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August 21, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

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Join CBMM’s 60th Anniversary Celebration at Your Museum, Your Community Day on Aug. 22

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 In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is excited to host Your Museum, Your Community Day on Friday, Aug. 22, from 10am-2pm. This end-of-summer extravaganza is designed to showcase its mission in action across its waterfront campus with throwback pricing, live music, food, hands-on programming, and more fun for all ages.

All non-member adult guests receive $2 general admission that day in homage to pricing when CBMM opened its doors on May 22, 1965. CBMM members, as always, receive free general admission. All children 17-and-under are also free that day. Tickets and more information are available now at cbmm.org/YourMuseumYourCommunityDay.

“Community is at the heart of our mission,” CBMM’s President & CEO Kristen Greenaway said. “Your Museum, Your Community Day is an opportunity for us to thank the community that has supported us for the past 60 years and celebrate the shared heritage that connects us all.”

The Your Museum, Your Community Day festivities will highlight CBMM’s educational offerings, campus, collection, and history over six decades as well partners across the community. There will be live music from local musician Gage Rhodes, food vendors, face painting and bubble stations, free boat rides, and hands-on activities and demos with CBMM’s staff and volunteers.

The fun includes a 60th anniversary scavenger hunt, Hooper Strait Lighthouse tours sponsored by Choptank Fiber, gardening activities, catch-and-release fishing along the waterfront, a rain gutter regatta, Miles River critter meet-and-greets, a Shipyard forging demo, films from Maryland Public Television, and more.

At noon, there will be a community bell-ringing ceremony utilizing the bronze fog bell outside of CBMM’s Welcome Center to commemorate the festivities. Guests will be invited to take a turn ringing the bell, which dates to 1886 and was recently gifted to CBMM’s collection by the Naval History and Heritage Command.

In addition, Patriot Cruises is offering $10 off all adults and senior tickets for Narrated Historical Cruises at 12:30pm and 2:30pm that day. This offer is available now by using coupon code COMMUNITY at online checkout and also applies to in-person sales.

All guests will enjoy a 10% discount in the Museum Store. (This offer is not to be combined with any other discounts and does include work from artists on consignment.)

Everyone who purchases a new CBMM membership that day, in-person or online, will receive one month free in celebration of Your Museum, Your Community Day.

Your Museum, Your Community Day is the latest highlight in CBMM’s year-long celebration of its diamond anniversary, including a birthday bash back in May and more milestone moments woven into its annual festivals and programming.

Over 60 years on Navy Point along the Miles River in historic St. Michaels, Md., CBMM has blossomed into a world-class maritime museum and vital community partner serving more than 85,000 guests per year on its 18-acre campus in fulfillment of its mission to preserve and explore the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and make this resource accessible to all.

Throughout the year, CBMM is looking back on its six decades through a series of mission-focused videos highlighting key themes across its history. The next chapter will feature 60 years of community with a feature on Caden Lewis, a St. Michaels resident who grew his passion for boatbuilding through CBMM’s Rising Tide after-school program and a high school internship before starting an apprenticeship in the Shipyard earlier this year.

To learn more, visit cbmm.org/60thAnniversary.

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CBMM’s Shipyard Celebrates Graduation of Shipwright Apprentice Daniel Gutierrez

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 The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Shipyard celebrated the graduation of Seip Family Foundation Shipwright Apprentice Daniel Gutierrez from its state-accredited program last week.

Gutierrez took a break from his on-going work readying 1909 crab dredger Old Point for a return to the water to receive his official certification and congratulations from an enthusiastic crowd of staff, friends, and state officials.

“I’m extremely grateful to Daniel for his commitment to this program these past two years,” CBMM’s Vessel Conservation Manager Sam Hilgartner said. “He came here and dove in with both feet determined to get the most out of this experience. He’s worked hard, and he’s embraced being part of this community. As he graduates, I’m more than confident in his ability to carry on this tradition in the legacy of the CBMM Shipwright Apprentice Program.”

