Reedville offers several ways to explore its maritime history: the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum presents the past of the lower Chesapeake Bay, historic boats illustrate different uses of the water, and well-preserved homes shape the townscape of the Reedville Historic District. There are also seasonal sailing trips and a 22-mile cycling loop. You can focus your visit on culture and local history, or include activities on the water and by bike.
Fishing History and Boats at the Museum
The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum introduces visitors to the maritime past of the lower Chesapeake Bay. On the museum grounds, you can visit the William Walker House, a waterman’s home built in 1875. At the Covington Building, you can choose between guided tours with volunteer docents and self-guided tours. The museum also offers educational programs for groups of all ages.
The boats illustrate different activities on the water. The Claud W. Somers represents the type of sail-powered oyster dredger designed for maneuverability in the shallow areas of the Chesapeake Bay. The Elva C represents a different type of boat: a deck boat built primarily for fishing with pound and haul nets. The comparison shows two different uses—oyster fishing and net fishing. The Elva C was selected in 2005 for listing on the Virginia Historic Landmark Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
Visitors can take seasonal sailing trips aboard the Claud W. Somers. The trips travel down Cockrell’s Creek to the Great Wicomico River and onward into the Chesapeake Bay. Along the way, you can observe wildlife and watermen. Scheduled and privately arranged sailing trips offer different ways to learn about the maritime theme not only through boatbuilding and fishing, but also on the water.
Reedville’s History and Historic Townscape
After the Civil War, Elijah Reed developed the menhaden industry, in connection with which Reedville was established. The homes in the Reedville Historic District add to this history: the district contains a particularly well-preserved collection of homes from the late Victorian era and the early 20th century. They were built for local industrialists, sea captains, and merchants.
Many buildings in the Historic District are visible from public paths, although many of the properties are private homes. Please view the houses respectfully from public paths. The collection brings together buildings from different periods and offers a glimpse of the homes built for Reedville’s local industrialists, sea captains, and merchants. In this way, the architecture complements the maritime history highlighted at the museum and in the boats.
Sailing, Cycling, and a Day Trip
If you would like to plan an outdoor activity in addition to visiting the museum and exploring local history, you can cycle the Reedville–Vir-Mar Beach–Smith Point Loop. The loop is 22 miles long, offering a different focus from visits to the museum and the Historic District. For a day trip to Tangier Island, you can board the Chesapeake Breeze at Buzzard’s Point in Reedville; check the operator’s seasonal schedule before traveling. This gives you several options to choose from when planning: maritime history on land, seasonal sailing, or a bike ride.
Discover more destinations: Heathsville.
Return to the main travel overview: Northumberland County.
