Grand Opening was on October 6, 2001

The formal opening of our Gateway site was held on Saturday, October 6, 2001, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The shed over Sadler boat was up, the path to kayak ramp built, and fencing and planting across part of the parking lot area completed, turning it into exhibit space.

At that time we took possession of the Hooper's Island Drake Tail offered us by Ried Bandy, who spent 10 years restoring it. It's a wonderful boat!

The Gateway Site

The Barge House/Annapolis Maritime Museum is a designated Gateway Site under the National Parks Service's Chesapeake Bay Gateway Network. The museum is the only site in Anne Arundel County and one of 23 other sites in a four-state area. The museum received a $ 10,000 grant from the federal government to develop the site. The money will be used to plant extensive landscaping along the waterfront and construct a canoe and kayak landing that will be linked to other water trails in the city and the Chesapeake Bay Gateway Network. New picnic benches will also be purchased from the grant funds

In conjunction with the new site improvements an outdoor boat exhibit—the first in the city—will display Cap'n Herbie Sadler's workboat Little HES. The exhibit will also relate the story of local watermen who contributed to our maritime heritage. Other outdoor displays will feature tools of the trade exhibits such as hand and patten tongs, and Cap n Sadler's crab steamer.

The Annapolis Port Wardens recently approved our permit to begin work, but we are still waiting for approval from the state. The building permit to construct the boat display has been filed with the city and approvals should be forthcoming shortly. Weather permitting, we will begin the construction of the project as soon as all permits are in hand.