History of the Calvert Marine Museum The dream of establishing a museum at Solomons to preserve and interpret the area's history was shared by the following individuals: Daniel Barrett Jr., John Bluster, William Dovel, Alton Kersey, Joseph C. Lore Jr., and LeRoy "Pepper" Langley.
The Calvert Marine Museum, designed and built by volunteers, was established on Solomon's Island, Maryland, on October 18, 1970 under the aegis of the Calvert County Historical Society. It soon outgrew its original facility and was moved to the present nine-acre site in 1975. It was at this time that the renovated Drum Point Lighthouse was moved to the museum site. With the growth of museum programs, collections, and constituency, the Calvert County Historical society in 1979 asked that Calvert County designate the museum a separate department of the county government, with a seventeen-member Board of Governors to provide oversight. mall> Another important landmark was reached in 1981 when the Calvert Marine Museum met the criteria set by the American Association of Museums and was fully accredited by that organization with subsequent reaccredidation in 1996. In 1984, a supporting and fundraising organization was incorporated under the name of the Calvert Marine Museum Society. CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF CMM 1966 - Calvert County Historical Society (CCHS) designates preservation of Drum Point Light House (DPLH) as special project. 1968 - CCHS designates a maritime museum as special project. 1970, October - CCHS Maritime Museum officially dedicated (temporary facility). 1973 - CCHS acquires vacant Solomons Elementary School for permanent museum facilities (plus four acres). 1974, May - Renovation of school begun; first director hired; exhibits moved from temporary building and temporary building closed and sold. 1974, December - CCHS and Calvert County government acquires deed to DPLH from federal agencies. 1975 Woodshop set up (lower level). 1975 Glascock property (narrow strip) on south side acquired. 1975, February - Diamond Construction Co. of Savannah, GA, begins removal of DPLH to CMM property. 1975, March 25 - DPLH moved to waterfront by Diamond Construction Co. (grant from Maryland Historical Trust). 1975, June 29 - CMM official opening/dedication; name changed from Calvert Maritime Museum to Calvert Marine Museum; lobby/maritime history/rest rooms completed. (Lobby by special grant from Mr. Jefferson Patterson.) 1975, Summer - Oyster shell paths laid (grant from Division of Natural Resources DNR)-Waterway Development and Improvement). 1976 - Graphics lab set up. 1976 - Paleontology range set up. 1976 - American Shipcarvers Guild - John Olsen Chapter, started. 1976, March - Newsletter Bugeye Times started. 1976 - Boat shed built (grant from Maryland Capital Grants admin. By Maryland Historical Trust). 1976, Summer - Pier/bulkhead completed (grant from DNR-Waterway Development and Improvement). 1976, March - Wye Oak planted by Maryland Forestry Service, Arbor Day. 1976 - North office completed (including north stairway to upper level). 1976, July 4 - "Life of the Waterman" exhibit completed and dedicated. 1976, Summer - Storage shed and wood fence completed. 1976 - CMM joins Forum of Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museums. 1976 - CMM joins Museum Small Craft Conference. 1977 - CMM joins Council of American Maritime Museums. 1977 - CMM sponsors first club - American Shipcarvers' Guild, John Olsen Chapter. 1977 - Rupert (Dick) Lore property acquired - south field. 1977 - Lower level exhibits completed; diving/sport fishing/slide-sound projection room/Tufnell Gallery. 1978 - North Annex (Smith property) acquired. 1978 - Library and archives completed. 1978, June 24 - DPLH completely restored and authentically furnished (grant from Maryland Historical Trust). 1978 - Calvert County Garden Club plants shrubs, flowers, etc. 1978 - CMM joins International Congress of Maritime Museums. 1978, Summer - Upper level (attic) completed, artifact storage/registrar's office/south office enlarged/ south stairway to attic. 1978, October 6-7 - CMM co-sponsors first Patuxent River Appreciation Days festival (an annual event). 1979 - Wm. B. Tennison acquired (grant from: National Trust for Historic Preservation). 1979 - Creek Critters educational program started (grant from Citizen's Program for the Chesapeake Bay). 