In the quest to travel and see great sights, places not far from home are often ignored.

They are hidden away in the nooks and crannies off major interstates. Had it not been for a friend and a Triple A travel book of Maryland, we certainly would have missed the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum.

For a minimum fee, visitors are introduced to the history of waterfowl hunting on the Susquehanna Flats through exhibits, drawings and photos. On the second floor is a collection of more than1,200 encased waterfowl decoys by master carvers. There’s also a library teeming with books and a gift shop.

“Susquehanna Flats is the delta of the Susquehanna River as it enters into the upper Chesapeake Bay,” explained Mindy Elledge, greeter at the museum. “If you were to fly over it, you could see the bottom. It’s a very shallow area.”

This was once the prime location for waterfowl hunting in the upper Chesapeake Bay. Hunters often used sink boats as blinds to harvest unsuspecting ducks and geese. Following Native American tradition, some diehard waterfowl hunters made decoys to mimic their quarry. This method proved so successful that it became part of the hunting experience and tradition.

“Visitors are surprised at the number of decoys we have here,” Elledge said. “They always comment on how pretty they are from a folk art view. Decoys sustained the economy in Havre de Grace, and the ducks that were harvested were marketed to places like Baltimore and Philadelphia.”

In fact, Havre de Grace is known as the Decoy Capital of the World.

“It was the Chamber of Commerce that went for the title, I think,” Elledge said. “It is a self-proclaimed thing”

Atop the second floor, one can see an endless view of the Susquehanna Flats. The scene is peaceful and picturesque. A boardwalk follows the shoreline, accented by summer’s flowers, and benches are often occupied by people who gaze out over the water in silence. It is easy to imagine thousands of ducks coming into the area during spring and fall migrations. What a sight that must be.

“Is there still a lot of waterfowl hunting here?” she was asked.

“Not like it used to be,” Elledge said sadly. “The water quality isn’t good and we have environmental issues. There’s also a loss of celery grass, which is the major food of waterfowl. Major flooding in the Susquehanna River has also killed off some of the grass.”

Still, waterfowl hunting is popular. Driving along highways, billboards and road signs advertise specific waterfowl guide locations, and in the lowlands, blinds can be seen easily from the roadway.

However, the Decoy Museum is more about the art of duck carving than hunting. It accents well-known carvers who have created their own unique style of decoy design. The sign of a good decoy carver was how well his decoys could survive in adverse weather conditions and attract waterfowl.

Over 10,000 visitors a year have the opportunity to appreciate one of the most prized collections of decoys on exhibition.

“We try to communicate the heritage of the Upper Bay decoys at the museum,” Elledge commented. “We have special events and an annual duck fair (Sept. 12 this year). It’s an outdoor event with exhibitors bringing decoys. We have all kinds of activities.”

Local renowned decoy carvers are recognized at the museum as well. One is R. Madison Mitchell.

“He was our local undertaker when he started carving. He had the Havre de Grace style,” she said. “He may not be our best carver, but he is the best known.”

Mitchell died in 1992, but the culture and tradition of decoy carving continues through his apprentices in Havre de Grace. It is said that he made about 100,000 decoys in his lifetime.

It is Lem and Steve Ward, brothers from Crisfield, Md., who have the notoriety of being the most famous decoy carvers of the Upper Chesapeake Bay area.

Havre de Grace has a lot of interesting history, so there is lots to see there besides the Decoy Museum, and it’s only about a three hour drive from Danville.

For more information, including driving directions, go to their website at: http://www.decoymuseum.com

-- Connie Mertz is a hunter and nature enthusiast from Danville. Contact her at: owcam@verizon.net