Get in the Halloween spirit this year by joining the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for a new virtual program, Wunderkammer: Exploring CBMM’s Cabinets of Curiosities.

Cabinets of Curiosities, fondly known in German as Wunderkammers, have been historically used to showcase oddities, unique objects of material culture, gems of natural history, and mystical stories. From 6–7:30pm on Thursday, Oct. 29, CBMM Registrar Katelyn Kean will host an exploration of CBMM’s collection for the weird and wonderful as it relates to the Chesapeake Bay.

Hosted via Zoom, participants will learn about the history of Cabinets of Curiosities, how that history connects to the modern museum world, and what hidden treasures can be found within CBMM’s collection. Hosted by the CBMM Crew, a group established to present engaging events and activities targeted to the young adult community of CBMM guests, the cost to participate is $10, with a 20% discount offered to CBMM members ($8). To register, visit cbmm.org/wunderkammer.

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 watercraft in the world, including access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

This fall and winter, in conjunction with the opening of a new exhibition featuring his work, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., will present a virtual artist series centered on photographer David Harp.

In the series, David Harp and professional collaborators Tom Horton and Sandy Cannon-Brown will reflect upon the evolution of Harp’s Chesapeake photography in a career spanning more than four decades. Where Land and Water Meet: The Chesapeake Bay Photography of David W. Harp, the new exhibition featuring work from throughout Harp’s career, will be on display in CBMM’s Steamboat Building gallery from Sept. 25, 2020 to Sept. 20, 2021. A virtual exhibition will follow later this fall.

Sessions in the artist talk include “Where Land and Water Meet: The Reflections of David Harp” at 2pm on Wednesday, Oct. 7; “The Photographer and the Writer: David Harp with Tom Horton” at 2pm on Wednesday, Nov. 4; and “From Photography to Film: David Harp with Sandy Cannon-Brown” at 2pm on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Participants may register for any, or all three sessions, at cbmm.org/HarpArtistSeries.

The cost per session is $7.50 per person, or $6 for CBMM members, who are eligible for access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. 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 watercraft in the world. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., will begin its annual fall speaker series on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and continue on select Wednesdays through Dec. 2. All sessions will be held virtually, and advance registration is required.

With climate change a global reality, the Chesapeake Bay is one of the most vulnerable areas to warming temperatures, rising sea levels, and increased storm intensities. This year’s fall speaker series, titled Climate Change in the Chesapeake, explores the connection between science and culture, looking at how communities are adapting to build climate resilience.

The speaker series kicks off on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 2pm with “Chesapeake Climate Science for the Non-Scientist.”How will a changing climate impact the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and all of the people and creatures that call this place home? In this session, Bill Boicourt, Professor Emeritus at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, will explore current understandings from climate science research to help participants better understand the changes happening throughout the region, from increasing river flow, to rising sea levels, to impacts on the atmosphere, the forests, and the creatures that live in the Bay.

“Engaging Waterman Heritage in Climate Change Adaptation Planning on the Deal Island Peninsula”is scheduled for 2pm on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The Deal Island Peninsula is deeply rooted by local watermen heritage, which has for generations helped local families navigate living and working in a dynamic coastal environment. This heritage also helps frame local understandings about climate change vulnerabilities and resilience. In this session, Liz Van Dolah, Coordinator of the Deal Island Peninsula Partnership, will share insights on how watermen draw upon their heritage in discussions about climate change, and how local heritage understandings can be harnessed to help facilitate adaptation planning that supports local resilience needs and goals.

At 2pm on Wednesday, Nov. 11, CBMM will present “Protecting Nature, Strengthening Communities: The Role of Land Conservation in Climate Resilience.”As sea level rises, temperatures warm, and precipitation patterns change, it is imperative that we protect land and natural resources across the Delmarva Peninsula. Jim Bass, Coastal Resilience Program Manager at Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, will discuss the role of land conservation in the region’s climate adaptation work, which forms the cornerstone of ESLC’s newest and largest initiative: Delmarva Oasis.

