Southern Maryland Matters and Mavens: Dr. Ralph Eshelman – The Southern Maryland Chronicle

What if I advised you that immediately, I met a specialist on polar exploration that has known as Southern Maryland dwelling since 1974, would that get your consideration?  What if I advised you that he has visited each continent, and been to Antarctica over fifty occasions. And what if I advised you that is solely the tip of the iceberg, would you be intrigued?  

In what I can solely describe as the one man that may make the world’s most attention-grabbing man jealous, and Ken Burns take discover, I current to you, Dr. Ralph Eshelman.  

Ralph, as he prefers to be known as, is a world-class adventurer, historian, creator, and proud Eagle Scout, whose benefit badges of accomplishments should be treasured.

Ralph’s Beginnings

To know and admire Ralph a bit extra, it’s advisable to study a bit extra about his early historical past.  “My mom and father all the time supported me in my pursuits whether or not it was astronomy, paleontology, or the joys of being outdoor climbing and tenting,” Ralph recollects fondly.  “My highschool superior biology instructor made everybody in her class do a science honest venture. After we selected our subjects, she went out and located a mentor for every of us. My venture was the Paleontology of the District of Columbia, the place I then lived and went to highschool. My mentor was Dr. Frank C. Whitmore, Jr., a vertebrate paleontologist for the U.S. Geological Survey on the Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past, Smithsonian Establishment. I used to be permitted to be absent Wednesday afternoon from college with a purpose to take a bus to the mall and work on my science honest venture with Dr. Whitmore. After my science honest venture was over, I continued to volunteer and was employed as a summer time Bodily Science help for 2 summers” Ralph said.

Ralph Eshelman went on earn his Bachelors of Science from the State College of New York at Stony Brook, in earth and area science with a minor in zoology; a Grasp of Science diploma adopted from the College of Iowa in geology and vertebrate paleontology, with a minor in museum research.  And off to Ann Arbor, Michigan the place he obtained his Ph.D. in 1974 from the College of Michigan with a significant in geology and vertebrate paleontology, and a minor in ecology.  “Frank (Dr. Frank C. Whitmore, Jr) served as a mentor to me by means of my doctorate program and discovered a job for me as the primary director of the Calvert Marine Museum.” Remembers, Ralph. Whereas employed on the Calvert Marine Museum he was permitted to proceed his analysis on the Smithsonian Establishment someday every week and was ultimately appointed as a Analysis Affiliate with a cubicle within the Division of Paleobiology.

The Calvert Marine Museum and the Drum Level Lighthouse – behind the Historical past

The Calvert Marine Museum attracts roughly 100,000 guests yearly, with the Drum Level Lighthouse as a beacon attraction. First lit in 1883, the Drum Level Lighthouse was strategically positioned – properly, in Drum Level – which is the very level the place the usually tempestuous waters of Chesapeake Bay, greet the extra serene waters of the Patuxent River. The Drum Level Lighthouse was deactivated and easily deserted in 1962.  

Questioning how the Lighthouse made its manner up the Patuxent River to the campus of the Museum?  Let me shed some gentle.

As Ralph has identified, he was Calvert Marine Museum’s first Director.

Ralph’s oversight was instrumental in relocating the Drum Level Lighthouse from the grounds of Drum Level Membership to the Calvert Marine Museum.  Transferring the Lighthouse was a long-term plan by the Calvert County Historic Society, to protect it from its imminent deterioration, and to revive it for the advantage of museum-goers and the group.

Saved in vaults of historical past, we unearthed an incident involving the relocation of the Drum Level Lighthouse. A steam-operated 110-foot-long crane on a barge (proven within the image) moved the Lighthouse from Drum Level to the Calvert Marine Museum campus; it was already within the river as a part of the development of the Governor Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge. The corporate that owned and operated stated gear on the Johnson Bridge, was the B.F. Diamond Building Firm. Rumor had it that the corporate was cited for illegally dumping concrete into the river. An area choose is claimed to have used his affect to influence the corporate to maneuver the lighthouse in change for a extra lenient quid professional quo judgment.  

Polar Explorer

Ultimately, Ralph Eshelman’s penchant for exploration lead him to Patagonia.  He discovered work as a historian, and later as a geologist, as a part of an expedition staff taking guests on tour vessels to Antarctica.  “I traveled to the good white continent anyplace from two to 5 occasions per season. I spent over six months of my life onboard ships throughout crossings of the dreaded Drake Passage between Patagonia and Antarctica.” Remembers, Ralph.

Ralph has been in every single place, so I couldn’t assist myself however ask him the favourite place that he has visited. With out hesitation, Ralph responded, “My favourite place on earth is South Georgia, the place in a single viewshed you may see over half one million penguins with snowcapped mountains within the background and tussock grass over six toes tall – an incredible place.”  South Georgia is a British Abroad Territory within the southern Atlantic Ocean.

Creator and Historian

Ralph Eshelman is an achieved creator and is considered one of many foremost authorities on maritime historical past and the Struggle of 1812 within the Chesapeake. He’s at present engaged on his subsequent e-book (working title) Patuxent: An Encyclopedic Pictorial Historical past of Maryland’s Forgotten River which he hopes to publish in 2023.

Ralph cites that his most complete e-book (with co-authors Scott S. Sheads and Donald R. Hickey) is The Struggle of 1812 within the Chesapeake: A Reference Information To Historic Websites In Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia printed by Johns Hopkins College Press.

And probably the most enjoyable e-book that he has written, and why? Ralph factors to, In Full Glory Mirrored: Discovering The Struggle of 1812 within the Chesapeake co-authored with Burton Ok. Kummerow, printed by the Maryland Historic Society Press and the Maryland Historic Belief Press. “This full-color e-book was supported by the Nationwide Park Service which enabled us to fee two well-known illustrators to organize illustrations of occasions by no means illustrated earlier than. Having such funding allowed us to incorporate double-page illustrations with high-quality printing.” Added, Ralph.  Ralph Eshelman’s books are available on Amazon.

As a extremely revered and sought-after historian, he was a part of the staff which wrote the Historic Lighthouse Preservation Handbook for the U.S. Coast Guard, Division of Protection, and Nationwide Park Service in 1997. Throughout the identical 12 months, he ready three Nationwide Historic Landmark Nominations for masonry-type lighthouse towers, together with Cape Hatteras Gentle Station for the Nationwide Maritime Initiative of the Nationwide Park Service.

At present

Ralph is lively in a number of skilled and civic organizations together with previous president of the Council of American Maritime Museums, founding vice-president of the Nationwide Maritime Preservation Process Power of the Nationwide Belief for Historic Preservation, former vice-president for Science and Stewardship of the Maryland-Washington D.C. Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Patuxent Riverkeeper, and Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Ralph provided his authentic, refreshingly non-cliché views on the significance of historical past: “When individuals have a information of and an appreciation for historical past, whether or not or not it’s native, regional or wider, they acquire a greater sense of place, and as a consequence, they’re extra prone to need to protect the vestiges of historical past for future generations.”

Make no bones about it, having met Ralph and studying extra about him, I’ve discovered a renewed sense of appreciation for our environment.  I hope that he’s sparked an curiosity and curiosity to study, discover, and make a distinction.  Thanks for making this journey.