Review of the Chesapeake Children’s Museum
June 28, 2009
by Caroline Holt
25 Silopanna Road
Annapolis, MD 21403
410.990.1993
Google Map
If the local DC attractions are wearing thin, or you find yourself closer to the Bay Bridge than the Roosevelt Bridge, head to the Chesapeake Children’s Museum in Annapolis for at least an hour of indoor playtime with a touch of natural history. While the Museum’s literature says it’s geared to kids of all ages, its most likely appeal is to kids under six.
Getting There
The Chesapeake Children’s Museum (CCM) is a few miles off of Rt. 50 in Annapolis. The turn for Silopanna Road looks like it leads to a residential neighborhood, because the museum is a 1960’s rambler home turned radio station site turned museum. When you arrive, you will pass the giant, cheerfully painted CCM bus (which is a mobile nature center) before finding one of about 10 parking spaces available to visitors.
Getting In
When the Chesapeake Children’s Museum (CCM) opened in 2002, it was its second location. Originally a local school PTA’s pet project to get kids interested in nature and outdoor programs, the facilities and programs are designed to be accessible to all. As such, there are three options for entry: 1) the general admission rate is $3 per child or adult, 2) there is typically monthly free admission deal (call 410-990-1993 for upcoming deals and dates; in May it was a number of aluminum cans, and in June it’s a ream of paper per free admission), or 3) you can barter volunteer time for admission fees.
Hours of operation are 10am to 4pm (but they are open until 5pm during the summer) everyday except when they are closed on Wednesdays.
The Fun Part
When you pull in, the festive school bus, the brightly colored museum’s exterior, and the kid’s playground all tell you this is a place designed for kids. When you enter the museum, a tiny cashier’s desk is in front of you, and if your children are anything like mine, the sheer excitement of the giant murals, toys, and play area directly behind the cashier’s desk will entice them to run around the desk at full speed.
Of the hour and a half that we were at the CCM, we spent more than an hour of it in the indoor play area (which in hindsight is all my four-year old remembers). There is an handmade boat and dock, with a periscope, life preservers and fishing gear. There is a huge train table and trains, two fantastic woodworking benches with tons of tools, nature books, and crates that are chock full of vehicles. The walls are decorated to look like you are outside communing with nature. If you venture downstairs, there are musical instruments and shelves full of crafts, intended for their organized programs and activities.
The Museum building retains most of its 1960’s character, and the exhibits themselves are well done, but do not take much time to investigate. There are snakes shedding their skins, blue crabs swimming in giant tanks and some other turtles and creatures in 1970’s-looking glass aquariums. The museum itself was definitely less captivating than the play area. But it was nice to walk through. Since no one appeared to be working (except the cashier who was on the phone every time I walked over), I do not know much about the exhibits beyond what was written next to each one, or anything about their organized program offerings. When I called to find out more, the cashier told me to check out their website. Not big on customer service, I suppose.
So, if you find yourself in the mood for a road trip on a steamy or rainy DC day, check out the Chesapeake Children’s Museum. Just make sure to think of it more as an alternative to hanging out at the Building Zone at the Building Museum than an educational afternoon at the Smithsonian. Our family, though, will definitely return!
Getting Fed
There is no eating or drinking inside the museum, but we stopped at the Lebanese Taverna Café at the crossroads of Rt. 2 and Aris T. Allen Blvd. in the shopping center for a family friendly meal. You can also find several fast food restaurants and convenience stores, pizza places, etc. within a couple of miles.
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If you are looking for other things to do in the Annapolis area, check out www.ChesapeakeFamily.com.
Our Kids Reader Comments:
- "Thanks for the idea of checking out the Chesapeake Children's Museum. I took my two children over Christmas break this year (December 2009). Although I admire folks for putting this together and I definitely think the thought is there, we were pretty disappointed. It is basically a museum located in a small, older home and it is a bit dark and musty inside...Perhaps I don't have enough imagination, but we were pressed to find things to do for more than an hour. We did pair it with a trip to Chick and Ruth's Delly in Annapolis (great shakes and hamburgers!) and then a trip to see the Lights on the Bay over at Sandy Point State Park. The combination salvaged the trip, but in my humble opinion, a trip from Washington, D.C. to the Chesapeake Children's Museum alone would not be worth it. Just my two cents..." - Krysten J.
