Reedville Fishermen's Museum, Reedville, VA

Operated by the Greater Reedville Association, this local history museum has been in operation since 1988. The museum is located in the formr home of Captain Elijah Reed and includes several buildings that are used for preserving historic watercraft and other artifacts. The msuem icludes two vessels, the Claud W. Somers and the deck boat Elva C., that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum also offers exhibits drawn from materials that are historically important to the lower Chesapeake Bay. The museum collections and exhibits specialize in activities relating to Reedville fisheries and the lives of the region’s watermen. The museum also offers educational programs related to maritime heritage.

The story of Reedville, Virginia is linked to the commercial fishing industry that developed here in the late 19th century. In 1874 Elijah Reed transferred his menhaden fishing operation from Brooklin, Maine to the Chesapeake Bay. He purchased the land on Cockrell’s Creek that is now Reedville. The industry flourished, especially in the early part of the 20th century. Today Reedville is one of the major ports for the landing of commercial fish in the United States, second only to Kodiak, Alaska.

The town’s Main Street, a National Historic District, is a mile long and flanked by water. The larger homes along Main Street reflect the prosperity of the early menhaden captains and plant owners. Most of the houses in the Historic District have been carefully restored. Today, operating from Reedville is a large, modern menhaden fishing fleet with 13 ocean-going vessels. There are three smaller menhaden boats and numerous boats and people engaged in pound-net fishing, crab potting and dredging, soft crab processing, clamming and oystering.

Reedville and Museum History. Reedville Fishermen's Museum. . Accessed July 05, 2018. http://www.rfmuseum.org/.