Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

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.
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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 cultur

e, 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.

09/06/2026

Want to feel more confident with your boat’s electrical system? Learn from two people who have spent their careers working with them.

Join CBMM's Marine Mechanic Mark Newberg and volunteer Ben Tilghman on Friday, Sept. 18, for our Intro to Marine Electrical Workshop.

This one-day workshop is all about getting hands-on. Learn basic electrical circuits and standards, practice crimping wires and battery cables, and work on a simple 12-volt simulator in CBMM’s mechanic shop.

No matter your experience level, come ready to learn and have some fun with Mark and Ben.

🔗 Learn more and register: https://cbmm.org/event/intro-to-marine-electrical-2026/

09/05/2026

What a day! Thank you to everyone who came out for today’s Charity Boat Auction and helped make it such a success.

Every boat sold through CBMM’s Boat Donation Program supports our education, exhibitions, Shipyard, community programming, and so much more.

From all of us at CBMM, thank you for supporting our mission and making today possible!

09/04/2026

CBMM’s Ellen & Richard Bodorff President & CEO Kristen Greenaway knows cruising sailboats, and for her Boat Auction Staff Pick, she found one she’d happily take offshore.

Her pick is this 1981 Downeast 38, a full-keel, cutter-rigged cruiser built for adventure.

“I love this boat,” Kristen says. “This is built for offshore, deep water, blue water cruising, and you can go anywhere in this boat.”

See it for yourself at CBMM’s Charity Boat Auction tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 5! Doors open at 8am, and the auction begins at 11am.

Auction Details: https://cbmm.org/event/charity-boat-auction/

09/03/2026

There’s something for everyone at CBMM's annual Charity Boat Auction this Saturday!

With more than 75 boats in this year’s auction, the lineup has it all: kayaks, dinghies, sailboats, powerboats, a pontoon boat, an Adirondack guide boat, and more. Whether you’re looking for your first boat or your next Chesapeake adventure, come see what’s waiting for bidders.

Saturday, Sept. 5
Gates open at 8am
Marine tag sale starts at 8:30am
Auction starts at 11am

Learn more:
https://cbmm.org/event/charity-boat-auction/

09/02/2026

Boat Auction Staff Picks 🎯

What would Shipwright Apprentice Caden Lewis do with this Deer Isle Koster 14? Creek-hopping and camping!

Caden says this small, shallow-draft sailboat would be perfect for exploring local creeks, setting up a tent, and spending the night on the water.

CBMM's Charity Boat Auction is this Saturday, Sept. 5, with doors opening at 8am and bidding beginning at 11am. Dozens of donated boats and watercraft will be up for auction, with every sale supporting CBMM’s mission.

Learn More:
https://cbmm.org/event/charity-boat-auction/

09/01/2026

🎬 Now playing at CBMM: Racing Rivals: Log Canoes of Chesapeake Bay

As log canoe racing season comes down the home stretch, celebrate one of the Chesapeake’s most thrilling traditions on the big screen.

Throughout September, catch Racing Rivals in CBMM’s Craig Fuller & Diane Terpeluk Theater. The 26-minute documentary from Maryland Public Television dives into the history, culture, and excitement of log canoe racing and introduces the skippers, crews, owners, historians, and enthusiasts keeping this unique Eastern Shore tradition alive.

Keep an eye out for CBMM Chief Historian Pete Lesher, who shares the history of log canoe racing and his own experience racing aboard Island Bird.

📽️ Playing daily at 11am and 2pm throughout September, and available on demand.

The screenings are presented in partnership with Maryland Public Television and included with CBMM admission.

Learn More: https://cbmm.org/resources/now-showing-racing-rivals-log-canoes-of-chesapeake-bay/

08/31/2026

Rosie Parks is back in the water, looking beautiful and ready for skipjack racing season!

Fresh from maintenance in our Shipyard, our historic skipjack heads to Deal Island this Friday to kick off a busy fall on the Chesapeake, with the first race coming up Monday!

And you can be part of the crew! Join us for sail training and racing aboard Rosie Parks at Deal Island, with more opportunities to get aboard for skipjack races in Annapolis and Cambridge later this fall.

Learn more:
https://cbmm.org/event/skipjack-sail-training-deal-island-2026/2026-09-04/

08/30/2026

Make Labor Day weekend a little more fun with a cruise on the Miles River!

PATRIOT has a full weekend of cruises planned, including Live Music Cruises on Saturday and Sunday. Catch Michael Waskey on Saturday and local favorite Fresh Squeezed OJ on Sunday.

And Sunday is Family Funday Sunday, which means kids 17 and under cruise FREE!

Bring the family, grab a drink and a snack from the onboard bar, and enjoy Labor Day weekend out on the beautiful Miles River.

🎟️ Check out the full schedule and get your tickets: https://visit.cbmm.org/

08/29/2026

Captain Joyce and Captain Matt didn’t just pick their favorite boat for the Charity Boat Auction. They took it for a test ride! 🚤

Their Staff Pick is this 2012 Cobalt 296 Bow Rider, and after putting it through its paces on the Miles River, they came back impressed.

“It cuts right through [the waves]. Feels really good. This is a very stable boat,” Captain Joyce says, before Captain Matt puts the twin 350s to work: “The response on those throttles gets up and goes. Oh man, it’s so much fun.”

This Cobalt is an exceptionally comfortable dayboat in great condition, powered by twin 350 EFI Mercruisers with Bravo 3 outdrives.

Want to check it out for yourself? Preview the auction lineup before the big day:
• Thursday, Sept. 3, 5–7pm: Exclusive CBMM Member Preview
• Friday, Sept. 4, 10am–6pm: Public preview, with free admission from 3–6pm

Then join us for the Charity Boat Auction on Saturday, Sept. 5. Doors open at 8am, and bidding begins at 11am.

Learn more, check out the lineup, and register to bid:
https://cbmm.org/event/charity-boat-auction/

08/28/2026

Our first Crabbing the Miles River crew headed out this morning to catch the sunrise, work a trotline, and get a taste of what it's like to work the water.

Thanks to Captain Matt for sending us this great look at their morning on the Miles!

Want to get out on the water with us? We're going out every Friday morning in September!

Join us next Friday, Sept. 11. Space is limited to just six participants. The cost is $80 with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Learn more and reserve your spot: https://cbmm.org/event/crabbing-the-miles-river-september11-2026/

This program is supported through CBMM’s Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

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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