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Ahoy Mateys!
Let's visit The Mariners Museum!

The Mariners Museum is a museum dedicated to the sea. They call themselves America's National Maritime Museum. With over 120,000 square feet of gallery space you can find pretty much anything that interests you about traveling or fighting on water.

The Museum is also a Conservation Center and they are currently very involved in restoring the USS Monitor which they recovered from the ocean floor in 1992.

Besides the inside exhibits there is also a 550 acre park to enjoy. The park has a five mile trail that winds through the 550 acres of woods as well as crosses Lake Maury.

There are 8 Major permanent exhibits and one changing exhibit. The permanent exhibits are:

  • Chesapeake Bay Gallery
    This gallery studies the history of life on the Chesapeake Bay.

  • USS Monitor Center
    This new Civil War attraction just celebrated it's first year anniversary. It includes a full scale replica of the Monitor as well as a chance to see the actual pieces that were recovered in 1992. There is a great film that assaults all of your senses and makes you feel like you were at the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac.

  • Age of Exploration
    This exhibit chronicles the changes in shipbuilding, navigation and map making that accompanied the exploration boom in the 15th to 18th centuries.

  • Defending the Seas
    This exhibit explores the impact of the Navy in wartime and peace.

  • Great Hall of Steam
    Explore the story of oceangoing steamships told by beautiful ship models.

  • The Nelson Touch
    This gallery pays tribute to Admiral Horatio Nelson.

  • International Small Craft CenterThis gallery features some amazing watercraft from around the world.

  • The Crabtree Miniature Ship gallery Sixteen miniature vessels handcrafted by August F. Crabtree. They are amazing.

    This museum will take about 4 hours to see everything. It is not super kid friendly. I would recommend saving this one for older children or only those who love war ships. There is not a great deal of touching allowed and a lot of things that beg to be touched. If, however, you have older children there are a lot of really neat exhibits.

    The trail is gorgeous and worth hiking. There are picnic benches and benches for resting scattered along the trail. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy.
    There is a restaurant at the museum but their selection is limited and they charge $6 for a kids meal!

    Mariners Museum

    TOURS


    The Mariners Museum offers guided tours that take 11/2 hours. They start daily at 11 and 1:30. The docents are knowledgeable and interesting.

    If they are offering tours of the Conservation Center definitely take it. We had the good fortune of visiting on a day it was offered and it was very interesting.

    Museum Hours:


    Monday- Saturday 10 to 5
    Sunday 12 -5
    Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    Strollers and Wheelchairs are available at no charge.

    The Mariners Museum is a great place to spend a day celebrating the seafaring life. You will not be disappointed with there huge collection of artifacts and ships.

    Will you visit the Mariners Museum? Click here to keep planning your trip.


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