This is a privately funded museum dedicated to telling the story of U.S. sea faring, from the
Colonial period to the modern marvel of building 100,000 ton aircraft carriers. The museum looks at
maritime navigation, the nautical history and impact of the Civil War, and has an extensive collection
of ship figureheads. This museum is also the home of the "Monitor Project"--the salvage and
restoration of significant pieces of the Civil War Union ironclad ship Monitor. There is a small fee to
get in for all but active-duty military, but it is well worth it.
Colonial period to the modern marvel of building 100,000 ton aircraft carriers. The museum looks at
maritime navigation, the nautical history and impact of the Civil War, and has an extensive collection
of ship figureheads. This museum is also the home of the "Monitor Project"--the salvage and
restoration of significant pieces of the Civil War Union ironclad ship Monitor. There is a small fee to
get in for all but active-duty military, but it is well worth it.
(Left) Gold-leafed figurehead from
the U.S. frigate Lancaster.
(Below) The original first-order
Fresnell ("frah-nell") lens from the
Cape Charles lighthouse. The light
still operates with an airport-style
beacon in the lantern room now.
the U.S. frigate Lancaster.
(Below) The original first-order
Fresnell ("frah-nell") lens from the
Cape Charles lighthouse. The light
still operates with an airport-style
beacon in the lantern room now.
(Right) A self-portrait,
taken at the musuem
in early 2002.
taken at the musuem
in early 2002.
(Left) The figurehead of Commodore Morris, one
of the captains of the noted U.S. frigate
Constitution. This figurehead was made for a ship
named USS Commodore Morris in honor of him.
(Below) One of the giant screws from the SS
United States, one of the great post-World War II
luxury liners.
of the captains of the noted U.S. frigate
Constitution. This figurehead was made for a ship
named USS Commodore Morris in honor of him.
(Below) One of the giant screws from the SS
United States, one of the great post-World War II
luxury liners.
(Left) At the entrance to the musuem's
drive is this massive screw that once
propelled the battleship USS South Dakota
(BB 58) through the Pacific during World
War II.
drive is this massive screw that once
propelled the battleship USS South Dakota
(BB 58) through the Pacific during World
War II.
The Mariner's Musuem has a large gallery
devoted to civil maritime commerce on the
Chesapeake Bay and to the "Chris Craft"
line of speed boats which made power
boating accessible to many middle-class
Americans.
devoted to civil maritime commerce on the
Chesapeake Bay and to the "Chris Craft"
line of speed boats which made power
boating accessible to many middle-class
Americans.
One of the center pieces to the museum's collection of ship models is this
finely crafted replica of the S.S. America. Launche in 1939, she wound up being
commissioned as the USS West Point during WWII, and did not start
trans-atlantic passenger service until 1946. She ran the transatlantic route for the
United States Lines until 1964. After several more years, three more owners and
three more names later she was beeched in Greece in 1988. Nothing may remain
of her today after a slow process of scrapping was begun in 1988.
The musuem is beginnng the restoration process of the gun turret of the
ironclad USS Monitor. The innovative steam engine from the warship is already
undergoing conservation, having been salvaged from Cape Hatteras in 1999.
finely crafted replica of the S.S. America. Launche in 1939, she wound up being
commissioned as the USS West Point during WWII, and did not start
trans-atlantic passenger service until 1946. She ran the transatlantic route for the
United States Lines until 1964. After several more years, three more owners and
three more names later she was beeched in Greece in 1988. Nothing may remain
of her today after a slow process of scrapping was begun in 1988.
The musuem is beginnng the restoration process of the gun turret of the
ironclad USS Monitor. The innovative steam engine from the warship is already
undergoing conservation, having been salvaged from Cape Hatteras in 1999.
