Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library
The Captain Avery Museum property is uniquely significant for its dual period of interpretation. From 1860 to 1890, the property was owned by Captain Salem Avery and the property remained in the family until 1920. Avery came to the Chesapeake from Long Island where his family had been sea captains for several generations. The Museum’s collections include artifacts from the Avery family, notably the family Bible given to Mrs. Avery as a wedding gift. Other artifacts in the Avery family house reflect the furnishings of the time, many having been donated by local families. The house is typical of many watermen’s families in the area and the history of their daily life is interpreted by artifacts in common use during the period.