“First class museum. Well done.”
~ Herman J. Viola Curator Emeritus at the Smithsonian Institution
Captain Bayton
The Steamboat Era saw few African-American entrepreneurs succeed in the risky business of steamboat ownership. Yet Hansford C. Bayton defied the odds: He became the captain and co-owner of five steamboats while fighting against the rising tide of racial discrimination in early 20th century tidewater Virginia.
Life on the Old Bay Line
Capturing the charm and nostalgia of overnight steamship travel between Baltimore and Norfolk, this exhibit explores life aboard the Old Bay Line during its heyday on the Chesapeake Bay.
Painting the Steamboat Era
Bringing to life the spirit and significance of 19th- and 20th-century river travel, this exhibit showcases the steamboat era through evocative oil paintings of innovation and grandeur.