Solomons Island Transportation

Wm. B. Tennison is a nine-log sailing bugeye hull converted to powered buy-boat, official number 081674. Tennison was built in 1899 by master carpenter Frank Laird of Monie, Maryland, at Crabb Island (now abandoned) near Oriole, Somerset County, Maryland, on a tributary of the Manokin River off Tangier Sound. Tennison was built for Benjamin P. and Rufus L. Miles of Monie, Maryland, who used her as a bugeye oyster dredge boat until 1908-9 when she was converted to power. The date of 1899 was a late one for the construction of a "chunk" or log hull bugeye. By this time logs were becoming scare and the bugeye was beginning to be replaced by the smaller, easier to operate, and cheaper to build skipjack. This late construction date in part explains Tennison's survival. Of the hundreds of sailing bugeyes dredging in the 1880s, less than 50 survived to 1938.

Hours and Fees

One-hour cruises around Solomons Inner Harbor leave the museum dock at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, May through October. On Saturdays and Sundays in July and August there is an additional cruise at 12:30 p.m. On Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day there will also be a 3:10 cruise.

$7.00 for Adults
$4.00 for children 5-12 years
Under 5 are free when accompanied by an adult

All cruises are weather permitting. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Maximum capacity is 47. Cruises sail the busy Solomons inner harbor, see Solomons Island and the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory; cruise past the U.S. Naval Recreation Center at Point Patience and pass underneath the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge.