Annapolis Maritime Museum Unveils New Mural

By Noah Hale 

On May 26, the Annapolis Maritime Museum (AMM) in Eastport revealed its most recent addition—a colorful, Chesapeake Bay-themed mural painted on one of its exterior walls. 

In the fantastically detailed mural, local artist Cindy Fletcher-Holden shows off a wide variety of wildlife native to the Eastern Shore. The design intentionally mirrors the museum’s multi-disciplinary mission and the deeply rooted maritime heritage of the community.

 Featuring over 20 different animals, one of the most impressive is a large osprey holding a fish in mid-swoop. Some of them can even be found outside of the central frame—birds are scattered all over the wall; two cats perch next to the doors; and an angry blue crab can be found snapping its claws. 

The mural was based on some of the artist’s preliminary sketches, but as she started working on it, she would eventually get the idea to add an extra animal that wasn’t initially included in the sketches. “[Cindy] wanted to keep going and going, and the educators were in full support of her,” said Alice Estrada, Executive Director of AMM. 

Situated next to the Eastport Yacht Center, the mural offers a refreshing splash of color in an otherwise dull spot. Before it was painted, the walls of the AMM were “blank and boring,” said Estrada. Now, the museum will hopefully attract some more attention, especially from its younger audience. 

In total, the mural took just under a month to complete. It was funded in large part by the Art in Public Places Commission (APPC), a subcommittee of the Maryland State Arts.