Calvert Marine Museum

With plenty to see and do for visitors aged 2 to 92, the Calvert County Maritime Museum stands out as one of the best educational attractions in Southern Maryland. It offers far more than just a lighthouse and a few artifacts—we easily spent half a day exploring its diverse exhibits. The museum features compelling displays on the War of 1812, the U.S. Navy, shipbuilding, and Chesapeake Bay vessels, along with an impressive technological exhibit on Pangaea, showcasing the era when all continents were joined and the species that roamed the Earth at that time. A small but fascinating aquarium highlights both native and invasive Chesapeake species, and the stingray and skate tank includes a separate viewing area where visitors can observe young skates developing from pods into swimmers. Their exceptional paleontology exhibit includes a working lab where guests can watch paleontologists excavate fossils, adding a hands-on scientific dimension to the experience. Inside the Discovery Room, children can enjoy interactive exhibits, and the friendly, professional staff make learning fun and accessible. Outdoors, visitors can take a marsh walk or embark on a boat cruise through the Solomons Inner Harbor, passing Solomons Island, the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, and sailing beneath the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge before turning back at Point Patience and the Naval Recreation Center. Don’t miss Squeak and Bubbles, the museum’s resident sea otters, whose playful antics delight guests of all ages. For less than the cost of a movie ticket, the Calvert County Maritime Museum delivers superb family entertainment, blending education, nature, and fun in one unforgettable visit. 

14200 Solomons Island Road Solomons, MD (410) 326-2042