Looking for something fun to do with the family, without spending much money or having to travel far?

Why not take advantage of some of the great museums Annapolis has to offer.

Patch rounds up a list of museums and current exhibits in Annapolis. If you are visiting these museums for a particular event or exhibit, call or go online to check the rate.

The Banneker-Douglass Museum; 84 Franklin Street

What Can You See? Permanent Exhibits: According to the museum's website, the Deep Roots, Rising Waters exhibit "provides an overview of African American history in Maryland from 1633 through present day." Visitors can learn about the state's first African American settler and hear a speach from Frederick Douglass opposing slavery, among other things, the museum website states.

Temporary Exhibits: Temporary exhibits include: Music to Our Ears: The Sounds of the African American Experience at Carr's and Sparrow's Beaches, Part II (through Sept. 4), Thomas R. Baden: Distinctive Depictions of a Local Community (through Sept. 4), Cisco Davis: Selected Works on the American Experience (through Sept. 10)

What Can You Do?: Check the museum's website for upcoming events and available tours.

Cost: Admission is Free. Contact the museum for information about the cost for guided tours.

More Info: http://www.bdmuseum.com/

The Annapolis Maritime Museum; 723 Second Street

What Can You See? Permanent Exhibits: Oysters on the Halfshell-According to the museum's brochure (which accompanies this story) this "interactive exhibit that highlights both the natural history of the oyster and the cultural history of the people who made their living in the oyster industry."

Temporary Exhibits: According to the museum's website, from now through Aug. 21, museum visitors can check out the "Two Cruise" exhibit which features paintings and drawings from Christine and David O'Neill. The art displayed is "inspired by cruising the East Coast and the Bahamas aboard their 45-foot catamaran sailboat," a museum press release states.

What Can You Do? Upcoming events include: a concert by OCEAN Trio on Aug. 4, a concert by Raw Hands on Aug. 11 and Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Tours on Aug. 13 and 14. Contact the museum or visit its website for pricing information. The museum also provides a series of educational and outreach opportunities. 

More Info: http://www.amaritime.org/

The U.S. Naval Academy Museum

What to See: According to its website, the museum includes the first deck, second deck and ground level. On the first deck, visitors can learn more about the history of the U.S. Naval Academy. The second deck includes the Rogers Ship Model Collection and the Beverly R. Robinson collection, the museum website states. The museum is also home to a lunar rock sample from the Apollo 14 mission, which honors Rear Adm. Alan B. Shepard Jr., a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 1945.

More Info:http://www.usna.edu/Museum/exhibits.htm

The Chesapeake Children's Museum; 25 Silopanna Rd.

What Can You See? The museum's mission is to "create an environment of discovery about oneself, the peoples, the technologies, and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay area for all our children and for the children in us all," its website states. Readers can take a visual tour of the museum and its exhibits. The museum offers eight indoor exhibits, including "Everything Under the Sun," "Hard Hats," "Watermen," and "Bay Window," its website states. The museum also has four outdoor spaces which include a nature trail and an outdoor classroom.

What to Do: The museum offers a variety of activities for kids including: Chess Club, Creek Critters, Toddl-Art with Mama K and others. Check the event website for more information.

More Info: http://www.theccm.org/workshops.html

National Sailing Hall of Fame; 67-69 Prince George Street

What to See?: According to its online brochure (which accompanies this story), the National Sailing Hall of Fame includes:Hall of Fame, Celebrated American Sailors Gallery, the Spectacle of Sailing Gallery, the  Science of Sailing Gallery,  Spirit of Sailing Gallery, Sailing and the Environment Gallery and the Center for Innovation in the Art and Science of Sailing.

More Info:http://www.nshof.org/

Historic Annapolis Museum; 99 Main Street

What to See:According to its website, the museum "offers information on Annapolis’ history and tickets and reservations for tours, excursions, venues, and other events." The exhibits feature a model of Annapolis as it looked in the 18th century and "lifesize cutouts of famous visitors to Annapolis," the website states.

More Info: http://www.annapolis.org/index.asp?pageid=44