Maritime museum celebrates renovation
The Annapolis Maritime Museum will celebrate the renovation of the historic McNasby Oyster Co. building with a grand reopening ceremony from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at 723 Second St., Annapolis.
The $1.2 million project was funded by the state, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and the City of Annapolis, along with corporate and private donations, plus fundraisers.
The 7,000-square-foot building features an assembly hall, caterer's kitchen and a large exhibition gallery. Offices, a meeting/class room, and a curator's workshop are still under renovation. The key permanent exhibition, Oysters on the Half Shell, will be installed by the spring of 2010. The museum's first of a series of rotating exhibits will open Dec. 1.
Based on the book the museum published in October, Over the Bridge: A History of Eastport at Annapolis by Ginger Doyel, the exhibition will feature a selection from the book's historic photographs, including the panoramic view across Annapolis Harbor from the Eastport shore in the late 1800s. This image was digitally stitched together from three individual photographs, and makes up one side of the four-page gatefold in the center of the book.
"We're inviting the public to join all of our members and supporters to see what a beautiful asset the museum is providing to the community," says Museum Chairman L.B. "Buck" Buchanan.
"Architect Kirby Mehrhof and the Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. have done an incredible job transforming a storm-torn oyster house into a facility that's sure to become a world-class waterfront education center."
A brief annual meeting for recognition of museum volunteers, sponsors and supporters, and the election of officers for 2008 also will be held.
Admission is free, but reservations are required.
Information: 410-295-0104.
Adoption festivities
The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County will hold a National Adoption Day event at 9 a.m. today as the Honorable Michael E. Loney presides over the adoptions in Courtroom 4C of children from 7 months old to 11 years.
Festivities begin with Robert Wallace, court administrator, playing bagpipe music at the county courthouse. Speakers will include Robert P. Duckworth, clerk of the court, who was adopted at age five.
After the adoption proceedings, refreshments will be served in the fourth-floor gallery. The newly formed families will be treated to a family portrait by a local photographer.
