Saxis Island Museum

FALL 2024 CAPITAL GRANT: Restoration of Historic Milk House and Display Enhancements
Grant Amount: $10,000
Reach: Local residents, heritage tourists, students, and visitors exploring Eastern Shore history
Project: ESVCF funding supported the full restoration of a rare antique wooden milk house (circa 1880–1910) and its relocation to the museum grounds. The grant also enabled the purchase of antique counters and glass display cases to exhibit newly acquired artifacts, including model boats, decoys, and shore birds.
Impact: The restored milk house, moved onsite in Spring 2024, has become an unexpected storytelling centerpiece. Visitors—many of whom are seeing Saxis Island for the first time—are learning about long-disappeared aspects of daily life on the island and the traditions of families who lived and worked along the Chesapeake Bay. The upgraded display cases now allow the museum to showcase a growing collection of local artifacts with greater preservation and visibility.
Why It Matters: Saxis Island’s heritage is unique and increasingly fragile. By restoring one of the island’s few remaining structures from the early 1900s and enhancing exhibition space, this project deepens public understanding of the watermen’s culture and the environmental challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay. The museum’s work ensures that the stories of Saxis Island continue to be shared, celebrated, and preserved for future generations.