Our Partners
Maryland Dove is operated and maintained by Historic St. Mary’s City and owned by the state of Maryland.
Maryland Dove was built by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md.
The Maryland Dove is historically accurate thanks to research and archaeology done on 17th century ships by the Vasa Museum in Sweden.
Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC)
St. Mary's City was established in 1634 by European colonists led by Maryland's first governor, Leonard Calvert. It is the fourth oldest permanent English colonial settlement in the United States and the site of Maryland’s first capital.
In 1969, St. Mary’s City was designated as a National Historic Landmark in recognition of the uniquely well-preserved archaeological record of more than 10,000 years of human occupation - including archaeological artifacts left by native peoples (including the Piscataway and Yaocomaco tribes) and European colonists. Today, the site is home to a living history museum that hosts more than 20,000 school children a year, and houses an active archaeological program and the longest running historical archaeological field school in the country.
HSMC continues to engage both students and the general public in educational programs in novel and exciting ways, encouraging people of all ages to connect the past with their contemporary lives.
Maryland and the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission
The Historic St. Mary’s City Commission originated in 1965 when the Governor appointed the St. Mary’s City Restoration Study Commission. In 1966 the St. Mary’s City Commission replaced the Restoration Study Commission. Formerly under the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Commission became part of the Department of Housing and Community Development in 1987. The Commission was renamed Historic St. Mary’s City Commission in 1991. The Historic St. Mary’s City Commission was made an independent agency within the office of the Governor in 1997, and became affiliated formally with St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Senate Bill 393 directs the HSMCC to “preserve and protect the archaeological and historical record of Maryland’s first colonial capital and to appropriately develop and use this historic and scenic site for the education, enjoyment, and general benefit of the public.”
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and making this resource available to all.
Every aspect of fulfilling this mission is driven by CBMM’s values of relevancy, authenticity, and stewardship, along with a commitment to providing engaging guest experiences and transformative educational programming, all while serving as a vital community partner.
Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum is one of Scandinavia's most visited museums. It is here that you will find in all its glory, the unique and well preserved warship Vasa from 1628, embellished with hundreds of wooden sculptures.
Around 1.5 million visitors every year enjoy the exhibitions in the museum, which describe the warship Vasa's history and life at the time; how, after 333 years at the bottom of Stockholm bay, the ship was rediscovered and salvaged; and the research which is now underway to preserve Vasa.
The Vasa Museum is a part of the Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museums, together with the Maritime Museum in Stockholm, the Naval Museum in Karlskrona and the Railway Museum in Gävle. The agency's mission is to preserve and develop the maritime and transport history cultural heritage and to increase people's knowledge about it.