A Houston native, Gutierrez had spent several years lifeguarding on the beach in Galveston, Texas, when he decided to pursue a career in boatbuilding. He completed Cape Fear Community College’s Wooden Boat Building program before arriving at CBMM in August 2023 on a recommendation from his instructor Walter Atkins, who has recently joined CBMM’s Shipyard crew.

Gutierrez knew he was in the right place when he was asked to jump right in assisting on repairs for skipjack Rosie Parks. He spent his early weeks working on the historic vessels portside planking, deck boards, and sheer clamp, and since then, he’s continued his education while working on most of the vessels in CBMM’s fleet.

“It’s been really great,” Gutierrez said. “It’s kind of crazy to look back and see the progress I’ve made. You don’t really notice it day-to-day, but there’s so much that I’ve gotten to learn here.”

CBMM’s Shipwright Apprentice program is unique in its scope and ambition as the nation’s only state-certified apprentice program in the trade of traditional wooden boat building and maintenance. Gutierrez has completed 4,000 hours of hands-on experience, plus additional skill development training, to prepare him to take on an entry-level shipwright position.

For Gutierrez, CBMM’s Shipyard has provided the right atmosphere to grow his skills and confidence. He’s learned under Hilgartner, Shipyard Educator Steve Garrand, Floating Fleet Shipwright Alex Bell, and other talented shipwrights on the CBMM team. Lately, he’s tried to pass those lessons along to first-year apprentices Caden Lewis and Austin Benshoff while working together on Old Point.

“Being here, you appreciate the ability to make mistakes,” Gutierrez said. “All the people you’re learning from, they’ve been there, and they understand that it happens. You’re never too stressed because they have patience and want you to get it right.”

Along the way, Gutierrez has discovered a passion for life on the Eastern Shore far from home. He’s bought two different boats through CBMM’s Charity Boat Donation Program, spent weekends surfing at area beaches, traversed trails with his dog Goobie, honed his skills as a fisherman on local waterways, and even logged time last fall dredging oysters with Capt. Ed Farley aboard skipjack HM Krentz.

“The culture of the Chesapeake is interesting to me,” Gutierrez said. “I really like it over here. I’ve tried to do as much exploring as I can.”

CBMM’s Shipwright Apprentice Program will continue to pass on these traditional skills to the next generation of Chesapeake shipwrights and grow its unique impact in the local workforce with the addition of two more Shipwright Apprentices later this year. Learn more about career opportunities in CBMM’s Shipyard, including current openings for experienced shipwrights, at cbmm.org/Careers.

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Get A Fantastic Deal on a New-To-You Vessel at CBMM’s Charity Boat Auction on Aug. 30

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CBMM will host its annual Charity Boat Auction on Saturday, Aug. 30, inviting guests to its waterfront campus to bid on donated vessels of all shapes and sizes in support of its mission.

Dozens of boats and watercraft, ranging in size and performance, will be auctioned off to the highest bidders. There will be reserves on several top-quality vessels, while the rest will be offered with no minimum.

The doors open at 8am, providing an opportunity to browse the inventory before the auction begins at 11am. For the official rules, auction details, absentee bidding protocols, and inventory updates, visit cbmm.org/CharityBoatAuction.

All registration for in-person bidding is handled on the day of the event. Registered bidders pay a $5 paddle fee. CBMM members receive free admission into the Charity Boat Auction. Non-members pay $5 until 11am and then general admission rates apply.

A Labor Day weekend staple for more than two decades, the Charity Boat Auction is the flagship event of CBMM’s Charity Boat Donation Program, which accepts and sells gently used boats year-round. Every sale directly supports CBMM’s mission to explore and preserve the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and make this resource available to all.

Many of the auction vessels are already listed online at cbmm.org/BDP. This year’s featured vessels include a 2005 Sea Ray Sundancer 300, a 1961 O’Neil Jones wood charter boat named Ruth D, a 1994 Silverton 310 Express, an antique fantail launch built in Delaware in 1900, and a like-new 2023 Compac Legacy 16, plus many more power and sailing vessels and paddlecraft.

Beginning at 8:30am, guests can also shop a flea market-style tag sale that features a variety of used boating gear. Adding to the festive scene, there will be a local food truck on hand and coffee and beer available for purchase.

