Calvert Marine Museum & Patuxent River Seafood Partnership

The historical J.C. Lore & Sons Oyster House is operated by the Calvert Marine Museum and is the first building visitors see when driving onto Solomons Island. Unfortunately the oyster house is succumbing to sea level rise and the oyster shell under the shucking house is settling and making it difficult to stabilize. Nonetheless, the museum is making every effort to open the historic property to the public by scheduling visiting hours at low tide. Visitors can see the historic building as it was prior to closing in 1978. The J.C. Lore Oyster House shucked, washed, and packed oysters. The shucked shell was returned or planted on oyster grounds in the Patuxent River to serve as the home for future generations of oysters. The story is coming full circle in 2024.

In a partnership with the Calvert Marine Museum, Patuxent River Seafood is going to set larvae on the dock behind the oyster house and then plant the baby oysters on oyster grounds in the Patuxent River. The oyster larvae will be purchased at one of three oyster hatcheries around the state. Visitors to the Lore Oyster House will be able to view the tanks and learn about the oyster planting process. See the Oyster House schedule here. ​www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/191/Lore-Oyster-House

When setting oyster larvae on shell in tanks, oyster growers must first find a suitable location. During the setting process, oysters need 7-10 days of water flow. The water flow adds oxygen to the water and provides the growing oysters with needed food. The Narrows, located behind the oyster house and on the backside of Solomons Island, provides a strong water-flow because of the narrow tide box that separates Solomons Island from the mainland. After pitching a prop0sal to staff at the Calvert Marine Museum, we were happy they saw the possibilities of creating a living museum!