Last updated: 3/20/2012
Shady Side, Maryland
Street Address
1418 East West Shady Side Rd
Shady Side, MD 20764
Mailing Address
PO Box 89
Shady Side, MD 20764

Hours

March-May: Sunday, 1 - 4 pm; June-September: Saturday & Sunday, 1 - 4 pm; October-December: Sunday, 1 - 4 pm; Monday 9:30 - 11:30 am all year.

Admissions

Free

Staff

Vicki Petersen
phone: 410-867-4486
Pat Youngmann
phone: 410-867-4486
Description

The Captain Avery Museum property is uniquely significant for its dual period of interpretation. From 1860 to 1890, the property was owned by Captain Salem Avery and the property remained in the family until 1920. Avery came to the Chesapeake from Long Island where his family had been sea captains for several generations. The Museum’s collections include artifacts from the Avery family, notably the family Bible given to Mrs. Avery as a wedding gift. Other artifacts in the Avery family house reflect the furnishings of the time, many having been donated by local families. The house is typical of many watermen’s families in the area and the history of their daily life is interpreted by artifacts in common use during the period.

Artifact Collections
furniture
period clothing (1860-1900)
exhibits of watermen's lives
model boats
Educational Programs

tours
monthly programs
winter luncheon series
summer educational series for children
July 4th picnic with concert
oyster festival
Publications

"Doc" by Therese Magnotti - the life of Emily Hammond Wilson
"Spirit of Shadyside" by Virginia Fitz
"Miss Ethel Remembers" by Mavis Daly
Services
Miss Ethel Memorial Library

In 1998 an extension was added to the Salem Avery Museum building to provide space for a library and storage of archival materials. The society named the library the Miss Ethel Memorial Library in memory of Flora Ethel Nowell Andrews who was “the” matriarch of the Shady Side community. Her oral history, “Miss Ethel Remembers…” published in 1991 and released on her 103rd birthday chronicles the life and times of Shady Side, describing Miss Ethel's personal life as well as the changes she saw take place in this quaint Chesapeake community in Anne Arundel County. Her daughter, Glorious Shenton, a graduate of Hood College with a degree in library science, started the library collection to contribute to the Society’s mission, “to preserve, collect, document, and share local history and culture …”.

Museum Rental

The Captain Avery Museum and waterfront grounds are available for rental for private events. The waterfront grounds of the Museum are ideal for weddings and family reunions. The Great Room is a lovely setting for conferences, small parties, and business luncheons. The Museum grounds sit on the West River with views to the Chesapeake Bay. The Museum is a National Historic Landmark. In addition to renting the building and grounds together, two other rental options are available • the Museum's Great Room, kitchen for warming purposes, and bathrooms •the grounds with its magnificent waterfront view.

Captain Avery Museum Shop

Welcome to the Captain Avery Museum Shop! We know you are sure to enjoy browsing all the wonderful items we now have available for sale, such as our highly sought after apparel line which includes the 2005 Heritage flag design now available on sweatshirts as well as long and short-sleeved t-shirts. We also have books describing Shady Side residents and history. We will have music, art, crafts and much more! We update our inventory often so check back soon to see what’s new! No matter what you choose, you are guaranteed to have a truly unique gift which also happens to support a treasured Shady Side, MD landmark, the historic Captain Avery Museum!

Shop on-line at our website and click on the item you wish to order, fill your shopping cart, then check out using your credit card or PayPal account.

Gift Shop
Special Event Rental
Group Tours
ADA
Parking
Restrooms
Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

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February 2 - 6, 2025

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Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

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Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

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2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

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2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

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