Prospective buyers have several different ways to check out the inventory, starting with a preview exclusively for CBMM members on Thursday, Aug. 28, from 5–7pm. To get your Member Night invitation and become a part of the Chesapeake story, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or [email protected].

The auction boats will be listed online and available for public view at CBMM on Friday, Aug. 29, from 10am–6pm. Regular admission rates will apply until 3pm that day, and gates will open for free from 3–6pm.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs are prohibited during CBMM festivals and special events, including the Charity Boat Auction.

If you have additional questions about the auction or available inventory, please contact CBMM’s Charity Boat Donation team at [email protected].

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Celebrate Bay Heritage at Watermen’s Appreciation Day Hosted by CBMM on Aug. 10

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Watermen’s Appreciation Day is back at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on Sunday, Aug. 10 from 10am-4pm, inviting guests to experience the unique culture and community of the Eastern Shore.

Held in partnership with the Talbot Watermen Association (TWA) since 2010, this annual celebration honors the hardworking men and women who bring the Bay’s bounty to our tables. The festivities include a must-see workboat docking competition, live music, a locally harvested crab feast, with plenty of additional options to eat and drink, plus more fun for the whole family.

Tickets are on sale now at cbmm.org/WatermensDay, with discounted pricing for CBMM members.

“Watermen’s Appreciation Day is always special for us because it’s a chance for us to share what we do and why we do it with the community,” TWA President Jeff Harrison said. “We’ve had so much fun and made so many memories through the years, and we look forward to making this year’s event the best one yet.”

The high-energy watermen’s rodeo embodies the spirit of the festival.

Beginning at noon, this is a chance to join the crowd along CBMM’s Miles River waterfront to cheer on the “Chesapeake Cowboys,” who showcase their skill and precision while maneuvering their deadrise workboats into an assigned slip in a thrilling, timed competition. Guests are invited to grab a bleacher seat next to the iconic Hooper Strait Lighthouse or watch a livestream from the air-conditioned comfort of the Van Lennep Auditorium.

Starting at 11am, steamed crabs will be available at a cost of $40 per dozen, plus an ear of corn, served hot and fresh by local watermen. The TWA will also have hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, and more available for purchase, and several local food trucks will be on hand selling a variety of Eastern Shore delicacies.

A variety of delicious drinks will be available, too. There will be beer trucks on campus serving domestic brews and local craft favorites, and the Cocktails by the Bay beverage cart will be offering a menu of refreshing crushes.

Eastern Shore legends Bird Dog and the Road Kings will provide the soundtrack for the crab picking from the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand. There will also be local arts and crafts vendors spread across campus and a silent auction in the Small Boat Shed in support of the TWA.

Children can get a taste of what it’s like to work the water with a variety of activities throughout the day, including a junior watermen crab race, baiting contest, jigger throw, and more. Plus, there will be even more family fun with inflatables set up on Fogg’s Landing sponsored by Signature Lawn & Landscape and the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile traveling aquarium on site.

In addition to these festivities, guests are encouraged to explore all the exhibitions and historic structures across CBMM’s 18-acre campus, including Waterman’s Wharf highlighting the life and work of a Chesapeake waterman and a working Shipyard dedicated to the preservation, construction, and care of traditional Chesapeake vessels.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Admission is set at $22 for adults, $19 for seniors (65+) and students (17+), $10 for active and retired military members, and $9 for children ages 6 to 17, with all children 5-and-younger admitted free.

CBMM members receive discounted pricing for Watermen’s Appreciation Day and other annual festivals throughout the year. Adult member tickets are $10, and all children of members (17-and-younger) receive free admission. To support CBMM’s mission as a member and discover all the terrific benefits of membership, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or [email protected].

All licensed watermen and their immediate families receive free admission to the festival by showing an active license at the door.

All food and beverages are an additional charge for all guests.]

During the festival, additional free event parking will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School, with a complimentary shuttle service to and from CBMM running both days.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept at 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 boat docking competition from the water must remain outside the buoyed channel.

