The spectacular first-order lighthouse lens from the Cape Charles lighthouse welcomes visitors to The Mariners’ fascinating Chesapeake Bay gallery. Thematic exhibit areas interpret the Bays’ early history, watermen, shipbuilding and military complexes, navigation, commerce, and recreation. Historical photographs, a working steam engine, fiber-optic maps, videos, and hands-on activities complement the hundreds of maritime artifacts on display.

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The jewel of The Mariners' Museum’s collection is The Miniature Ships of August F. Crabtree, one of its most popular exhibits. From a primitive raft to a Venetian galleass decorated with 359 carved figures, these exquisitely detailed miniature ships depict the evolution of boatbuilding in an unparalleled display of craftsmanship by artist/carver August F. Crabtree.

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Great Hall of Steam relates the story of the oceangoing commercial steamship through ship models and murals. Some of the Museum’s extensive figurehead collection is displayed here. The gallery offers a visual display of maritime steam engine history as well.

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Defending the Seas tells the story of the navy’s important role in our nation’s past, present, and future. Central to this story is the theory of sea power – that a nation’s economic, political, and cultural powers are strongly tied to control of the seas. Each of the exhibition’s five sections focuses on an important period in the navy’s history while stressing the overriding importance of sea power to our nation’s strength.

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One of the world’s premier boat collections is now open to the public. The new International Small Craft Center opened on May 17, 2003, at The Mariners' Museum. The 17,500 square foot facility features state-of-the-art environmental controls to protect this important collection.

The collection features nearly 150 boats from 36 countries, and is one of the few truly internationally focused collections in the world. The Center is oriented directly to a wide variety of audiences, combining elements of both exhibition and of open storage. Boats from diverse cultures and waterways are arranged among eleven thematic areas which visitors access by way of an elevated path. Broad categories such as Maritime Environment, Culture, Shape, and Materials help orient visitors to the great varieties of watercraft in the world. The categories of Conveyance and Sustenance highlight many different examples used either as a means of transportation, or for harvesting the riches of the seas. Another section highlights Experimental and Hybrid boats, used solely for testing particular theories or that were built to serve one purpose and evolves to serve another. Two other sections feature boats used in Competition. A final section looks at the craft used for Surfing. A number of smaller boats from the collection are available for viewing on special shelves along the back walls. The Center comprises more than just boats, however. Visitors can go beyond the boats and discover more about the individuals who used them.

The Center also houses the E. Peter and Caddy R. Meekins Research and Reading Rooms offering access to information and archival form the Museum’s Library such as the Chris-Craft and the Arthur Piver Collections. There is also an area for conservation where staff and volunteers work on boats in full view of the public. The Center also features a 900-square foot space for changing exhibitions and boat related programs. Nearby there is an “All Hands!” area for kids of all ages to play on a real boat.

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