Museums

St. Michaels is home to three fine museums.

CBMM_LighthouseWarmLightChesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

On the scenic St. Michaels harbor, on a piece of land called Navy Point, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum beckons you to learn about the culture, history, and science of the Bay as you stroll its grounds and exhibits. Interactive education programs and events allow visitors of all ages — sailors, families, school kids, and more — to experience life on the Chesapeake Bay.

  • See the view from atop the 1879 Hooper Straight screw-pile lighthouse
  • Climb aboard an indigenous sailing vessel
  • Try your hand at tonging for oysters and catching blue crabs
  • Watch a restoration in the working boat yard

BLONDE_PHOTO_170903_151_9421Classic Motor Museum

The Classic Motor Museum is a living museum so while some of our vehicles are old, they aren’t gathering dust. Our collection rotates regularly so there is always something new to see. Here you will find motoring classics of all kinds, from antique farm tractors to fine examples of the cars that have fueled American’s love affair with the automobile. Above all, we are dedicated to educating the next generation of technicians trained in the art of classic vehicle restoration and maintenance. Our members enjoy seminars, private events and tours, plus access to an extensive library of automotive repair manuals, magazines and catalogs.

We invite you to be a part of the unique experience that is the Classic Motor Museum of St. Michaels.

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St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary’s Square

About 1778, as one of the earliest attempts at planned development, James Braddock laid out St. Mary’s Square to serve as the Town Center, enclosed by gated entrances. In addition to residences, various enterprises included a church, schools and a Market House for farmers to sell their goods. The museum consists of three 19th Century buildings moved to St. Mary’s Square from their original locations and is the former site of St. Michaels High School ca. 1880.

  • St. Michaels Museum open for its 2017 season on Saturday, May 6th.
  • The opening exhibit will be on George and Betty Seymour, two St. Michaels’ natives who have contributed so much to St. Michaels’ Museum and Talbot County. The Museum and St. Michaels are fortunate to have two such talented and dedicated people in our community. This exhibit will be a chance to learn a great deal about St. Michaels and Talbot County.
  • During 2017 the existing Frederick Douglass Exhibit “Frederick Douglass – His World 1818-1895” will remain on view in the museum’s hyphen with a few minor changes.
  • Plans are underway for a summer museum exhibit that will deal with St. Michaels’ Dodson family (privateer William Dodson and his father, Robert A. Dodson, boat builder and packet operator) who were active in defending our town against the British in 1813. We will also highlight the next generation of Dodson’s, two physicians (Dr. Robert A. Dodson and Dr. C. Marion Dodson) who fought to preserve the union during the Civil War, one in the army and the other in the navy. We are hoping to have a civil war reenactment group camping on our Museum grounds sometime this summer to complement this exhibit.
  • Our walking tours will continue on Saturday mornings at 10AM with alternating themes: “Historic St. Michaels: its People, Places and Happenings” and “Frederick Douglass, a slave, in St. Michaels 1833-1836.” Special tours for groups will continue to be available for groups at $10 per adult. There is a minimum of $50 for small group tours) Groups of more than ten can get special rates. Please call 410-745-0530 for information.
  • Relive historical events, such as at the recent Bicentennial Celebration of the Battle of St. Michaels (August 10, 1813)
  • Participate in the town’s lovely and meaningful Independence Day festivities
    “History is so immediate here,” said Marie Martin, past president of the museum’s board of directors. “Let’s face it — St. Michaels is a museum. Everybody here is a volunteer.” USA Today

    FOR VISITOR INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.STMICHAELSMD.ORG