Maritime Museum Grows in Importance in 16th Year

by Jeff Garrett

On the southern tip of Long Beach Island sits a museum housing a huge collection of shipwreck files and artifacts almost unlike anywhere around.

On July 3rd, the New Jersey Museum of Maritime Museum will celebrate its sixteenth year showcasing rare stories only few may have known about at sea.

The collection, largely cultivated from New Jersey maritime historians, comes from pieces of shipwrecks and disasters pertaining to the state’s maritime history.

The idea for a museum came almost 25 years prior to its opening. Bob Yates and Deb Whitcraft, who serves as President of the Museum, possessed strong desires to learn about wrecks off New Jersey’s shores. Whitcraft was a collector. As her collection grew, she wondered if there might actually be a good place to put all of this stuff for others to learn about.

In 2007, dream became reality for the collector and the New Jersey Maritime Museum was born. There’s a rich history of shipwrecks and disasters inside. From a shipwreck database and map to a rare book library and lending library for readers wanting to know more. An Atlantic City exhibit, Women’s Surf Fishing Club exhibit and a collection of New Jersey storm photos are all inside. You can even get married at the museum.

Presentations by those related to the maritime world are frequent, on a monthly basis, often taking place at Buckalew’s Restaurant & Tavern in Beach Haven.

Recent speakers in 2023 have included Gene Peterson a member of the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), and founder of Atlantic Divers. His series was presented in two parts – the first concerning those of divers pursuing dreams of finding lost treasure amidst the rubble of sunken ships along the New Jersey coast. The second part was discussing those discoveries themselves and the friendships created as divers discovered china, clay pipers and other out-of-the-ordinary things sea-goers and many others found interesting.

In Summer, the Maritime Museum sees a big thrust of people, perhaps enjoying bigger visitation than in any other season of the year mainly since visitors flock to the Jersey shore to vacation.

The Museum is ready to educate students too offering a Marine Science Camp presented by New Logic Marine Biologists and Environmentalists. There are several kindergarten through eighth grade classes beginning June 26 and two Teen camps the weeks of July 24 and Aug.7 from 9am to 2pm each weekday. Kids programs exist on Fridays from June 23 to Aug. 25 from 1030am to Noon offering educational activities for kids age 3 to 13.

So how does the state’s premier maritime museum exist on donations alone ? While fundraisers are held each Spring and Fall, the museum is a registered 501 (C)(3) non-profit and has a membership program for the community with annual and lifetime options.

The community appears to have adopted the Maritime Museum with open arms While the museum simultaneously has upped its offerings between its walls at 528 Dock Rd in Beach Haven to meet the curiosities of all curious to learn more about New Jersey’s maritime history.

To learn more about the New jersey Maritime Museum, call 609-492-0202 or logon to www.NJMM.org.