North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort

North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort The museum collects, preserves, researches, documents and interprets the maritime history, culture and environment of coastal North Carolina. The N.C.
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This is an official social media account of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Maritime Museum in Beaufort reflects coastal life and interprets lighthouses and lifesaving stations, the seafood industry, motorboats, and more. Studies in marine life, science, and ecology are available for all ages. The Beaufort museum is the repository for artifacts from Blackbeard’s wr

ecked flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, among them cannons, grenades, belt buckles and beads. The Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center teaches boatbuilding for all ages. For more information, visit www.ncmaritimemuseums.com. Free admission to the public. Donations appreciated. About the North Carolina Maritime Museums

The North Carolina Maritime Museums are part of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. The three North Carolina Maritime Museums preserve and interpret North Carolina’s coastal life and history. They paint a picture of the maritime and coastal culture including fishermen, boat builders, decoy carvers and more. They present exhibits of painters and pirates, shipwrecks and sailboats, and about marine life and protection. One historic coast...Three unique museums! In addition to the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort, the other two maritime museums include:

North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport
The N.C. Maritime Museum at Southport tells the story of the Cape Fear region and its people. The museum is at the intersection of the mighty Cape Fear River and the vast Atlantic Ocean. It shares tales of pirates and pillage, blockade running and riverfront archaeology, and other nautical adventures. Ongoing educational programs for children and adults about this area that was a haven for blockade runners and also a pirate hideout are available. Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras is named in honor of the thousands of shipwrecks that litter North Carolina’s coast, and is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the state’s coastal and shipwreck history, with emphasis on the years 1524 through 1945. Shipwrecks associated with piracy, the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and World Wars I and II are the subject of changing exhibits. The museum has remnants of the earliest known shipwreck found in North Carolina waters, dating to 1650. www.graveyardoftheatlantic.com

About the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's cultural resources to build the social, cultural and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDCR's mission is to enrich lives and communities by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history and libraries in North Carolina that will spark creativity, stimulate learning, preserve the state's history and promote the creative economy. NCDCR was the first state organization in the nation to include all agencies for arts and culture under one umbrella. Through arts efforts led by the N.C. Arts Council, the N.C. Symphony and the N.C. Museum of Art, NCDCR offers the opportunity for enriching arts education for young and old alike and spurring the economic stimulus engine for our state's communities. NCDCR's Divisions of Archives and Records, Historical Resources, State Historic Sites and State History Museums preserve, document and interpret North Carolina's rich cultural heritage to offer experiences of learning and reflection. NCDCR's State Library of North Carolina is the principal library of state government and builds the capacity of all libraries in our state to develop and to offer access to educational resources through traditional and online collections including genealogy and resources for the blind and physically handicapped. NCDCR annually serves more than 19 million people through its 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, the nation's first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the N.C. Arts Council and the State Archives. NCDCR champions our state's creative industry that accounts for more than 300,000 jobs and generates nearly $18.5 billion in revenues. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.

Fish Friday The smalltooth sawfish was once found all along the U.S. coast from North Carolina to Texas. Today, after ma...
05/29/2026

Fish Friday
The smalltooth sawfish was once found all along the U.S. coast from North Carolina to Texas. Today, after major population declines in the late 1900s, they’re mostly found in Florida’s coastal waters and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

One of five sawfish species, they are elasmobranchs meaning their skeletons are made of cartilage. Although they resemble sharks, they’re actually rays, with mouths and gills on their undersides. Their long, saw‑like snout—lined with sharp teeth—is a built‑in tool for sensing and striking prey. A truly unique creature worth protecting.

Image: Smalltooth sawfish, circa 2015. (Image courtesy NOAA).

Marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson was born on May 27, 1907, near Springdale, Pennsylvania. Just across ...
05/27/2026

Marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson was born on May 27, 1907, near Springdale, Pennsylvania. Just across Taylors Creek from the Beaufort waterfront sits the Rachel Carson Reserve, named in her honor. Carson first visited the area in 1938, spending time studying the marine plants and animals of our estuarine waters.

