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  • Decoding and Coded Language: Research on a WWII Cryptanalyst Serendipitous for Pride Month

    • Cultural Heritage
    • Military
    • Photography
    • Women's History

    During WWII, many women answered the call of military service through enlistment into the WAVES. Marjorie Pollard was one of those women, and — despite widespread stigma about homosexuals in military service during the 1940s and 1950s— she may have also been part of the LGBTQ+ community.

  • Wrapped in Love: A Cozy Winter Wedding

    • Events

    The most popular season to tie the knot may be fall, but we're reminiscing about a gorgeous winter wedding that transpired in The Mariners' South Courtyard. As friends and family gathered to watch Jayli and Asa say, "I do," warmth and love radiated throughout the space, creating a magical atmosphere. 

  • WWII Trailblazer: Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy Makes WAVES

    • Cultural Heritage
    • Military
    • Photography
    • Women's History

    In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we recognize Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first Asian American woman to join the Navy’s WAVES during WWII, breaking barriers while serving her country in a time of war.

  • Why John Frye Matters

    • Collections
    • Cultural Heritage
    • Photography

    Through grant funding, The Mariners' is working to digitize and preserve a host of photo negatives, including the remarkable photographic work of John Frye, whose collection captures the heart of the menhaden fishing industry in Chesapeake Bay. Frye’s vivid notes and 7,000+ negatives offer a glimpse into the daily lives of Chesapeake Bay watermen in the 1960s-1980s. 

  • Drewry’s Bluff After Action Report

    • Civil War
    • Military
    • Military Conflict
    • USS Monitor

    After the Battle of Hampton Roads, USS Monitor —“little ship that saved the nation” — seemed perfect. But this illusion was shattered after the James River Flotilla's defeat at Drewry's Bluff. Lt. William Jeffers wrote a detailed report lodging his complaints about the vessel, from intolerable ventilation to questionable design choices, leading to a harsh rebuke from inventor John Ericsson. 

  • Gold Rush Saves Whales

    • Collections

    What did the California Gold Rush have to do with the whaling industry?  Albert M. Barnes, II, whose collection was donated to The Mariners’ Museum in 1986, created a list of 59 whaling vessels whose destiny was forever changed by the California Gold Rush.

  • The River, The Reverend, and The Revival

    • Black History
    • Collections
    • Cultural Heritage
    • Photography

    Our Curatorial Team explores the powerful image of a baptism captured in 1914 on the James River in Newport News, VA, shedding light on the deep, enduring connection Black Americans have had with water. Through this historical photograph, we reflect on the rich cultural and spiritual ties to water that have shaped African American history, and how these traditions continue to influence and resonate today.

  • The Battle of Drewry’s Bluff

    • Civil War
    • Military Conflict
    • USS Monitor

    The Battle of Drewry’s Bluff was a dramatic Confederate victory. Richmond was under immediate threat of being captured or at least shelled and destroyed by the Union flotilla, but the cannoneers at Drewry’s Bluff prevented the capital from capture.

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