WELCOME TO THE HAVRE DE GRACE DECOY MUSEUM
Located on the banks of the historic Susquehanna Flats, the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum houses one of the finest collections of working and decorative Chesapeake Bay decoys ever assembled. The museum was established in 1986 as a private, non-profit institution existing to preserve the historical and cultural legacy of waterfowling and decoy making on the Chesapeake Bay.
Decoys have been a central element of Chesapeake culture for centuries. In the beginning, they were made for one purpose — to lure waterfowl within range of the hunter’s shotgun. Decoys were simple, utilitarian representations of ducks and geese rough-hewn from wood. No one considered them art. Today, decoys lure far more people than waterfowl. One is perhaps more likely to find a decoy adorning a collector’s mantelpiece than floating in a hunter’s rig. Contemporary carvers produce sophisticated works of art with century-old skills that have been passed down from master to apprentice for generations.
We invite you to visit the Decoy Museum to discover the art of decoy making and the waterfowling traditions that truly make Havre de Grace the “Decoy Capital of the World!”
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
2nd ANNUAL DECOY CARVERS & COLLECTORS BANQUET
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
THE HAVRE DE GRACE DECOY CAM
WE ARE ON INSTAGRAM!
Calling All Decoy Carvers!
Shop the Store Wednesday
Exciting News from the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum!
The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum is grateful for our strong partnerships with carvers, collectors, associations, clubs, and auction houses like Guyette & Deeter. Together, we share a mission to preserve and celebrate the rich heritage of decoy carving and waterfowling traditions that define our region.
Get ready for the 44th Annual Havre de Grace Decoy & Wildlife Art Festival this weekend with these stunning Silent Auction items!
This Weekend!
Throwback Thursday
Decoy of the Day
Museum Monday
Are you ready to take the Chesapeake Challenge at this year`s Crisfield Heritage Festival?
Presented by The Ward Foundation, the Chesapeake Challenge is a decades-old tradition celebrating the artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage of decoy carving. The competition features multiple categories, welcoming carvers of all skill levels.
The 2026 Contemporary Antique Bird is the Wood Duck—a beautiful and challenging subject that promises another exciting year of competition!
New contest format and updated YOUTH divisions! More information will be announced soon.
Whether you`re entering your first competition or you`re a seasoned carver, the Chesapeake Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your talent, connect with fellow artists, and celebrate the enduring tradition of decoy making.
We encourage everyone to attend the Crisfield Heritage Festival, support the talented carvers, and experience one of the Chesapeake region`s most anticipated carving competitions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Take home a piece of Havre de Grace Decoy Festival history!
The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum Store has a limited selection of Decoy Festival Stamp Cancellation Envelopes from 1992–2001 (excluding 1998). These collectible envelopes commemorate the rich tradition of the Havre de Grace Decoy Festival and feature celebrated carvers and waterfowl artists from across the Chesapeake region.
Available commemorative envelopes include:
James A. Currier – stamped
William "Bill" & Allen Schauber – signed by both
Robert "Bob" McGaw – stamped
J. Evans McKinney – signed
Harry V. Shourds II – signed
Ronald Rue – signed
Oliver Lawson – commemorative envelope
James Holly – commemorative envelope
Charles Nelson Barnard – stamped
Whether you`re a decoy collector, festival enthusiast, or collector of Chesapeake Bay memorabilia, these commemorative envelopes are a wonderful way to celebrate the artists and traditions that have made the Havre de Grace Decoy Festival a treasured annual event.
Can`t make it to the Museum? No problem! The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum Store is happy to ship these collectible envelopes directly to you. Contact the Museum Store for availability and shipping information.
Stop by the Museum Store or reach out today before these unique collectibles are gone!
#ShopTheStoreWednesday #HdGDecoyMuseum #DecoyFestival #DecoyCollecting #ChesapeakeBay #WaterfowlArt #MuseumStore #Collectibles #SupportMuseums
We are proud to announce that the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum is now part of the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways network!
Chesapeake Gateways connects visitors to exceptional places throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, offering opportunities to enjoy, learn about, and help protect one of our nation`s most treasured natural and cultural resources.
As a Chesapeake Gateways partner, the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum joins a distinguished network of sites that showcase the rich heritage, waterways, wildlife, and communities that make the Chesapeake region unique. Visitors can experience our engaging exhibits, educational programs, decoy carving traditions, and waterfront history while discovering Maryland`s rich maritime and cultural heritage.
Whether you`re a longtime supporter or planning your first visit, we invite you to spend the day exploring the stories, craftsmanship, and conservation efforts that have shaped the Chesapeake Bay region for generations.
Learn more about Chesapeake Gateways and other Maryland destinations here: https://www.nps.gov/locations/chesapeakebaywatershed/maryland.htm
Plan your visit to the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum and discover why Havre de Grace is known as the Decoy Capital of the World!
#HdGDecoyMuseum #ChesapeakeGateways #NationalParkService #ChesapeakeBay #MarylandHistory #MaritimeHeritage #DecoyCapital #VisitHarford #ExploreMaryland
It was a true privilege to host The Cook Collection from August 2025 through January 2026, offering visitors an up-close look at exceptional pieces and the stories behind them.
At the April 23 Guyette & Deeter Live Auction – Decoy & Sporting Art Auction (Session One), an exceedingly rare standing mallard ice duck—hollow carved with a removable iron foot—drew well-deserved attention.
Here it is: displayed as part of a group, standing alone, and featured on screen as Joe Tonelli shares the fascinating story behind this remarkable decoy.
We are honored to help bring these stories to life and connect our community to this enduring tradition.
Stay tuned as we reveal more exclusive auction items you won’t want to miss!
#HdGDecoyFestival #WildlifeArt #DecoyCarving #SilentAuction #HavreDeGrace
Join us at the STAR Centre for a celebration of:
- Decoy carving
- Wildlife art
- Competitions (Saturday ONLY)
- Raffle drawing Sunday at 2 PM
See you there!
From the Joel Barber Collection, this grouping highlights artistry. Always on display at the museum, these pieces include beautifully crafted paperweights in ceramic and bronze, along with a wooden test model that offers a glimpse into the creative process behind the final works.
Stop in and take a closer look at this fascinating collection!
#ThrowbackThursday #JoelBarber #DecoyMuseum #HavreDeGrace #WaterfowlArt #AmericanFolkArt
This Blue Wing Teal carving by Oliver “Tuts” Lawson is a striking example of waterfowl art that goes beyond the traditional decoy. Rather than being mounted, these carvings hang against a wooden background like framed artwork.
Lawson created these Blue Wing Teal at just 14 years old, carving them during breaks while working at a grocery store. Using leftover wood from strawberry crates, he transformed simple materials into something truly special.
Today, this remarkable piece is on display as the centerpiece of the new Oliver “Tuts” Lawson Exhibit at the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum—offering a glimpse into the early talent and creativity of one of the region’s notable carvers.
This week, we’re highlighting a remarkable piece of early American military history: a British “Brown Bess” Short Land Pattern musket (top) , dating to around 1775.
Originally marked for the 61st Regiment of Foot, this firearm later received a “U.S.” surcharge—evidence of its capture and reuse during the American Revolution. Like many muskets of its era, it didn’t remain in its original configuration. This example was converted from flintlock to percussion, extending its working life well into the 19th century, likely for use in fowling.
Each mark and modification tells a story—of conflict, adaptation, and survival.
Stop by to see this artifact up close and explore the layered history behind it.
#MuseumMonday #AmericanHistory #RevolutionaryWar #Artifacts #DecoyMuseum
