Solomons in Calvert County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Volunteer
This land-locked "boat" was built over 2011-12 in the form of a scaled-down classic Chesapeake bugeye. The two-masted bugeye was originally developed in the 19th century for oyster harvesting. Solomons built more bugeyes than anywhere else on the Chesapeake. Small bugeyes were often called brogans, and both types were derived from the earlier log canoe.
The project was funded and carried out by volunteers of the Patuxent Small Craft Guild, under the direction of museum boatwright, George Surgent. As Volunteer, she derives her name from those who built her and follows in the tradition of an earlier Volunteer, built as a bugeye in Solomons in 1887.
This boat is designed for visitors to explore and enjoy. Parents, please supervise your children to ensure their experience is a safe and happy one.
Erected by Calvert Marine Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.
Location. 38° 19.872′ N, 76° 27.879′ W. Marker is in Solomons, Maryland, in Calvert County. It can be reached from Solomons Island Road South just south
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Maryland. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Founders of the Calvert Marine Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); The Honor Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); Humphreys Rowing Skiff (within shouting distance of this marker); Marine Railway Gears (within shouting distance of this marker); Built for Work Built for Pleasure (within shouting distance of this marker); War in the Chesapeake (within shouting distance
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 30, 2019
2. Volunteer Marker
This is a former iteration of the marker. There are minor differences from the current version, notably that in this version, there is no photo on the marker and also Volunteer is italicized.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Anchor (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).
Additional keywords. Volunteer
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 278 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 3, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on August 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on November 3, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