Learn more about CBMM’s full slate of upcoming events, including Bluegrass on the Bay coming on Saturday, July 26, at cbmm.org/Festivals.

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CBMM to Debut Bluegrass on the Bay with The High & Wides on July 26

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The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s waterfront campus will come alive with Bluegrass on the Bay, featuring The High & Wides, on Saturday, July 26, beginning at 5:30pm.

This inaugural concert event invites guests to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets to enjoy an evening of Eastern Shore bluegrass overlooking the Miles River at the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand. The doors open at 5pm before The Folk Villains take the stage 30 minutes later to kick off the evening, leading into the headlining performance from The High & Wides, a four-piece string band whose high-energy, bluegrass-inspired sound has entertained audiences around the region since 2015.

Tickets are available now at cbmm.org/BluegrassOnTheBay and can also be purchased at the door.

Food vendors, including Hot Off the Coals BBQ, and a beer truck will be on site. Guests are also welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages to the concert, which will be held rain or shine.

Bluegrass on the Bay promises a lively evening of great tunes amid a stunning backdrop at CBMM.

With roots on the Eastern Shore and in Baltimore, The High & Wides have been called “The Apostles of Hillbilly Boogie” by The Washington Post. Band members Marc Dykeman (guitar, vocals), Sam Guthridge (banjo, mandolin, vocals), Nate Grower (fiddle), and Mike Buccino (bass) draw on bluegrass backgrounds and weave in influences from new wave to old time to make music that defies boundaries while evoking the era when country, bluegrass, western swing, and early rock ‘n’ roll mingled freely.

A sibling trio from nearby Tyaskin, Md., in Wicomico County, The Folk Villains will be the evening’s opening act. Elijah, Isabel, and Guinevere Cockey grew up admiring their father’s band The Folk Heroes, and today, they honor that family tradition with a folk style all their own featuring standards, originals, covers, and improv.

Bluegrass on the Bay admission is set at $25 for adults, $24 for seniors (65+) and students (17+), $14 for active and retired military members, and $6 for children ages 6-to-17, with all children 5-and-younger admitted free.

CBMM members receive discounted pricing for Bluegrass on the Bay and other events throughout the year. Adult members receive $5 off their concert tickets, and all children of members (17-and-younger) receive free admission. To support CBMM’s mission as a member and discover all the terrific benefits of membership, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or [email protected].

Please note that the concert will be ticketed separately from CBMM general admission on Saturday, July 26.

CBMM is also excited to offer a Summer Concert Pass that also includes Big Band Night, featuring the Shades of Blue Orchestra, on Saturday, July 5. For CBMM members, these ticket packages are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors (65+) and students (17+), $9 for active and retired military members, and free for all children of members (17-and-younger). For non-members, they are $35 for adults, $33 for seniors (65+) and students (17+), $14 for active and retired military members, $9 for children ages 6-to-17, and free for children 5-and-younger.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept home during CBMM’s events, including Bluegrass on the Bay.

Learn more about CBMM’s full slate of upcoming events, including Watermen’s Appreciation Day coming on Sunday, Aug. 10, at cbmm.org/Festivals.

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CBMM’s Shipyard Set for Busy Summer of Programming

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The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Shipyard is the place to be this summer with a variety of hands-on workshops on tap to share traditional skills.

Whether you’re looking to learn something new or grow your experience in the workshop, CBMM’s Apprentice for a Day Program can help with upcoming offerings that highlight marlinspike seamanship, woodworking, half-hull modeling, leatherworking, and decoy carving.

These limited-capacity programs are led by Shipyard staff and experienced guest instructors and offer discounted pricing for CBMM members. To register and get more information about Apprentice for a Day programming, visit cbmm.org/AFAD.

Participant scholarships are available for these workshops through CBMM’s Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council. Email Vessel Conservation Manager Sam Hilgartner at [email protected] for more information on scholarship opportunities.

“We’ve worked to put together a diverse schedule of programs that are equal parts challenging, approachable, useful, and fun,” Hilgartner said. “We look forward to a busy and productive summer in our Education Workshop, sharing these programs with our community. If you’ve been considering signing up for your first AFAD workshop, it is a great time to pick a program and join us.”

