Guest Speaker: Debbie Usab, Chair of Richardson Maritime Museum
Topics to be covered:
Debbie will discuss the museum’s history, new initiatives, and planned transformation into the dynamic Richardson Maritime Heritage Center.
The museum honors Captain James B. “Mr. Jim” Richardson (1906–1991), a renowned local master boatwright celebrated for his knowledge of traditional Chesapeake boatbuilding. His expertise was so extensive that author James Michener relied heavily on him while researching his historical novel, Chesapeake.
Among Richardson’s best-known accomplishments was building the Maryland Dove, a detailed replica of the 17th-century ship that carried Maryland’s early colonists to the region. His final boat was the bugeye Jenny Norman. After his death in 1991, community members founded the museum to preserve his legacy and ensure that traditional boatbuilding skills would endure.