Havre de Grace Decoy Museum: Hours, Admission, Exhibits and Tips for Your Visit

by Josh Tessier

Published Oct. 30, 2026 | Last updated: Oct. 30, 2026

The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum is at 215 Giles St. in Havre de Grace. It's open 7 days a week, all year. Adult tickets are $8, and kids 8 and under get in free. Inside, you'll see hand-carved Chesapeake Bay decoys and learn why Havre de Grace calls itself the "Decoy Capital of the World."

Here's why I like it. Tickets are cheap, kids 8 and under get in free, and parking out front is free.

What is the Decoy Museum?

The museum opened in 1986. It's a nonprofit. Its job is to save the story of duck hunting and decoy carving on the Chesapeake Bay.

A decoy is a wooden duck or goose. Hunters floated them on the water to bring real birds in close. Back then, nobody thought of them as art. Today, people collect them, and carvers make them as true works of art.

The museum sits on the banks of the Susquehanna Flats. The museum says the Flats have long been known for their ducks, and many local families once made a living hunting there.

What will you see inside?

Here are the main exhibits the museum lists:

What is a Decoy? The main gallery. It shows working decoys from different regions and tells how carvers make "floating sculpture."
Gunning the Flats. How local families hunted ducks on the Flats and sold them to restaurants in Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Influences of African Americans on Decoy Making. Old and new carvers of African American heritage.
John "Daddy" Holly. The man the museum calls the pioneer of the Havre de Grace style, plus his family's work. Part 2 of this exhibit is still being built.
Carvers Gallery. The whole second floor, with work by master carvers and a view of the Susquehanna Flats.

What are the hours?

Here's what the museum lists:

Day	Hours
Monday to Saturday	10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday	Noon to 4 p.m.

It's closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Confirm before you go.

How much does it cost?

Ticket	Price
Adults	$8
Seniors (60+)	$7
Youth (9 to 18)	$2
Kids 8 and under	Free
Members	Free

Groups of more than 10 should call for tour pricing. Confirm before you go.

Where do you park?

The museum says there's free parking in front of the building and on the street. From I-95, take Exit 89 and follow Route 155 east toward Havre de Grace. The museum's directions page walks you through the last few turns to Giles Street.

Can you book a group tour?

Yes. The museum runs school programs for pre-K through 8th grade, and guided tours for adults and high school groups. Many of the guides are carvers, hunters and lifelong locals. Call at least 2 weeks ahead, or 3 weeks for a guided adult tour: (410) 939-3739.

What is the Decoy Festival?

The museum puts on the Havre de Grace Decoy and Wildlife Art Festival each spring. The 2026 festival was May 2 and 3. It includes decoy carving contests and an old decoy contest. Watch the festival page for next year's dates, place and tickets.

How do you make a day of it?

Start at the Decoy Museum.
Walk the waterfront Promenade to Concord Point Lighthouse.
Grab lunch downtown.

What's it like living in Havre de Grace?

Havre de Grace is a small waterfront city with a walkable downtown and a lot of history. If you'd love a home near the water, look at Havre de Grace and nearby Aberdeen. I'll show you what's for sale. Call or text me at (443) 617-2099.

FAQ

How much is the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum?

Adults are $8, seniors 60 and older are $7, youth 9 to 18 are $2, and kids 8 and under get in free. Members are free. Confirm before you go.

What are the Decoy Museum hours?

Monday to Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. It is open all year but closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Confirm before you go.

Where is the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum?

215 Giles St., Havre de Grace, MD 21078. There is free parking in front of the museum and on the street.

Why is Havre de Grace called the Decoy Capital of the World?

The town sits on the Susquehanna Flats, long known for its ducks. Local carvers made decoys for hunters for generations, and the museum says that history made Havre de Grace the Decoy Capital of the World.

When is the Havre de Grace Decoy Festival?

It is held each spring. The 2026 festival was May 2 and 3. Check the museum's festival page for next year's dates.

About the author: Josh Tessier is a Harford County REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty, based in Bel Air. He has 16+ years in real estate and has sold 600+ homes personally (5,900+ for the Lee Tessier Team). He lives in Harford County and is raising his family here. Call or text (443) 617-2099.

Harford County real estate agent Josh Tessier — *Josh Tessier, REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team. Call or text (443) 617-2099.*

Watch more on my YouTube channel, Josh Talks Harford, and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

Header photo: “Maryland Canvasback Duck Decoy”, unidentified carver, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. Public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons. The decoy is in the Smithsonian collection. Cropped, with text added.