THE WARD MUSEUM
Old black and White photos of the famed decoy carvers of Crisfield, Maryland, Lem and Steve Ward. The middle photo shows the two brothers checking out their wood supply for carving.
The old masters at work. The Wards are considered the alpha and omega of modern 20th century decoy carving and are known worldwide. Notice the spokeshaves on the wall between the two carvers and the various wood chisels to the upper right of the spokeshaves.
Original draft of Epic poem by Steve Ward "The Drifter", which explains the different mentality between the carver and the collector.
Some Ward decoys or as the brothers called them "Wildfowl counterfeits in wood".
Duck call collection at the Ward Museum.
Shotgun collection at the Ward Museum. Fifth shotgun from top is a classic hammerless Winchester model 12, similar to the one that the author used to learn how to shoot waterfowl.
A fine pair of 1936 Ward Canvasbacks. Many consider a pair of "36" Cans as the ultimate Chesapeake bay decoys.
Contemporary decoys at the Ward Museum.
Overview of one section of Ward Museum.
Here I am at the Old Decoy shack (well, not really, but it's the best I can do) sitting in the old Masters chair.
Make sure you visit the Ward Museum whenever you can. The old spokeshaves and chisels are still on the wall. One of the old chairs is still there and even though it's not really the old shop, the spirit of the old carvers can be felt in the air.