Five Must-See U.S. Maritime Museums

by J. M. Pressley
First published: December 11, 2012

America's seafaring history has left a legacy of maritime museums throughout the country. Among them are five standouts that rank among the best in the world.

America has a long and extensive maritime tradition. From the Atlantic to the Great Lakes to the Pacific, ships and boats have played a vital role in the making of the United States, with all manner of vessels traversing our waterways. In many respects, American history is inextricably bound to the sea.

This seafaring history has left a legacy of maritime museums throughout the country. These museums are tributes to the sailors, fishermen, whalers, merchants, and others who plied their trades—and risked their lives—upon the water. Among them are five standouts that rank among the best in the world.

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Located at Navy Point in St. Michaels, Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum offers visitors the largest collection of preserved Chesapeake Bay boats as well as interactive exhibits and educational programs. The 18-acre campus even features a working boatyard. Admission varies; standard entry is $13.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors, and $6.00 for children (free for kids under 6). The museum is open year-round except for New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Website: http://www.cbmm.org

Maine Maritime Museum

The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine, is situated on the town's Kennebec River waterfront. In addition to its 30,000 square-foot gallery, the museum campus encompasses several 19th-century buildings and the Percy and Small Shipyard, which preserves the lone surviving wooden shipbuilding site in the nation. Admission is good for two visits within a seven-day period, starting at $15.00 for adults, $12.00 for students and seniors, and $10.00 for children 6-17. Museum members and children under 6 have free admission. The museum is open year-round except for New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Website: http://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org

Maritime Museum of San Diego

San Diego Bay is home to the Maritime Museum of San Diego, established in 1948. The museum boasts an impressive array of historical vessels, including the Star of India, an 1863 bark that is the oldest preserved iron-hulled merchant ship. More than 220,000 visitors enjoy the museum's exhibits and educational offerings each year. General admission starts at $15.00 for adults; $12.00 for seniors, military personnel and students (13-17); $8.00 for children 6-12; and free for children 5 and younger. The museum is open year-round, every day.
Website: http://www.sdmaritime.org

Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea

Mystic, Connecticut first established a maritime museum in 1929. It stands now as one of the best living history museums in America. More than 60 historic buildings comprise the campus, which preserves many aspects and crafts of a 19th-century sailing village. The museum's collection includes four ships designated as National Historic Landmarks; the centerpiece is the Charles W. Morgan, the last surviving wooden whaling ship and the oldest preserved merchant vessel in the world. General admission is $24.00 for adults, $22.00 for seniors and college students, $15.00 for children 6-17, and free for children under 6 and museum members. The museum is open daily for about half of the year during spring and summer (the end of March through October), with a reduced schedule during the off-season months, and is closed from January through mid-February.
Website: http://www.mysticseaport.org

National Museum of the United States Navy

Established in 1961 on the grounds of the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of the United States Navy has been called the "flagship museum" of the U.S. Navy. The museum chronicles the history of the Navy from its creation to present and features artifacts dating back as far as 1800. One of the highlights of the museum's collection is the deep-sea submersible Trieste. Admission is free, and the museum is open every day of the year except for New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Website: http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org8-1.htm