Calvert Marine Museum

This was an amazing Museum. I kept telling the staff how impressed I was by how neat the habitats were for the animals. It was designed so uniquely and they really let the kids learn more about sea life by getting engaged with the animals. I loved it! It was that good, I had to blog about it on

Been coming here since I was a kid, and I think this was the first time I ever took just one sharks tooth. It has changed a bit from what I remember as a kid, bt still in some way, shape, or form still had all the things I remembered. the kids really like seeing all the exhibits, and the marine animals that they have on site. My daughter however was only slightly amused with the otters, and thats as long as I kept her away from the glass. The day we went they had a live band, and a few other events including a 30 minute cruise which we skipped because of rain. I would say that its not a place you can make a day out of, but t will definitely hold your kids attention for a couple of hours.

This was a pleasant surprise, my wife and I were very surprised and very informative. I highly recommend seeing this atleast once

Friendly, knowledgable, welcoming. Definitely one of the first stops to make on the island to start your trip! Friendly otters are a bonus:)

A wonderful time on a hot summer day. Interesting exhibits, a great historical lighthouse, and OTTERS.
’nuff said.

Simply awesome. Really cool exhibits. My 3 year old loved the discovery room. Plenty of hands on learning in there for the little ones. Interesting stuff in the rest of the museum for the not so little ones.

What a great find! They have a little bit of everything here. Light house check. Live otter check. Aquarium with Live skate mermaids pouches. Yes those are how skates are born go figure. They also have an area where you can touch some sea life so cool! Lots of maritime Maryland things also. This was a gem and everyone on the staff was so friendly that I Will be coming back with the kids in the summer and take the water taxi tour. Learned a lot today and what a cool lighthouse minus it was super cold today. The surprise was seeing the otter exhibit, who would have know an otter would be hanging out and chilling. To damn cute! If your here stop in it’s worth it.

Very frustrated with the Director and Events Manager. Had been working for 2 months with the museum staff to secure a date and exact room location for my parent’s 50^th wedding anniversary. Our family has been long time supporters and had enjoyed many visits and events there over the years. One month before our event, they informed me that their pricing for room rental was outdated and they more than doubled the price originally quoted to me (and printed on their website)!
Terrible customer service practice and bad business form.

a small jewel of a museum, with a knowledgeable and dedicated staff. we drive down here from DC as time allows, but make it a point to visit at least once a year, usually in late summer in connection with the fossil hunt at the Cove Point Lighthouse. I love it.

Great place! ! I run MARAUDER CHARTERS out of Solomons Maryland and I recommend that all my clients take the time to explore this wonderful facility. In Southern Maryland there are very few things to do with kids when it rains. This is a great place. From going inside the lighthouse and seeing how lighthouse keepers used to live to exploring the aquarium and the vast species of fish. There is quite a bit of history and unique artifacts and historical machine in this display but at no time does it seem boring for young people. Adults will thrive at the opportunity to watch great concerts here during the summer. WE thoroughly support the Marine Museum in anyway we can. When you go please look for «Puff» the puffer fish. I donated him two years ago at the Museum and he is a happy living in a display that was custom built for him

Yesterday was our second trip to the Calvert Marine Museum and we really enjoyed ourselves. This trip was even better than the first one.
The inside of the museum is smallish and has a lot of information about boating, the War of 1812, and sea creatures. My husband loves the War of 1812 exhibits. I enjoy the animals. There are live skates and rays that you can touch. (We don’t have kids, but there are great areas for kids to touch and play/​discover. There are whole rooms set up for this.)
Our favorite exhibits were:
–Live otters (they love to follow your hands and play)
–Drum Point Lighthouse
–Backlit jellyfish
And our FAVORITE: 1 hour boat rides!
We discovered the boat rides this time. We had such a great time on the boat tour. We got a discount on the boat tour and the tickets with our AAA membership.
We had a great time!

A gem of a place that is made special not only by their location and exhibits but also the people that staff the museum. They are so helpful and gracious with their knowledge, its always a pleasure to make a day of a visit to Calvert Marine Museum.

This is a great place for the kids and adults. Check out the otters Bubbles and Squeak. The kids can hunt for and keep sharks teeth and other fossils. Buy a membership and go as frequently as you want. That’s what we did. You also want to check out the skates and Rays exhibit as you walk in. Go into the light house, it’s awesome. Park at the museum and walk to Stoney’s Kingfisher Restaurant afterwards for dinner.
Buy a membership and show your support. It’s totally worth it!!!

Took the family here today for a little day trip. It’s a nice quiet place with a lot of exhibits and history of the island and Pax River area.
The admission price is reasonable, $ 7 for adults and $ 2 for kids, military is $ 6. The price gets you admission to the museum where they have exhibits displaying fossils found in the Pax River/​Solomons area, fish and other aquatic life found in the area as well as history of oystering and the naval station nearby. We also saw two river otters, Bubbles and Squeak, who were playing. It also allows you to visit the Drum Point lighthouse which was moved many years ago to the museum. 3 levels allow the visitor to see how the light keeper and family lived. There is also a craft shop where you can see boats being made. Today we saw the volunteers building a boat that they got from a 1950s copy of a mechanics magazine.
And for the same price (although separate) they offer a boat cruise on the river from the museum to the bridge to the island and back. It’s an hour ride and they describe the scenery and buildings.
My kids did not think they would enjoy it but in the end they did. It was hot but there are spaces for shade. Definitely going to go back.

