Fall 2008 - Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

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On the Cover WaterWays Fall 2008 Volume 6 Number 2 Editor Michael Valliant editor@cbmm.org Graphic Design/Photography Rob Brownlee-Tomasso Contributors Julie Barnett Dick Cooper Robert Forloney Pete Lesher Kate Livie Melissa McLoud Stuart Parnes Kate Rattie Lindsley Rice Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Navy Point, P.O. Box 636 St. Michaels, MD 21663-0636 410-745-2916 Fax 410-745-6088 www.cbmm.org editor@cbmm.org The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a private not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational institution. A copy of the current financial statement is available on request by writing the Vice President of Finance, P.O. Box 636, St. Michaels, MD 21663 or by calling 410-745-2916 ext. 238. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-974-5534. WaterWays is printed on 50% recycled paper (25% post-consumer waste) using eco-friendly vegetable oil based inks. Detail of an aerial photograph of Poplar Island taken by Hunter H. Harris. The work to rebuild Poplar Island undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can be seen prominently from the air. Harris’s photos are being paired with photos of the Bay from 75 years ago by H. Robins Hollyday as part of a new exhibit, “The Bay From Above.” For more information, see pages 14-15. Summertime, and the livin’ was… well, interesting A quick cruise on the Miles River or a walk along St. Michaels’ main street this summer was all it took to recognize that things were unusually quiet. “End of Season Sale” signs went up early in the shops, the marinas had empty slips, and marketing gurus invented new terms like “stay-cation.” Here at the Museum, we saw a definite slowing of midweek visitors. It’s too soon to know for sure if this is a temporary reaction to gasoline prices and the housing slump or the beginning of a real change in American’s traveling habits, but the situation has certainly gotten our attention. Museums like CBMM were established as destinations, special places to visit (by car) and to explore. As museums, we have been the providers of unique personal experiences, bringing visitors from near and far face-to-face with the real stuff of history. As businesses, we have been the engines of the nationwide Heritage Tourism movement and the anchors for our local retail and hospitality industries. Now, suddenly, things are changing. I hear my colleagues asking, “What if the unthinkable happens, and Americans actually decide to drive less? How will we survive?” I could answer by noting how fortunate we are that CBMM is located just a tank away from three major metropolitan centers; but what I really want to say is, “We are asking the wrong question.” The challenge isn’t what if; it’s what now? And I think the answer is that it depends on how heavily we rely on tourism. I am very optimistic about CBMM’s ability not just to survive but to thrive, because we have an exceptionally well-balanced base of support. Tourist admissions provide less than 20 percent of our total annual revenue, compared to 21 percent from endowment and 25 percent from earned income. The largest single segment of support actually comes from you, our members: 30 percent from combined membership dues and Annual Fund. Compared to many of our colleagues, this is a very healthy formula, and it puts us in a strong position for the future. In a recent study of historic sites organized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, experts suggested that the old business model—based on revenues from cultural tourism—is no longer valid. The model that needs to replace it is one based on affinity groups. In other words, we better start focusing on our members, not our one-time visitors. Are we providing our members with what they want and need from us? Are we building loyalty and involvement among our members? The answers better be YES. This is where you can really help. In October, replacing the long-running OysterFest, CBMM will be hosting its first Members’ Day. This is an event designed especially for you—an opportunity to go behind the scenes, meet with staff and other members, take part in special programs and activities, and talk with us about the future of your museum. This will be a family affair, with programs for all ages, and we especially encourage you to bring friends who might become new members. More details follow in this issue. Please mark your calendars for October 18 and come for the day. Rain or shine, I promise you it will be worth the trip. Stuart L. Parnes, President sparnes@cbmm.org
(Above) Families try their hand at fishing and chicken-necking for crabs at the first annual Chesapeake Folk Festival. Departments To the Point 8 Calendar 11 Wood Works 13 Mystery Answers 22 Features Chesapeake Folk Festival On July 26, the Museum introduced a festival focused on the Bay’s living traditions, highlighting communities and people living and working on the Chesapeake. The Bay From Above CBMM’s next big exhibition juxtaposes aerial photographs of the Chesapeake Bay from 75 years ago with present day views to show the changes in landscape, waterfront and Bay spaces. Voices of the Chesapeake From a popular radio show to a CD of Bay songs and, now, a book chock full of Bay voices and perspectives, Michael Buckley has quickly become the Bay’s leading oral historian. By Michael Valliant Attic Treasures Contents Maple Hall in Claiborne holds the stories and secrets of 150 years of the Tunis, Cockey and Cooke families. Boxes full of documents, photographs and artifacts make for historic treasures. By Dick Cooper 6 14 16 19 5
Page 1 and 2: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Fall
Page 3: St Michaels Office: 210 S. Talbot S
Page 7 and 8: Folk Festival Starts a New Traditio
Page 9 and 10: vember 10, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. a
Page 11 and 12: September Building a Ship in a Bott
Page 13 and 14: Shipwright Dan Sutherland works on
Page 15 and 16: (Above and right) Some Bay places h
Page 17 and 18: the U.S. Geological Survey Patuxent
Page 19 and 20: Attic Treasures Tell History of Map
Page 21 and 22: The future of Claiborne shifted to
Page 23 and 24: Will They Love the Bay as much as y

Fall 2008 - Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

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