The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum presents the history of maritime activity in Chesapeake Bay, one of the major maritime regions of the United States. The museum consists of nine buildings located on 18-acres of land. Topics covered include trans-Atlantic trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, naval history, boat building, Native American ways of life, and the various maritime uses of the Chesapeake Bay. Maritime professionals staff the museum to share their experiences with visitors.
The museum offers a variety of self-guided and guided tours for students, educational hands-on programs, lectures, sailing programs, summer camps, historic vessel preservation apprenticeships, interactive and traditional exhibits, a working boat yard, group overnight programs in the Hooper Strait Lighthouse, and a research library. The website offers a lesson plan on oystering.