Since 1988, the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum has been dedicated to documenting and interpreting the rich maritime heritage of the lower Chesapeake Bay through the culture of the region’s watermen and Reedville’s fishing industry.
The museum is an important component of the Greater Reedville Association, and its mission is to support educational, cultural and recreational activities that highlight the unique nautical character of the area and improve the lives of residents and visitors. The museum explores the role watermen have played in the region for more than 100 years and the subsequent menhaden barons and industry that changed the course of Reedville forever.
The property is located on the banks of Cockrell’s Creek on land once owned by the town’s namesake, Captain Elijah Reed. The facility’s William Walker House was built in 1875 on land bought that year from Captain Reed. It was occupied by the Walker family until it was purchased by the Greater Reedville Association in 1986. Primarily through the work of volunteers, the association restored the house and opened it as the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum in 1988. In the spring of 1995 the home was refurbished and refurnished and now represents a waterman’s home at the turn of the previous century.
A generous gift from Frank Covington enabled the museum to expand into the Covington Building in 1995. The facility houses permanent collections and changing exhibits. The Pendleton Building, which accommodates the Boat Building Shop and the Model Shop, was added during an expansion program in 2003. The Butler House features administrative offices, curatorial work space, the library and reading room.
1 of 4
2 of 4
3 of 4
4 of 4
On permanent exhibit are the skipjack Claude W. Somers and the buy boat Elva C. Both vessels are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also, part of the museum’s fleet are the John Smith barge, a replica of the original style of boat used to explore the Chesapeake Bay in 1608, the deadrise Foggy River, and The Spirit of Reedville, a purse boat donated by Omega Protein.
The Northern Neck Watermen’s Memorial, a cooperative effort between the Fishermen’s Museum and the Kilmarnock Museum, was unveiled in 2016. New to the museum this year are KidsKorners — interactive stations where children can discover the world of Cockerel’s Creek and the Chesapeake Bay. From “Try-On Trunks” and “Find-a-Fish” to nautical knot-tying, the young and young-at-heart can engage in activities designed to stimulate the senses. Innovative KidsKorners are a great way to keep the youngsters engaged while adults spend time reading the more detailed panels in the Reed, Frayne, and Watermen’s galleries.
Museum hours vary by season. From June 1 to October 31, the facility is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. During the winter season, November and December, the museum opens on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The facility is closed to the public from January 1 until March 31, but opens for Easter week daily from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Regardless of the season, the museum has a busy schedule of activities — concerts, lectures, Cocktails on the Creek, boat building, model and diorama construction, boat and model train shows, an oyster roast, poker run, winter market, Christmas on Cockrell’s Creek, and a New Year’s Eve party. There’s an event tailored to every taste. For more information, visit the museum online at www.rfmuseum.org, or call (804)453-6529.