Just visited the museum for the first time last Sunday. It far exceeded my expectations. The museum covers a little of everything about the river, Chesapeake, and the Calvert county area.
You’ll learn something about wildlife:
— pet stingrays and skates;
— see a snakehead up close;
— watch otters playing;
— see various fish and other invertebrates in the small aquarium;
— read about the various creatures that inhabit the area;
You’ll learn about the history of the area:
— oystering;
— steam boats along the river;
— slavery;
— military history;
— boats;
— the county’s amazing prehistoric history, including the skeleton of the largest shark known to swim the oceans (37 feet long!). Take the time to absorb the earth’s timeline painted on the wall — you will see that humans are just newborns when compared to the history of the planet.
You’ll climb into the living quarters of the Drum Point lighthouse.
You’ll be right on the river which provides really nice, peaceful views.
There are plenty of picnic tables on the property.
I definitely feel like I got my money’s worth. I was there for 2.5 hours.

A cozy museum where you get your $ worth. Entrance is $ 7 for adults and with AAA card you get $ 1 off.
A must if you are visiting the island. The staff members are über helpful and informative.
Catch the film showing the lighthouse.

This place is definitely worth a visit. We were trying to find things to do on a 100 degree day with out of town guests and decided to head for Solomons Island for lunch and a visit to the maritime museum.
I had been to the one in St. Micheals, so I thought it would be more of the same but boy was I wrong. The Calvert Cliffs exhibit was unbelievable. For those unfamiliar with this area, the 30 foot cliffs are situated on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay North of Solomons. The layers of sediment that were exposed by the forces of mother nature, were found to be from a prehistoric ocean that was once part of the present landscape.
The age (millions of years) and variety of fossils (whales, dinosaurs) they have found during their archaeological digs there is just amazing. For a small museum, they also have done a wonderful job displaying and sharing the details of this magical bone yard.
The ray exhibit was very interesting too. It was a little rudimentary, but it was fun to see these creatures up close and also see them in the various development stages in the birth cycle. These weren’t drawings but actual baby rays growing in their little sacs. (don’t know the appropriate scientific term here).
There were many other «cool» side displays showing the evolution of an outboard motor with numerous ones on display. My oh my have we come a long way baby. I bet there were a few skippers without fingers back in the day.,
Of course, they also have the full size lighthouse, a variety of Chesapeake Bay vessels in various conditions, and a couple outside water exhibits that feature our local wildlife including otters.
All in all, one of my better museum experiences. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back AND to bring out of town guests too.

It has been at least 15 years since I’ve visited Southern Maryland. First, my older sister moved to Maryland from SoCal… then one of my brothers moved to Lusby from NoCal… another sister followed… older sister moved back to SoCal… and my younger brother moved here 3 years ago. I am the only sibling who hasn’t lived in Maryland… go figure. We aren’t even from Maryland!
After that trip down memory lane… let’s talk about the Calvert Marine Museum. My younger brother has volunteered here for a while, so he knew what a great place it would be to take his sister. We strolled around the museum… saw the sting rays and other marine life… and then took the 1 hour boat cruise on the Patuxent River.
Despite the heat and humidity — 100 degrees with a heat index of over 110 degrees — we enjoyed walking around Solomons and taking a break from the heat by touring the museum. The boat tour was great because the cooling breezes off the bay was a welcome relief from the heat.
Inexpensive place to visit and learn some of the local history.

As a former history teacher, I usually dread local museums. My wife convinced me that the Calvert Marine Museum was worth a visit. Was she ever right! (As usual, she would say.)
The Drum Point Lighthouse alone was worth the price of admission. But the exhibits in the museum itself were also interesting: Displays about the watermen and their lives. A collection of outboard motors going back to 1912. An explanation of caulking boats, Early photos of buildings and paired with the cxurrent buildings on the same site — both superimposed on a map of Solomon’s. American privateers in the War of 1812. The museum even focused (a bit) on African Americans in the history of the area including an photo and background on the first African American to own his own boat for hauling freight in the Chesapeake.
Note: you get a discount on admission with a AAA card.

The Calvert Marine Museum really is a fun little diversion when you visit Solomon’s. Highlights include the 37.5-foot megalodon skeleton, the Cove Point Light House and a cruise on the William B Tennison, a 110 year old schooner. The CMM recently renovated the paleontology hall with a vast collection of fossil specimens, informative movies, and interactive touch computers.
This permanent exhibit tells the story of human activity along the Patuxent River from the seventeenth-​century colonial period to present. A «hands-​on» Discovery Room for children of all ages (preschool to adult) is located on the lower level of the Exhibition Building. Check out the The Southern Maryland Shipcarvers’ Guild and the Solomons Island Model Boat Club headquartered in the woodworking shop on the CMM property.
All that, and they’ve got otters now, too!
It’s a very enjoyable and educational, worthwhile and interesting way to spend an entire afternoon or morning. Great for all ages.