Up first, Hilgartner will lead an advanced marlinspike seamanship course on the weekend of June 6-8. Participants will construct a wood-bottom, canvas ditty bag, a project requires a range of skills in canvas and rope work that make it an excellent test of competence in marlinspike seamanship and sailmaking.

This class is perfect for those who have attended CBMM’s introductory marlinspike seamanship course, yet accessible enough for beginner students who are up for a challenge. All tools and materials are provided in the cost of registration, which is $300 with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Jenn Kuhn, CBMM’s former Shipyard Education Programs Manager, will lead a pair of women’s wood-working workshops this summer. In the introductory course on June 28-29, participants will construct a custom mallet while learning how to make a cut list, buy lumber, measure lengths and angles, and safely use a variety of hand and power tools. The cost is $300, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

The advanced course, held across two weekends in late August, will expand on these workshop skills as participants build their own Adirondack chair. The cost is $650, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Coming on July 11-13, the Half-Hull Modeling Workshop, led by Master Shipwright Thom Price, blends artistry, history, and hands-on creation.

For centuries, shipwrights and boatbuilders have relied on half-models to visualize and perfect their designs. During this workshop, participants will carve their own half-hull model of a vessel of their choice. The cost is $600, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Led by Hilgartner, the Leatherworking Workshop on July 26-27 is designed to share the basics of leatherworking.

Participants will craft a leather tool sheath for a rigging knife and marlinspike, also known as a rig kit. The tools and skills required to create the sheath are perfect for beginning to build a foundational knowledge in leatherworking. The cost is $200, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

On Aug. 8-10, CBMM’s Shipyard is proud to present Introduction to Decoy Carving with guest instructor Jeff Coats of Pitboss Waterfowl. Over the three days, participants will carve a contemporary flat bottom, hollow high-density cork body with a northern white cedar head, with the option to choose a black duck, green-winged teal, or canvasback. All supplies and materials are included in the registration fee, which is $450 with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

The Apprentice for a Day Program is also hosting a visit from Roger Barnes, who is President of the Dinghy Cruising Association, author of “The Dinghy Cruising Companion,” and star of a popular YouTube channel highlighting his adventures and vast sailing knowledge.

As part of his first North American tour, Barnes will share a lecture, titled “Escaping the Everyday,” followed by a Q-and-A and book signing, in the Van Lennep Auditorium on Saturday, June 21, at 4pm.

Registration is also open to learn how to trotline for crabs on the Miles River in a historic vessel on from 5-9am on Fridays in August and September.

Early risers will learn the history of crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay, its importance to the culture and economy, how the fishery has defined various traditional vessel forms, and how to bait, set, and work a trotline. It’s a chance to experience sunrise on the Miles River while collecting a day’s catch of crabs to take home. The cost is $60 per day, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

And, there’s plenty more to explore daily in CBMM’s working Shipyard. Get the latest on all that’s happening in the Shipyard at Coffee & Wood Chips with Hilgartner on the first Friday of each month. This program is free for CBMM members and $10 for non-members. Learn more at cbmm.org/Shipyard.

 

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CBMM to Celebrate Educators with Gratitude Day on June 20

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The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is excited to invite education personnel from across the Eastern Shore and beyond to celebrate the end of the school year at its third annual Education Professionals Gratitude Day on Friday, June 20, from 10am-2pm.

This is an opportunity for anyone involved in education – teachers, administrators, and support staff – to experience all that CBMM’s waterfront campus has to offer as a thank you for their impact on children in our communities through daily instruction, support, and leadership.

During the celebration, PK-12 education professionals and their families will enjoy free admission, plus a host of special activities designed to highlight CBMM’s mission, educational programming, and community partnerships.

Education Professionals Gratitude Day has quickly become an anticipated event on CBMM’s annual calendar. Last year, more than 50 educators and their families, including guests spanning the state of Maryland and from as far away as Texas and Maine, joined in the fun.

