Calvert Marine Museum

The basics

At the Calvert Marine Museum, take a walk through the museum’s coastal salt marsh, where children can learn about the marine ecosystem and everything that helps it thrive. Crafters will want to stop in the wood carving shop to see exquisitely intricate boat models, while sailors may tour the Patuxent Small Craft Center with its collection of classic boats. Don’t leave without exploring the historic Drum Point Lighthouse. Constructed in 1885 in a unique, hexagonal style, it was moved in 1975 to the Calvert Marine Museum; it is now listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.

Things to know before you go

• Picnic tables are located on the grounds; there is no on-site restaurant.

• Depart from the museum’s dock on a sightseeing cruise of Solomons inner harbor aboard a bugeye (a type of sailboat) that’s more than 100 years old.

• With the exception of the Drum Point Lighthouse, the museum is accessible, with ramps, an accessible restroom, and an elevator.

How to get there

The Calvert Marine Museum is located on Route 2 in Solomons, Maryland, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Prince Frederick. From DC, take Route 4 south from the Washington Beltway to Solomons; the drive will take you just over an hour. From Richmond, Virginia, take US Route 301 north into Maryland, then Route 234 east to Route 5 to Route 4 across the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge.

When to get there

The Calvert Marine Museum is open daily, with the exception of holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. In terms of weather, the warmest and busiest time to visit Solomons is in the summer (June, July, and August). The museum also hosts a variety of annual events like the Solomons Maritime Festival, Patuxent River Appreciation Day, SharkFest, OtterMania, and Pirate Day.

Maritime heritage

Thanks to the oysters found in the Chesapeake Bay and its position at the mouth of the Patuxent River, Solomons began to prosper as a center for shipbuilding and repairing and seafood harvesting after the Civil War. By the late 1920s, declining oyster harvests and fish production forced workers to look elsewhere for jobs, and the town eventually transformed into a resort area.