Chesapeake Bay Gallery

We headed off to the left, curving around the light from a long-ago lighthouse (Cape Charles Lighthouse) and down the ramp to the displays. I enjoy the more modern approach where the artifacts are interspersed with dioramas and the floor guide pulls you through the exhibit area. Large illustrated panels tell of times where there are few or no artifacts, such as the the story of pirates and such that marauded the waters near the museum in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Hull construction changed as technology changed, so you get the full span from a Native Indian canoe (circa 1630) through to more elaborate wooden hulls and now steel hulls. There's a nifty video showing the construction of an aircraft carrier by piecing together sections--sort of like stacking legos. An 1895 steam engine supposedly puffs twice an hour, but we didn't see it in operation.

Of note was a display of old steamships that plied the Bay waters, some decked out as elegantly as the Titanic, which included a wallmap of destinations and colored lights marking the various phases and companies of schedules over the years.

Pleasure motor boats, sailing boats, and so on rounded out the gallery. Of note is a huge photo from space showing the Bay--just the thing to examine when you wanted to trace the route we took from NJ to Virginia, starting around Washington DC of course.

More of the Mariners' Museum

Introduction
Chesapeake Bay Gallery
Monitor Restoration
Age of Exploration
Defending the Seas
Collections Gallery
Great Hall of Steam
Crabtree Collection of Miniature Ships
Other Galleries
Gift Shop and More

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