Take a deep dive into the sometimes mysterious and always fascinating world of the Eastern Shore watermen at the Richardson Maritime Museum in Cambridge. As part of its Historical Collection, this compelling world is both explored and recreated from multiple perspectives. In the room devoted to the watermen’s equipment and gear, you’ll see not only the hardware these steadfast mariners used to dredge and tong for oysters and scrape and bait crabs, eels and fish, you’ll be treated to the museum’s unique collection of more than 50 authentic Chesapeake Bay wooden-boat models — including bugeyes, skipjacks, freight schooners, crabbing skiffs, powered work boats and more — which faithfully represent
a historic timeline of majestic craft dating back some 300 years.

The Richardson Maritime Museum is open year-round, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays or by appointment.

HISTORY AWAITS The museum’s collection of more than 50 Chesapeake Bay wooden boat models is unique. Most of the models were built between 30 and 60 years ago by mid-shore watermen and builders of traditional work vessels.