AJ Meerwald

Where Is It? The AJ Meerwald’s home port is in the tiny village of Bivalve at a working waterfront museum in Cumberland County, a 45-minute drive from Cape May. But this beautiful tall ship is based in Cape May every year and will be sailing in August and September.

Why Should I Go? The AJ Meerwald is New Jersey’s official “tall ship,” a majestic wooden oyster schooner that’s more than 90 years old (but still looking great!).

Commissioned in 1928 by the Meerwald family of South Dennis, the ship became an instrument in one of the state’s most valuable industries. At the time, Port Norris — where the Maurice River meets Delaware Bay — was the oyster capital of the world. Sixty million bivalves were harvested per year by intrepid, rake-wielding schooner crews.

Disaster struck in the 1950s when a parasite lethal to oysters but not dangerous to humans devastated the Delaware Bay population. This, combined with a history of overharvesting, meant catches were depleted by 98 percent. The AJ Meerwald — which had already been reinvented during World War II as a fire boat meant to respond with water pumped from the Delaware River should Philadelphia be bombed — was reinvented once more as a clamming vessel. It looked as though the grand oystering history of the Delaware Bay was destined to become the stuff of legend.

Enter marine scientists from Rutgers University who, along with local commercial fishermen, have been working together to bring back the bivalve, developing disease-resistant oysters and nurturing their seed in a lab before transferring it to the wild. This science has allowed for an oyster renaissance. Farms have popped up in Cape May, Cumberland and Ocean counties.

“This has increased the relevance of our ship,” said Brian Keenan, executive director of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, who acquired the Meerwald in 1988. “We’re seeing more and more passengers who are interested in history, who enjoy the environment and who are excited to connect with family or friends for a few hours on the water.”

In August and September, the AJ Meerwald will set sail from Cape May ferry terminal. Some will feature live music, others will highlight local history and culture, while some will involve passengers in the vital work of oyster bed restoration. Just one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of Delaware Bay water per day.

Whatever your goal — a history lesson, some environmental activism or simply feeling the sun on your face and the wind in your hair — the ship is up to the task. Last year, the Meerwald underwent renovations, including the installation of a new engine. But some things have stayed the same.

“When the crew is calling orders back and forth to each other, and they’re pulling lines or raising sails, it’s this rhythmic, meditative state,” Keenan said. “It’s pretty moving to be part of that experience.”

Website: bayshorecenter.org

Phone: 856-785-2060

Address: 2800 High Street, Port Norris