J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum

Open year round, call us at 410-968-2501 for more information.
Admission; Free  donations appreciated

Located on Somers Cove Marina in the downtown area of the City of Crisfield, Maryland at the end of Ninth Street. The museum tells the history of our City from the forming of the Chesapeake Bay circa 12,000 years ago to the present. The building also includes our gift shop and headquarters for our tour guides. Exhibits include:

* Native American artifacts and a stone knapping display
* History of the seafood industry, crabs, oysters and fish
* Oyster industry, skipjacks and oyster shuckers
* 19th & 20th century manufacturing, knives, traps and WWII ordinance
* Military memorabilia and veterans display
* Decoy carving and display (many artist)
* Waterfowl hunting and gun display
* Model wooden boat collection
* Boat building display / with  tools of the trade
* and much more.

Tim Howard Curator            Email Curator

J. Millard Tawes Library

Birthplace and boyhood home of John Millard Tawes, entrepreneur, banker, Democrat, Comptroller, Treasurer, and 54th Governor of Maryland. The homes has been restored and serves as a museum, displaying the Governor's family and political memorabilia. The collection includes old photos, furniture and books from Mr. Tawes's Library. The Crisfield Heritage Foundation uses this facility for its Executive offices and entertaining guest of the foundation.

Christine C. Tyler Executive Director

Viewing by appointment only.
For more information, contact us at (410) 968-2501.
 

Email our Director

Ward Brothers Workshop

 Viewing by appointment only. For more information contact us at 410-968-2501
Read more about the Ward Brothers

Home place of the famous waterfowl carvers, Lem and Steve Ward. They were barbers by trade, but their fame is from their working with wood to produce some of the finest decoy  specimens on the Shore. The brothers lived near the head of Jenkins (alias Back) Creek the home of their ancestors and an area filled with wildlife, that they truly loved and appreciated. The barber shop, now part of the restored building was located on the corner of the homestead. During the day the shop was open for a shave and haircut, but when no customers were in the chair the brothers would carve and paint decoys for their own use when hunting on the Creek. At four o'clock the shop was closed and they jumped on their bicycles and headed down to the landing with guns, decoys and a snack.  A wooden skiff, without a motor was loaded with gear in preparation to embark on the hunting trip. A large wooden paddle was used to scull the vessel to the hunting grounds about a mile or more to the south. If the hunt was successful the ducks and geese were picked and cleaned the next morning before opening the barber shop. The old barber shop had shelves around the walls and decoys were placed on them to dry. Customers getting  a shave and a haircut would ask to purchase some of the decoys for their hunting trips and a new business was formed. The brothers soon had many orders and shipped their work through out the country. P.L.G. 2012

Jenkins Creek looking west         Photo by: Phil G.2012

Steve Ward and brother Lemuel Travis Ward Jr. in their shop

   Crisfield Heritage Foundation Inc. 2-05-2012

All Rights  Reserved  ®