Attraction magazine has partnered with the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office and Chesapeake Conservancy to help readers find their next adventure. Each month, we’ll feature a new place from their helpful website, FindYourChesapeake.com. There, you can also sign up for an e-newsletter, Trips and Tips, that delivers fresh ideas to your inbox each week.
Ready to try something new? At FindYourChesapeake.com, also find expert advice on experiences like birdwatching, fishing, camping, and hiking. Their team also developed content to help people explore the Chesapeake virtually.
This month, the spotlight is on the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury. Aptly located in the heart of the Atlantic Flyway, the museum features the world’s largest and finest public collection of decorative and antique decoys. The museum is named in honor of Stephen and Lemuel Ward, local carvers whose vision and artistry led the evolution of the decoy from a working tool to expressive wildfowl art.
The Ward Museum’s permanent exhibits include a replication of the Ward brothers’ original workshop, exhibits exploring the history of decoys and hunting culture in the early-20th century, and the World Championship Gallery, a showcase for contemporary carvings. Many of these carvings are masterpieces from the museum’s premier event, the annual Ward World Championship.
The museum is much more than a home for decoys. It is a cherished part of the Eastern Shore of Maryland community, due in large part to its great public programs and extremely popular events.
The 2022 World Championship will be held online and at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art on April 22 through 24. The museum is currently working on details, so check in for updates at www.wardmuseum.org/learn-explore/program-calendar/world-championship.
The 2022 Ward Museum Photo Festival will also be a hybrid event, scheduled for July 15 through 17. The photo festival will have both adult and youth divisions. Find more at www.wardmuseum.org/learn-explore/program-calendar/art-nature-photo-festival.
Be sure to save the date for this year’s Delmarvalous Festival on August 13, when you can join in celebrating Delmarva culture, decoy carving, traditional arts, and local history – back to in-person this year, and totally free to attend. Visit www.wardmuseum.org/learn-explore/program-calendar/delmarvalous-festival.
Every Wednesday, join Ward Museum staff for Wing Watch, a guided bird walk around Schumaker Pond. Check the calendar of events for exact times at www.wardmuseum.org/calendar/2022-04. For the little ones in your life there’s Drop In Art, Jr. every Wednesday, with a shared story and thematic craft. The Nature Journaling Club meets at the Ward Museum on the third Thursday of each month. Visit www.wardmuseum.org/museum-events/nature-journaling-club/2022-04-21.
As you can see, there’s much to see and do at the Ward Museum.
