Embrace the history, environment, and culture of the region while enjoying waterfront views and authentic experiences.
Your Chesapeake adventure begins here.
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Learn about CBMM’s programs, exhibitions, and more.
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My Chesapeake Story
What We Offer
Explore the Chesapeake Bay through hands-on learning, world-class exhibitions, and on-the-water experiences. Watch the restoration of the Bay’s historic vessels in our Working Shipyard. Participate in programs that shine a light on the Bay’s maritime history and culture. You can do it all at your Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum!
Buy a Boat from CBMM
The Charity Boat Donation Program makes the process of buying a boat simple and straightforward.
Get Involved
Your Membership dues and Annual Fund donations directly support CBMM’s efforts to be a vital community partner and to provide meaningful and accessible experiences to all.
CBMM’s collection contains more than 80,000 objects dedicated to the history of the region
CBMM serves more than 5,000 Maryland public school students, teachers, and chaperones.
Between 70–80% of CBMM’s yearly expenditures go toward our goal of offering the community world-class programming.
CBMM employees are involved with more than 100 community organizations through public service or volunteering.
Plan Your
Wedding at
CBMM
Make the Chesapeake part of your story. Limited dates for 2026 are available.
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This Thursday, Feb. 19, Chief Historian Pete Lesher joins the American Schooner Association’s Sea Stories webinar series for a live online presentation exploring how his work as a historian shapes maritime preservation at CBMM, from major vessel restoration in the Shipyard to the documentation and interpretation of small craft in exhibitions. He’ll also highlight the essential role of Shipyard apprentices and how evolving technologies like laser scanning are transforming preservation practice.
💻 Register for the free live Zoom webinar:
Link in Bio!
#MaritimeHeritage #MaritimePreservation #ChesapeakeBay #CBMM #AmericanSchoonerAssociation #MuseumWebinar #MaritimeHistory
Opening Friday, Feb. 27, Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass explores how Douglass’ early life here in Talbot County shaped his journey from enslavement to freedom and an enduring legacy. This special exhibition features black-and-white photography from Jeff McGuiness’ book of the same name as well as historical documents and images, and hands-on activities, plus a closed-loop AI Douglass interactive, to create an immersive and educational experience.
Blending history and technology, we`ve partnered with TimeLooper to create an AI interactive grounded in historical sources and designed to invite conversation. In our latest behind-the-scenes video, Director of Curatorial Affairs & Exhibitions Jen Dolde shares the process of building this representation and working with TimeLooper to refine its look and voice.
Learn More & Buy Tickets: Link in Bio!
#FrederickDouglass #BearMeIntoFreedom #CBMM #MarylandHistory #EasternShoreMD #BlackHistory #StMichaelsMD
Spend Presidents Day with us! Closing out the holiday weekend, we are open 10am-4pm today (Monday, Feb. 16). Join us to explore the Bay`s history, environment, and culture on our waterfront campus, including the final stages of the refit of 1920 Chesapeake Bay buyboat Winnie Estelle in our working Shipyard!
Even better? It`s also the final day of our Members & Friends Sale in the Museum Store. Stop by to discover store-wide savings—35% off for CBMM members and 25% for everyone else—on our unique selection of mission-inspired merchandise! (Please note this discount does not apply to work on consignment and cannot be combined with any other discounts.)
Plan your visit at cbmm.org
#PresidentsDay #CBMM #MyChesapeakeStory #Shipyard #StMichaelsMD #ChesapeakeBay
Introduced to recreational crabbing as an adult, Rachel Fazenbaker quickly fell in love with working the water and hasn’t looked back. The Denton, Md., waterwoman has been crabbing commercially for a little over a decade and has more recently added in dredging for oysters through the winter.
Fazenbaker will share more from her life on the water at our rescheduled Watermen`s Story Swap next Wednesday, Feb. 18. We have sold out of in-person tickets, but you can still register to join us virtually for this sure-to-be entertaining panel moderated by local historian and author Brent Lewis.
Learn more & register: link in bio!
📹 Oral history interview by Brent Lewis, May 6, 2024 (OH 531).
#WatermensStorySwap #Waterwomen #Watermen #WorkingOnTheWater #EasternShoreMD #CBMM #StMichaelsMD #MyChesapeakeStory
