The Chincoteague Oyster and Maritime Museum’s Piece of History
For many years, Chincoteague Island, Virginia was renowned for its oyster industry. They first provided sustenance for a shipwrecked crew and the island’s inhabitants were not long to realize that there was potential for profit in the surrounding waters.
Throughout the 1800’s and for much of the 1900’s, the oyster industry sustained this island. Over the years, the process of harvesting and growing oysters advanced, with ever improving technology making outdated the hand-harvesting methods on which the islanders originally depended.
This history of technology and people is preserved in the Oyster and Maritime Museum located on Chincoteague Island. The museum features examples of the tools used by the oyster farmers throughout the years when they provided the economic base of the island. It also contains artifacts that tell the story of the larger maritime history of this region, including the Assateague lighthouse lens which guided ships safely to port for nearly a hundred years.
For more information, visit the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce’s web page devoted to the museum at ChintoteagueChamber.com/Map-Oys.html. On this site, one may find hours of operation as well as a summary of the museum’s holdings and exhibits.