1979, September - Calvert County Resolution 22-79; official transfer of CMM from to Calvert County government. 1979, September - "Fossils of Calvert Cliffs" exhibit completed and dedicated. 1979, October - J.C. Lore Oyster packing house acquired (grant from U.S. Dept. of the Interior Heritage Conservation & Resources Service). 1979, December - Solomons Island Model Boat Club (SIMBC) sponsored by CMM. 1980 - Patuxent Small Craft Guild sponsored by CMM. 1980, May - CMM sponsors first Maritime Folklife exhibit at Maryland Folklife Festival, St. Mary's City (grant Maryland State Arts Council). 1980, Summer - Log canoe project (Indian dugout/Colonial punt) built by George Surgent begun (grant from National Trust for Historic Preservation). 1980, October - Programs room completed. 1981, February - Remodeled lobby/ship's store. 1981, May 8-10 - CMM hosts Museum Small Craft Conference. 1981, June 26 - "War on the Patuxent: 1814" exhibit opens. 1981, November 24 - Granted accreditation by American Association Museums. 1981 - Fossil Club sponsored by CMM. 1981 - Canoe Club sponsored by CMM. 1982, October - Estuarium opening. 1983 - Drum Point Lighthouse celebrates century birthday. 1983, December 2 - "Built to Work: Building Deadrise Workboats in Southern Maryland" exhibit opens. 1984 - Master Plan Phase I completed (boat basin). 1984, June - J.C. Lore & Sons Oyster House exhibit opens. 1984, June 7 - Calvert Marine Society incorporated. 1984, September 10 - "Seasons of Abundance, Seasons of Want…" exhibit opens. 1984, October - First Corporate Caper. 1985 - Patuxent Small Craft Guild pavilion completed. 1985 - CMM Expedition to Baja California whale watching. 1985 - First "Southern Maryland Maritime Industries" summer program (funded by Town Creek Foundation). 1985, May - First Waterside Music Festival. 1985, June 27 - CMM becomes founding member of Solomons Environmental and Archaeological Research Consortium (SEARCH). 1985 - First Year-End Appeal. 1986 - Completion of Wood Carvers Shop. 1986 - Completion of Fossil Preparation Laboratory. 1986 - "Young Salts" program begun. 1986, August 23 - Groundbreaking ceremony for new Exhibition Hall. 1986, November - First Director's Reception. 1987 - First offering of CMM/CBL graduate course for teachers; CMM hosts Maryland meeting of Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association. 1987 - Renovation of lobby waterfowl exhibit. 1988 - CMM becomes founding member of CHESPAX, the Calvert County environmental and outdoor education consortium. 1988, June - CMS purchases Society House. 1988, August - CMM expedition to the Peruvian Amazon. 1988, September - 18th Century Tidewater Faire. 1989, January 14 - New Exhibition building opened to public. 1989, February 25 - Dedication of new Learning Center and Discovery Room. 1989, April 8 - "Sitting in on the Future" fundraiser reception. 1989, May 18 - Dedication of New Exhibition building. (International Museum (Day). 1989, August - CMM diving expedition to Fiji, south Pacific. 1989, November 4 - First permanent exhibit "Maritime Patuxent: A River and Its People" in new exhibition building opened to public. 1989/1990 - Library, Archives, Estuarine Biology Department, Paleontology Department, and Maritime History collections temporarily moved to East Annex; Administration and Exhibits Department temporarily moved to North Annex (moved back in 1993). 1990, May 26 - Fifth Annual Waterside Music Festival. 1990, July 1 - First CMM Director, Dr. Ralph E. Eshelman, retires. 1990, August 11 - "Charting the Chesapeake, 1590-1990," exhibit opening. 1990, September - CMM Volunteer Council established. 1990, September 28 - First Annual Bugeye Ball held at Solomons Holiday Inn. 1990, October - First issue of The Anchor printed. 1990, october 18 - CMM Twentieth Anniversary. 1991, January 2 - C. Douglass Alves, Jr., Director, hired. 1991, April 17-19 - CMM hosts Council of American Maritime Museums annual conference. 1992, May 3 - Second permanent exhibit "Estuary Patuxent: A River and Its Life" opened to the public. 1993 - CMM hosts Museum Store Association Annual Conference. 1993, April 1 - Renovated schoolhouse opens as Administration Building. 1993, September 24 - Dedication of Administration Building. 1994, February 25-27 - CMM hosts Colonial Maritime Conference. 1994, June 24 - Dedication for Otter Habitat. 