The festivities are open to all PK-12 public, private, and charter school personnel, including teachers, paraprofessionals, school and district administrators, and support staff providing maintenance, transportation, security, clerical, food and other services within schools.

This Your Museum, Your Community recognition initiative is made possible by the generous support of Easton Velocity, Mid-Atlantic Truck & Equipment, PNC Bank, Chaney Enterprises, Preston Automotive Group, PepUp, and Shore United Bank.

“We are excited to continue to grow Education Professionals Gratitude Day,” CBMM’s Vice President of Education & Interpretation Jill Ferris said. “This is a chance for us to honor a special group of people who make a difference in our communities with a day of fun and celebration while sharing more about the resources available to continue to support the important work that they do. We look forward to reconnecting with friends and making new ones on June 20!”

This edition of Education Professionals Gratitude Day features live music from duo Fresh Squeezed OJ, free frozen treats from Hoots Shaved Iced, a visit from the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile, story time with Talbot County Free Library, Touch a Truck with the St. Michaels Fire Department, giveaways including books from Appleseed Books, face painting and bubble stations, and a host of field trip-favorite, hands-on activities and demos with CBMM staff throughout the day.

In addition, the honored guests receive a 10% discount at the Museum Store and on CBMM memberships and savings on Narrated Historical Cruises aboard PATRIOT that day.

There is no need to RSVP to join in the fun. PK-12 education professionals can simply check in at the Welcome Center and enjoy their visit. For any questions or additional information, contact Ferris at [email protected].

Education has been key to CBMM’s mission across its 60-year history. Last year, the organization hosted more than 3,500 students, teachers, and chaperones for field trips from schools across the county, state, and region.

Talbot County Public School students in third, fifth, and seventh grade learn from CBMM staff through field trips and in-classroom experiences, and CBMM’s Rising Tide after-school program engages local middle school students with the opportunity to learn new skills and work with tools while exploring the history and environment of the Chesapeake region.

For more information on CBMM’s youth education programming, including Homeschool Workshops, Lighthouse Overnight Adventures, CBMM Summer Camp, and more, visit cbmm.org/youtheducation.

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Don’t Miss the Antique & Classic Boat Festival & Coastal Arts Fair At CBMM on Father’s Day Weekend

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The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is set to welcome the Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair to its waterfront campus on June 13-15 for a Father’s Day weekend celebration of the history and artistry of timeless vessels and the people who care for them.

Now in its 37th year, the festival, organized by the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, offers one of the largest classic boat shows in the Mid-Atlantic region and more fun for the whole family. Highlighting this year’s theme of “Boats in Movies and Television,” a variety of sport boats that have memorably been featured on screen will be on display throughout the weekend.

This edition of the Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair runs from 10am-5pm on Friday and Saturday and 10am-3pm on Sunday. To buy two-day festival tickets in advance and get more information, visit cbmm.org/ACBF.

A Father’s Day weekend tradition, the three-day festival celebrates antique and classic boating with more than 100 cruisers, runabouts and racers representing a wide range of makers and eras spread across CBMM’s 18-acre campus and docks. Boat enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy exploring the unique collection of visiting vessels and meeting their owners.

This year’s highlights include a collection of sport boats made famous by Hollywood, with Glastron Scimitar (“Moonraker”), Chris Craft (“On Golden Pond”), Thunderbird (“Flipper”), and Hacker (“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”) among the notable examples.

The festival annually showcases wood, fiberglass, and metal vessels in all phases of restoration representing the historic (up to 1918), antique (1919-1942), classic (1943-1975), late classic (1976-1997), and contemporary (any wooden boat built since 1997) classes.

The Antique & Classic Boat Festival is accompanied by a juried Coastal Arts Fair with vendors exhibiting and selling a variety of unique artworks and merchandise that celebrates boating and life on and around the water. The festivities also include a Field of Dreams for those looking to buy, a nautical flea market, and children’s activities.

Food and beverages from several regional vendors will be available for purchase all three days, including a beer truck offering domestic and craft selections.

Throughout the festival in the Van Lennep Auditorium, the local chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society will present a series of boating history talks highlighting experts, historians, and authors sharing their knowledge on a range of topics, with many of them exploring this year’s festival theme of vessels featured in movies and TV shows.

