In 1965, the Vietnam War continues to heat up, Congress passes the Voting Rights Act, space flight gathers steam in preparation for a manned mission to the moon, Pope Paul VI becomes the first Pope to visit the United States, the mini-skirt appears in London and soon will become the fashion in the 1960s, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Goldfinger and What’s New Pussycat are popular films and the Beatles continue to captivate worldwide audiences.
And, yes, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) is founded as a spinoff of the Talbot Historical Society. Good news then, better news today.
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of celebrating the museum’s 50th birthday, first with the opening Friday evening of the Broad Reach exhibit in the Steamboat Building and then the all-day celebration on Saturday. Though a bit biased as an emeritus board member, I view CBMM as a priceless gem not only in Talbot County, but also the Eastern Shore and our state.
A county resident since 1976, I quickly learned to love the history and culture of the Chesapeake Bay region. The Bay, the beating heart of Maryland, bears a long history as a maritime highway used for commerce, recreation and just plain mental respite. No institution in our Old Line State better captures this history and the culture it spawns than the 18-acre maritime museum on Navy Point in St. Michaels.
As I strolled the campus for nearly five hours on Saturday, looking at families enjoying, food, exhibits and music– I realized again that the museum is a community resource that appeals to people interested not only in fun and food but also a changing region.
No longer an isolated part of the state, thanks to the Bay Bridges, the Eastern Shore continues to draw people attracted by the beautiful landscape and waterfront and slower pace of life. This change increases the importance of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum as a reliable source of cultural and historic information about the past, as a platform for understanding our sense of place in what some call “God’s country.” As I travel throughout our country and world, I learn that many might claim that about their communities and regions.
During a brief ceremony at the museum bandstand, following recognizable music (to me) from the 1960s and 1970s, museum staff arranged for 50 individuals of different ages to ring two bells—not at the same time—to commemorate 50 years of being a community asset. I believe we bell-ringers also were ringing in the next half a century, sounding off, as it were, and projecting confidence in an uncertain but hopeful future.
Like a board member of any cultural or educational institution, I know fully well that prudence and good judgment are critical in charting a course of action that will ensure continuity and success. No one can predict an economic disaster like the Great Recession, nor a damaging weather event.
Status quo is insufficient as visitors have many options to spend their recreational dollars.
A blue sky and abundant sunshine, complemented by a nice breeze, produced an ideal venue for the 50th anniversary of a first-class maritime museum. The mood was cheerful and friendly. Young children fished. Visitors enjoyed boat rides on the Miles River. The Broad Reach exhibit drew many people in a quiet setting. And, I repeat, food and beverages were plentiful.
In 1965, this then 20-year-old, aware, though cloistered in an academic setting, of warfare in Southeast Asia and violence on the streets of Los Angeles, somewhat understood the shaky state of affairs in our nation and the world. Now, 50 years later, our cities still host destructive rioting, war dominates many explosive parts of our world and the economy is recovering slowly from the Great Recession.
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, buffeted too by economic turmoil, has proved both successful and resilient during the past 50 years. It established itself as a strong vessel
of heritage of culture and history while becoming a terrific destination for tourists.
Its next 50 years will be equally remarkable—providing a solid sense of place and perspective.
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