1994, July 23 - First annual Sharkfest. 1994, November 15 - Wm. B. Tennison receives National Historic Landmark status. 1995, February - CMM hosts first Elderhostel. 1995, May 25 - Los Lobos opens 1st large Waterside Concert, 1500 attend (10th annual Waterside Concert). 1995, October 21 - CMM Twenty-Fifth Anniversary. 1996 - CMM Reaccredited. 1996, Spring - Bugeye Times completes twenty years. 1996, August - East Annex building razed. 1996, October 17 - Cedar Point Lighthouse roof and bricks donated to CMM by U.S. Navy. 1997, October 23 - Ceremony held at Cove Point Lighthouse to mark pending transfer from U.S. Coast Guard to Calvert County government. 1997 - Boat basin boardwalk refurbished. 1997, March 20 - Third and final permanent exhibit "Treasures from the Cliffs: Exploring Marine Fossils" opened to the public. 1997, December - Boat basin boardwalk refurbished. 1998, January - First annual Winter Lights celebration. 1998, May - Washington Gas Pavilion completed; B.B.King headlines to 4800 attendees. 1998, May 19 - Dedication of bulkhead and boardwalk at J.C. Lore Oyster House. 1998, August 7-9 - The first Cradle of Invasion: World War II Living History Weekend. 1999 - Wm. B. Tennison’s 100th birthday. 1999, March - CMM web site www.calvertmarinemuseum.com opens. 1999, August 10 - James LeRoy "Pepper" Langley retires from CMM (began work at CMM May 1974). 1999, September - Estuarium addition construction started. 1999, October 7 - Exhibit opening, Atlantic Sturgeon. 2000, May - 15th annual Waterside Music Festival. 2000 - CMM Thirtieth Anniversary. June 11, 2005 - Whale Exhibit opens. August 19, 2005 - CMM, Drum Point Lighthouse host NBC’s Today Show – Hometown wedding. October 18, 2005 - 35th Anniversary of CMM. 2005 ……….. Holiday Basket Bingo Fundraiser.
Nov 13
2005 ………….. 20th Annual Solomons Christmas Walk
Dec 9-10
2006 …………. Winter Lights Festival
Jan 14-15
2006 3rd Annual Spring Basket Bingo Fundraiser.
April 23
2006 …………. Cove Point Lighthouse, open to public and manned by volunteers,
May 1 Monday through Friday.
2006 ………. “New” Discovery Room opens to the public.
May 1
2006 ………….. Solomons Maritime Folklife Festival/Chesapeake Antique Boat and Marine May 6 Engine Show
2006 ……… WMS – Trace Adkins concert.
May 14
2006 …………… WMS – An Evening With The Allman Brothers Band
July 2
2006 …………… Sharkfest - Record breaking - over 2253 visitors.
July 8
2006 …………….. First “double” Basket Bingo Marathon.
July 9
2006 ……………. First “Annual Solomons Island Clam Bake, Lore Oyster House.
July 20
2006 ……………. Cradle of Invasion – “Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow.”
August 4-6
2006 …………. WMS – Big & Rich Concert
August 27
2006 ………….. Maryland Lighthouse Challenge
September 16-17
2006 …………. Patuxent River Summit. The Patuxent River commission presents the “State October 6 of the River” in a public forum.
2006 ………… “Magpie” in concert, Museum Auditorium.
October 7
2006 ……….. Patuxent River Appreciation Day.
October 7-8
2006 ……. Annual Bugeye Ball.
October 14
2006 ………….. CMM Marine Museum Fossil Club’s 25th Anniversary Celebration and November 11 Miocene Symposium on The Geology and Paleontology of Calvert Cliffs.
2006 ……… 3rd Annual Holiday Basket Bingo Extravaganza. Calvert County
November 12 Fairgrounds.
2006 …………. Solomons Christmas Walk
December 8-9
2006 …………. Members Yule Party
December 10
2006 ………… Tuba Christmas, Museum Auditorium.
December 17 2007, January 19 - Livingston Taylor performed at CMM in the auditorium. 2007, June 9-10 - John Smith Shallop
2007, June 14 - Leglislative Picnic – So. Md Delegation 2007, October 5 - CMM’s First FREE Friday, 5:00-8:00 PM 2007, November 17 - Celebration for Paul Berry at Asbury-Solomons for over 21,000 volunteer hours.
2008, April 19 - Grand Opening of the new Paleontology Gallery. 2008, May 10 - Manitou arrives at CMM for the summer. 2008, September 20 - Tall Ships on the Chesapeake, Public sails on Kalmar Nyckel 2008, September 23 - Opening of Eco-Invaders Exhibit. VIP Reception. 2009, March 6 - Opening for “Solomons Then and Now.” 2009, May 1 - Corbin Pavilion Dedication 2009, June 29 - Vol. 34, No. 2, Summer 2009 Bugeye Times is the last traditional paper edition after thirty–three years of continuous publication. 2009, September - Bugeye Times goes electronic. Members receive the publication online.
2010, March 9 - Dedication of “CMM Founders’ Plaque” | 
