacbs.org.

The public is invited to help the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum celebrate its construction of the new Maryland Dove with a dock party!

CBMM’s St. Michaels, Md., campus opens at 10am on Saturday, May 28, and the festivities start at 11am. Food, drinks, and live music will be on site for guests to enjoy and CBMM’s shipwrights will give talks on rigging and the construction process throughout the day. At 2pm, officials from CBMM and Historic St. Mary’s City will lead us in a toast to the ship.

This event will also mark the return of drop-in cruises aboard 1920 buyboatWinnieEstelle, which depart from CBMM’s campus at 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the summer. Boarding passes, which are limited, cost $10 for adults, $5 for CBMM members, $3 for children 6–17, and free for all member children and non-member children 5 and under.

Entrance to the Maryland Dove Dock Party itself is included with general admission and is free for CBMM members.

In 2018, it was announced that CBMM had been selected to build a brand-new Maryland Dove for Historic St. Mary’s City. The ship, a representation of the late 17th-century trading ship that accompanied the first European settlers to what is now Maryland, is owned by the state of Maryland, and operated and maintained by the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission. An earlier version of the ship, built in the 1970s by Cambridge’s Jim Richardson, was nearing the end of its useful life and decades of new research meant that a new ship could be designed to be a more historically accurate representation of the original Maryland Dove.

 Since that first announcement, construction of the iconic state ship has been the central focus of CBMM’s working Shipyard. Work over the past few years, all done in public view, has seen the new ship move from concept to reality, and Maryland Dove will now remain dockside for the final steps in its construction, and throughout the summer. Visit cbmm.org to learn more.

Kristen Greenaway, President & CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (right), was honored by the National Maritime Historical Society and its 11^th annual National Maritime Awards dinner in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. Greenaway, along with Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and Dr. David F. Winkler, Historian at the Naval Historical Foundation, was presented with the NMHS Distinguished Service Award during the event for her remarkable contributions to the maritime museum community, not only at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum but also for her global initiatives that have enriched maritime museums internationally. Greenaway’s award was presented to her by Laura Lott, President and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums (left). She is the first maritime museum CEO to have been given this prestigious award, an honor bestowed on some of the world’s most famous mariners.