North Carolina Maritime Museum

The North Carolina Maritime Museum is a divisional museum of the North Carolina Museum of History. There are several branches of the Maritime Museum located in Beaufort, Southport and Roanoke Island.

North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort

The Beaufort museum focuses on North Carolina's cultural maritime heritage, coastal environment and natural history. Exhibit displays include shells from over 100 countries^[1], fish models, shipwrecks, ship equipment, types of watercraft historically used in North Carolina, whaling, oyster catching, waterfowl hunting equipment and duck decoys, and venomous snakes found in North Carolina. Small aquariums are on display with local marine life. Another exhibit focuses on the history of the United States Lighthouse Service, United States Life-Saving Service, Revenue Cutter Service, Steamboat Inspection Service, and the United States Coast Guard in North Carolina.

The separate Boat Shed contains a collection of traditional working watercraft.

The Watercraft Center across from the museum is a facility for the repair and conservation of various watercraft, and offers boatbuilding courses. The Center also features the John S. MacCormack Model Shop, where visitors can learn the art of ship model making.^[2]

North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport

The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport focuses on the maritime heritage of the Lower Cape Fear area of southeastern North Carolina. Exhibits include ship models, nautical instruments, shipwrecks, pirates, American Civil War history, Fort Johnston (North Carolina), commercial and sport fishing, shells and hurricanes.

North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island

The North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island focuses on the maritime history and culture of northeastern North Carolina, including Roanoke Island. The museum is located in the George Washington Creef Boathouse on the Manteo waterfront. Exhibits include boats typically used in the Outer Banks by fishermen and sailors. Classes are offered in sailing, boat handling and boat safety in community boating programs. The Creef Boathouse also offers boat building workshops.

Visitors can also enter the Roanoke Marshes lighthouse, a replica of the original 1877 Roanoke Marshes Light once located in Croatan Sound that contains exhibits about the original lighthouse and local maritime history.

References

1. ^ http://www.ncmaritime.org/exhibits/tour.htm A Self-guided Tour of the Museum
2. ^ http://www.ncmaritime.org/exhibits/tour.htm A Self-guided Tour of the Museum

External links

• North Carolina Maritime Museum - official site
• North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport
• North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island