COMMUNITY
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| The Wm. B. Tennison bugeye boat, docked at the Drum Point Lighthouse. |
(Read the previous stories in the series.)
The extremes of each season never quell the fun that is offered year-round at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Exhibits in maritime history, paleontology, and estuarine biology take visitors along a tour of the area’s culture and heritage.
Secrets of the Mermaid’s Purse: Skates and Rays of the Mid-Atlantic is the museum’s newest exhibit. Visitors are treated to a fascinating display of information. A wall mural of skates and rays found in local waters surrounds you as you enter the exhibit; a touch-screen information kiosk is in place for interactive exploration of skates and rays facts; an evolution tank, which shows skates developing at different stages, is a unique feature of the exhibit; and a large tank where visitors can experience the graceful movement of the different types of skates and rays is the highlight of the exhibit. Once you have enjoyed the peaceful motion of the rays, you can visit the exciting and ever-popular Bubbles and Squeak, the museum’s river otters. Bubbles and Squeak eagerly greet visitors daily as they frolic in their newly expanded outdoor habitat.
The view of Solomons is unique as it is taken from the top of the Drum Point Lighthouse – tours of the lighthouse are offered daily, and give visitors a look at exactly how keepers lived during their tenure as watchmen of local waterways. Maritime enthusiasts can be treated to a visit at the Cove Point Lighthouse, which is Maryland’s oldest, continually operating lighthouse. The Cove Point Lighthouse is open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Tours begin at the museum where guests are shuttled to Cove Point. Visitors can experience the historical flavor of the quaint little fishing town of Solomons at the J.C. Lore and Sons Oyster House. As an extension of the museum, this former packing house provides visitors with a glimpse of the once vibrant seafood industry of the area. The Calvert Marine Museum store is open daily, and features a large selection of nautical-themed items.
The Calvert Marine Museum Society, the fund-raising arm of the museum, sponsors a variety of events annually designed to generate revenue for the museum. The Waterside Music Series brings a host of musical performers to the museum’s auditorium in the winter, and to the Washington Gas Pavilion in the spring and summer. Past performers include Bob Dylan, Martina McBride, the Beach Boys, and James Brown. Three indoor and three outdoor concerts are held per year. Outdoor concerts are waterfront, and offer a full concert experience including food vendors, cash bars, performer merchandise, and great views from all seats. For a complete list of concerts, regularly visit the museum’s Web site, or call the Waterside concert line at 410-394-6684.
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| The restored J.C. Lore and Sons Oyster House is part of the maritime heritage available at the Calvert Marine Museum. |
Membership to Calvert Marine Museum provides a fun way to support the museum while receiving a host of benefits designed to meet each individual’s needs. Membership levels include: individual ($35), family ($50), sustaining ($100), associate ($250), patron ($500), and Bugeye Society ($1,000). Member benefits vary per membership level, and include such things as free admission to the museum, discounts in the museum store, discounts on Tennison charters, the ability to purchase Waterside concert tickets prior to public sales, and the museum award-winning quarterly newsletter, the Bugeye Times. For a complete listing of membership and benefits, visit the museum Web site or call the Membership Coordinator, Debra Strozier, at 410-326-2042, extension 16.
In addition to its daily operation, the Calvert Marine Museum hosts a variety of events year round to celebrate the local environment, to take a closer look at exhibit themes, and to enable locals to gather and socialize on the museum’s beautiful waterfront campus. A complete and up-to-date list of all museum activities and events can be viewed on the museum’s Web site at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.