In America, COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting people of color with higher morbidity and mortality rates, but this is not the only pandemic impacting these populations. The nation’s most polluted and high poverty areas are often highly racially segregated, contributing to another pandemic: the differential impacts of climate change. In “Environmental Justice During a Syndemic: Challenges and Opportunities for Social Change” at 2pm on Wednesday, Nov. 18, Dr. Sacoby Wilson, University of Maryland Associate Professor of Applied Environmental Health, will highlight some of the challenges presented during this syndemic, explore how climate change will worsen the health outcomes for frontline and fenceline communities, and discuss how community engagement can improve the lives of people of color and other differentially impacted groups.

The final offering in the series, “Climate Change & Racial Justice: The Resilience & Vulnerability of African American Communities on the Eastern Shore” will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, Dec. 2.Climate change is fundamentally a racial justice issue, as both the responsibility for causing climate change and the vulnerability to its impacts vary by race. The story of Smithville—a historic African American community in Dorchester County—illustrates how cultural legacies of racial discrimination have unfairly increased the vulnerability of Eastern Shore African American communities to climate change impacts. Join Smithville native Rev. Roslyn Watts and University of Maryland anthropologists, Dr. Christy Miller Hesed and Dr. Michael Paolisso, as they discuss the rich history of Smithville and their work to build coastal resilience to climate change.

The cost per session is $7.50 per person, or $6 for CBMM members, who are offered a 20% discount on all programming. Register online for all five sessions for an additional discount. To sign up, or for more information, visit cbmm.org/speakerseries.

At 2pm on Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the launch of the historic buyboat Winnie Estelle with an illustrated talk.

After shipping fish and oysters purchased from watermen to city markets or seafood packing houses for decades, Winnie Estelle moved south to the Caribbean as a cargo boat and later a dive boat, before returning to the Chesapeake in 2012. In the virtual session, Chief Curator Pete Lesher will explore the boat’s many-layered history, as well as the role of buyboats in the traditional industries of the Chesapeake.

The cost for the workshop is $7.50 for non-members and $6 for CBMM members, with registration needed at cbmm.org/Winnie100.

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 watercraft in the world, including access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is offering another three-evening session of its virtual Maryland DNR-approved boater safety course on Mondays, Sept. 14, 21 & 28, 2020, from 5–8pm.

Led by CBMM educators, the boater’s safety course will be a live virtual offering, giving participants the opportunity to interact and engage with the course instructor and fellow participants.

Participants completing the course and passing the test will receive a Maryland Boating Safety Education Certificate, valid for life. The certificate is required for anyone born on or after July 1, 1972, who operates a numbered or documented vessel on Maryland waters. The course is also recommended for anyone looking to become a safer, more experienced boater or personal watercraft operator.

The cost is $25 per person, with space limited and registration required. A 20% discount (of $5) is available for CBMM members. Details and links for the online learning classroom will be sent to registrants in advance of the program.

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 watercraft in the world, including access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

To register, go to cbmm.org/boatersafety. For information on Maryland DNR’s boating safety program, visit dnr.maryland.gov/boating.

With construction underway on the new Maryland Dove in St. Michaels, Md., Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC), and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) are offering another Symposium on Building the New Maryland Dove. With a morning session scheduled for 10:30am–noon and an afternoon panel discussion from 1–2:30pm on Monday, Sept. 28, this event will be similar in scope to the Symposium held in fall 2019 at CBMM.

During the symposium, staff from both HSMC and CBMM will explore the history of the original Ark and Dove, and the research, design, and construction plan for the new build. The day’s events will include two sessions, a morning talk, and an afternoon panel discussion. Those interested may register online https://cbmm.org/event/virtual-symposium-building-new-maryland-dove/.

Built in a shipyard near Cambridge, Md., in 1978, Maryland Dove is owned by the state of Maryland and operated and maintained by the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission. From now through 2021, CBMM’s working Shipyard is constructing the ship’s successor in full public view. To learn more about Maryland Dove and CBMM’s efforts to build the new vessel, visit marylanddove.org.

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