The lineup includes a presentation from CBMM’s Chief Historian Pete Lesher titled “Coastal Contraband: Prohibition and Rum Running Off Chesapeake Bay” on Friday at noon and a special talk and tasting with Tilghman Island Seafood’s Nick Hargrove on Sunday at 1pm.

On Sunday from 11am to 3pm on Fogg’s Landing, there will be a special exhibit, “Before and After Boats: Side-By-Side,” featuring unrestored boats next to finished classics of the same type. Restorers will offer advice on how to turn a daunting boat project into a cherished classic.

Two-day tickets for the Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair can be purchased in advance online or at the door. No single-day tickets will be sold to this rain-or-shine event.

Festival admission is set at $22 for adults, $19 for seniors (65+) and students (17+), $10 for active and retired military members, and $9 for children ages 6-to-17, with all children 5-and-younger admitted free.

CBMM members receive discounted pricing for this annual festival and others throughout the year. Adult member tickets are $10, and all children of members (17-and-younger) receive free admission. To support CBMM’s mission as a member and discover all the terrific benefits of membership, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or [email protected].

Additional free event parking for Saturday’s festivities will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School, with a complimentary shuttle service to and from CBMM.

For information on how to register a boat, become a vendor, or sign up to sell in the Field of Dreams or nautical flea market, visit chesapeakebayacbs.org.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept at home during CBMM festivals, including the Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is prohibited.

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CBMM honors Horton, Harp, & Cannon-Brown with Bay Heritage Award

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CBMM’s Chief Historian Pete Lesher (far left) presented environmental filmmakers (from left) Sandy Cannon-Brown, Dave Harp, and Tom Horton with the Bay Heritage Award on Wednesday evening. (Photo by George Sass)

 The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum has honored environmental filmmakers Tom Horton, Dave Harp, and Sandy Cannon-Brown with its Bay Heritage Award for their contributions to the preservation of regional culture in line with CBMM’s mission.

Chief Historian Pete Lesher presented Horton, Harp, and Cannon-Brown with the award on Wednesday evening following a screening of the trio’s latest film, “Chesapeake Rhythms,” as part of the Chesapeake Bay Week Film Festival in CBMM’s Van Lennep Auditorium.

Horton, Harp, and Cannon-Brown join a distinguished list of Bay Heritage Award honorees, including broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite, naval architect Thomas C. Gilmer, historian and museum curator Robert H. Burgess, authors William Warner and James Michener, and log canoe preservationist Judge John C. North II. This is the first time the award has been presented since North was honored in 2015.

“We’re delighted to honor our friends Tom, Dave, and Sandy for their tremendous work over the years,” CBMM’s President & CEO Kristen Greenaway said. “Their repeated collaboration—Tom as the writer and narrative voice, Dave as the photographer and videographer, and Sandy as the filmmaker artfully weaving the content together—has deepened our understanding and appreciation of a fragile and changing Chesapeake Bay and the impact of those changes on communities and individuals who have called this region home.”

Horton, Harp, and Cannon-Brown have been working together since 2015, when they produced “Beautiful Swimmers Revisited,” an hour-long documentary inspired by Warner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay.” 

They have collaborated on eight more films since then, covering an array of Bay-related topics and issues. Making its Maryland Public Television debut next Tuesday, April 22, as part of Chesapeake Bay Week, “Chesapeake Rhythms” conveys the beauty and mystery of the Bay by chronicling its essential rhythm, including the migrations of tundra swans, monarch butterflies, shorebirds, and eels. Last year, their film “A Passion for Oysters,” an exploration of the enduring legacy of oysters in the Bay, was featured during MPT’s Chesapeake Bay Week, as well.

“It’s quite an honor,” Harp said. “We’ve just had an interesting, fun 10 years working together to do documentaries. I think this award is a validation of Sandy teaching Tom and me how to make a film, taking a couple guys that have been covering the Bay in words and pictures for a long time and turning us into this filmmaking team.”

