News Archives 2007 - April

CBMM Hosts Fourth Annual Maritime Model Boat Expo

ST. MICHAELS, MD—On Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) will be host to the fourth annual Maritime Model Boat Expo. This event is presented by CBMM's Model Guild and the North American Steamboat Modeler's Association (NASMA). The show will feature "live" steamboat models, skipjacks with working sails, speedboats, tugs, and other radio-controlled miniatures.

Modelers will demonstrate the mobility of their highly-detailed and realistic models in a 40' by 70' freshwater pond located near the Museum's Steamboat Building. The Museum's Model Sailing Club will also race five-foot-long skipjacks—replicas of Maryland's official state boat—across the waters of nearby Fogg's Cove, propelled by wind and under the remote guidance of their builders. The East Coast 12-meter and Victoria sailing model clubs will also sail vessels in Fogg's Cove.

Children will have the opportunity to build a simple model and sail it in a small pond separate from the main event. The expo will also feature static displays of boat models, and vendors will be on hand with models, kits, and refreshments for sale. The Washington Ship Model Society will be on hand in the Steamboat Building with an astounding display of stationary models.

The Maritime Model Expo is open to the public May 19-20 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is included with the regular price of Museum admission, $13 for adults and $5 for children. CBMM members are admitted free.

For more information about the expo or to register, contact Model Guild President Bob Mason at 410-745-3266, bmason@bluecrab.org, or NASMA's Tom Ray at 410-820-5036, yogojr@yahoo.com.

CBMM’s Historic Hooper Strait Lighthouse
Welcomes Overnighters

ST. MICHAELS, MD—This spring, summer and fall, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is opening the doors of its Hooper Strait Lighthouse to families and youth groups who would like to spend a weekend night much like the keepers of a century ago.

Several weekend evenings have been reserved for families and youth groups of would-be keepers, who will be given a special tour of the nineteenth-century wooden structure, perform tasks of a traditional keeper, and sleep inside the historic building overlooking the Miles River.

Built in 1879, the lighthouse that now graces the Museum’s Navy Point campus once lit the way past Hooper Strait, some 39 miles south of St. Michaels. Known as a screwpile, cottage-style lighthouse, Hooper Strait resembles a small home that was built on special iron pilings that were literally screwed into the Bay’s soft bottom.

Slated for demolition in 1966, the Museum purchased the building and moved it to its present site. Too large to be moved in one piece, it was horizontally cut in two just below the eaves and was slowly transported on two separate barges up the Bay. The lighthouse was restored and opened to the Museum’s public in 1967. It is one of only three such lighthouses still in existence on the Chesapeake.

Overnighters do not seem to mind the absence of such modern amenities as running water and inside bathrooms or the fact that they must bring their own sleeping pads and bags. “Spending a night in a lighthouse is an experience people never forget,” says Mary Ann Ray, the Museum’s head lighthouse keeper.

Youth and scout groups overnights are available during Friday and Saturday nights in April, May, June, September and October. Limited dates remain for this spring. Book now for fall 2007 or spring 2008.

The cost for groups is $550, which covers up to fifteen participants (one adult per four children), program activities, and two days’ admission to the Museum. Girl Scouts may work towards a lighthouse badge.

Dates currently available for the family overnight program are July 14, July 28, August 4, August 11, August 25 and September 1.

The cost of the family overnight program is $35 for Museum members and $41 for non-members. The fee covers program activities, a picnic dinner, and two days’ admission to the entire Museum. It is required that there is at least one chaperone for every two children. Families may be joined by other families or individuals.

Children participating in the overnight program must be at least seven years old. Both programs begin at 6 p.m. and end the following morning at 7:30 a.m.

For more details and to register, go to www.cbmm.org/lighthouseovernight.html. Interested participants can also contact Youth Programs Coordinator Rachel Dolhanczyk at 410-745-2916, ext. 103 or via email at rdolhanczyk@cbmm.org.

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