She attended Johns Hopkins University, worked at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and later became the third woman hired by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, where she began by studying Chesapeake Bay fish species. In 1952, Carson left her government position to focus on writing and advocating for environmental protection—work that changed the way the world understands the dangers of chemical pollution.

Image: Rachel Carson circa 1943.

Images: Rachel Carson Reserve.

Less than one week until extended hours begin!Starting in June, we’ll be open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m....
05/26/2026

Less than one week until extended hours begin!

Starting in June, we’ll be open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As part of the North Carolina Regional History Museums’ standardized hours, NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort visitors will enjoy one extra hour each day to explore everything our museum has to offer. We will remain closed on Sundays, Mondays and state holidays.

We look forward to welcoming you to Beaufort this summer to explore the stories, artifacts, and history that make North Carolina unique.

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in our nation...
05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in our nation’s armed forces.

From the sailors who navigated treacherous wartime seas to the Coast Guard personnel, Marines, soldiers, and airmen who never made it back to shore, we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.

Please join us in taking a moment to reflect on their legacy.

Visiting Beaufort? Don’t miss “Always Ready” at the NC Maritime Museum — an unforgettable look at the lifesaving heroes ...
05/24/2026

Visiting Beaufort? Don’t miss “Always Ready” at the NC Maritime Museum — an unforgettable look at the lifesaving heroes of North Carolina’s coast.

Plan your visit now to learn how our early lifesavers became today’s Coast Guard. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.

Step into “Swell Times” at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort! This new exhibit explores how coastal recreat...
05/23/2026

Step into “Swell Times” at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort! This new exhibit explores how coastal recreation—from early seaside getaways to today’s beach culture—has shaped NC’s maritime identity. Featuring surfing, sailing, spearfishing, pony history, and even an interactive postcard station, it’s part of the museum’s exciting 2026 renovation.

Plan your visit now for a fun look at life on the coast. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.

Fish Friday On May 8, 2025, Thomas Woo of Wilmington reeled in a record-setting white trevally —measuring an incredible ...
05/22/2026

Fish Friday
On May 8, 2025, Thomas Woo of Wilmington reeled in a record-setting white trevally —measuring an incredible 37.8 inches and weighing 19 pounds, 3.2 ounces—offshore from Wrightsville Beach!

White trevally are known for their greenish‑blue backs, silvery sides, and a bold yellow stripe. They typically grow 11 to 16 inches, and adults roam coastal waters and estuaries from North Carolina all the way to southern Brazil. This one was truly a once‑in‑a‑lifetime catch!



Image: Thomas Woo holding state record White Trevally. (Image courtesy DEQ).

On May 21, 1813, the British privateer “Venus of Bermuda” (formerly the American privateer “Highflyer” of Baltimore) tri...
05/21/2026

On May 21, 1813, the British privateer “Venus of Bermuda” (formerly the American privateer “Highflyer” of Baltimore) tried to catch the U.S. Revenue Cutter “Mercury” off guard at Ocracoke. But locals saw the vessel coming and raised the alarm—spoiling the attack and sending the privateer back out to sea.

Image: Model of USRC “Mercury.” (Image courtesy Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum).

After North Carolina joined the Confederacy on May 20, 1861, lenses were removed from coastal lighthouses and navigation...
05/20/2026

After North Carolina joined the Confederacy on May 20, 1861, lenses were removed from coastal lighthouses and navigation beacons to obstruct Union ships. The Cape Lookout first order Fresnel lens was taken first to Beaufort, then to Raleigh, where it remained safely stored through the Civil War.

Image: First Order Fresnel lens, circa 1975. (Image courtesy NPS).

Images: glass plate negatives of Cape Lookout Lighthouse ca. early-mid 1900s. (NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort collection).

The fight for independence wasn’t just on land—North Carolina’s waterways played a crucial role. The NC Maritime Museum’...
05/19/2026

The fight for independence wasn’t just on land—North Carolina’s waterways played a crucial role. The NC Maritime Museum’s new “Road to Revolution” exhibit explores the maritime networks that kept the Revolution moving. Future phases of the exhibit will dive deeper into privateering and coastal battles.

Plan your visit now to explore this fascinating aspect of our country’s history. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.

Address

315 Front Street
Beaufort, NC
28516

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+12525047740

Website

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