“To be honored for the work, which is my joy and my passion, is amazing,” Cannon-Brown added. “To think that they think that we’re in the same league as Walter Cronkite or James Michener or William Warner is so overwhelming that I get emotional even thinking about it.” 

A long-time environmental reporter at The Baltimore Sun, Horton has authored eight books about the Bay and been honored along the way by the Sierra Club, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and National Audubon Society.

Harp’s stunning Bay photography has accompanied five of Horton’s books, and his work has been featured in a slew of national publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, and Audubon. A selection of his work was featured at CBMM in a 2020 special exhibition, Where Land and Water Meet, and a 2010 special exhibition, A Rising Tide in the Heart of the Chesapeake Bay. 

Harp has transferred the entire body of his Chesapeake Bay-related work, from black-and-white film photography of oyster dredging among the skipjack fleet in the 1970s to his digital work in recent years, to CBMM, where it will be accessible to the public for generations to come.

A CBMM volunteer and St. Michaels resident before relocating to Martha’s Vineyard in 2020, Cannon-Brown is an award-winning environmental filmmaker whose work has often featured the Bay and taken her across the United States and beyond. The Founder and President of VideoTakes, Inc., she has been honored as a Woman of Vision by Women in Film & Video DC and Adjunct Professor of the Year by American University.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit educational organization that preserves and explores the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and makes this resource accessible 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.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

CBMM kicks off 60th anniversary celebration

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The family of former assistant keeper Harold Messick recently gathered at the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse on the campus of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum to learn more about lighthouse life and remember their ancestor.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is thrilled to share its 60th-anniversary celebration with its expansive community in 2025.

Throughout the year, CBMM will look back on its six decades through a series of mission-focused videos to be released at cbmm.org/60thAnniversary and its YouTube channel. The anniversary festivities also include a “Celebrating 60 Years of CBMM” logo, social media highlights, an exclusive CBMM Member Night program, and more milestone moments woven into its annual festivals and programming.

The fun culminates with CBMM’s annual Boating Party Fundraising Gala on Saturday, Sept. 6, which will mark the diamond anniversary with a glamorous evening of celebration to benefit the organization’s mission.

“We are proud to celebrate 60 years with everyone who has helped make this milestone possible,” CBMM’s President & CEO Kristen Greenaway said. “With the help of our community, we are excited to use this occasion to spotlight the ways that we have fulfilled our mission through the years and continue to share the Chesapeake story with new audiences.”

Located on Navy Point along the Miles River in historic St. Michaels, CBMM officially opened its doors on May 22, 1965, as a project of the Historical Society of Talbot County amid a still-bustling complex of workboats, docks, and seafood packing houses.

Over the past six decades, CBMM has blossomed into a world-class maritime museum and vital community partner serving more than 80,000 guests per year on its 18-acre campus in fulfillment of its mission to preserve and explore the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and make this resource accessible to all.

Today, CBMM is the only museum devoted to interpreting the entire maritime region of the Chesapeake, sharing the stories of Chesapeake people across time through historic structures, purpose-built exhibition buildings, a floating fleet of traditional vessels, and a working Shipyard.

CBMM will share the journey through its video series highlighting key themes across the 60 years. The initial installment, available now, delves into CBMM’s collections and how it cares for more than 90,000 artifacts while spotlighting the storytelling about the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse through the eyes of the family of former assistant keeper Harold Messick.

Future chapters will celebrate 60 years of education, exploration, preservation, tradition, and community building. The monthly features will highlight CBMM’s historical archives and introduce community members to share their stories.

“It’s great to reflect on our progress in collecting and interpreting the culture of this place while some of our original supporters are still with us,” CBMM’s Chief Historian Pete Lesher said. “The museum itself, the number of lives we touch, and the tourism economy that we anchor have grown beyond anything they could have imagined 60 years ago.”

CBMM members become a part of the Chesapeake story, joining CBMM’s mission as stewards of the region’s rich cultural heritage. To discover all the terrific benefits of membership and join today, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or [email protected].

To learn more about CBMM’s 60th anniversary celebration, visit cbmm.org/60thAnniversary.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.