On November 14, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD oke ground in replacing the last and most exposed section of rotted bulkhead along the museum’s Navy Point and Miles River shoreline. The six-month project restores more than 600 feet of bulkhead. The work is being performed by Hi-Tide Marine Construction of Snow Hill, MD, who was awarded the work through a competitive bid process. The bulkhead restoration project is funded through a $30,000 Maryland Bond Bill and a $255,000 Maryland Department of Natural Resources matching grant, with additional funding raised through philanthropic support. During construction, the museum’s exhibit and waterfront campus will remain open, with access to the Hooper Straight Lighthouse and Navy Point restricted.
The original wooden bulkhead was installed in 1970, and has far exceeded its expected 25-year lifetime. When repaired, the new bulkhead will correct sinkhole issues along the water’s edge and reduce sediment release into the harbor after each rainfall.
The decayed wooden bulkhead will be replaced with modern, more durable vinyl sheathing that comes with a 40-year lifespan. A new finger pier and three mooring pilings, upgraded electric and water service will also be added. A living shoreline will replace rip-rap near the museum’s harbor side facilities. The new living shoreline complements a recently restored wetland crossing over Fogg’s Cove, which provides natural habitat and filters runoff while preserving the shoreline. The bulkhead from St. Michaels’ Honeymoon Bridge to the Crab Claw restaurant and along Fogg’s Cove has also been recently replaced.
This new bulkhead work begins at the museum’s marine railway, and proceeds around the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse, whose deck will be replaced. The new bulkhead will continue around Navy Point to the Fogg’s Cove side of the At Play on the Bay exhibit building.
CBMM remains open to visitors throughout the winter from 10am-4pm, seven days a week, with admission now running through the museum store. For more information about the Navy Point bulkhead restoration project and how your support can make a difference, contact René Stevenson at 410-745-4950 or rstevenson@cbmm.org.
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For more information, contact:
Tracey Munson
Vice President of Communications
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
410-745-4960, tmunson@cbmm.org
