NC Maritime Museum : BEAUFORT

31st Annual John Costlow Christmas Train Show
2025-12-12 16:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
The museum is excited to welcome the return of the John Costlow Christmas Train Show this year! The annual show, which will be held in the museum’s Watercraft Center, offers a glimpse into the past with antique working model trains and model trains of all sizes.
The model train layouts will include a variety of items of interest to railroad enthusiasts of all ages, ranging from simple circles traditionally found around the Christmas tree to more elaborate systems. Each display has been carefully designed by the owner or operator to appeal to those just beginning this hobby, as well as others who have had a lifetime interest in model railroading.
Admission is free. Donations will support the Beaufort Lions Club, who who hosts the show.
Children ages 12 and younger will need to be accompanied by an adult.

Coastal Culture and Waterfowl Watching Excursion
2025-12-09 - 2025-12-10 | NC
Observe wintering waterfowl at wildlife refuges and seashores in Eastern North Carolina and experience some of our unique coastal communities. Museum staff will lead the tour through remote and beautiful regions of Pamlico, Hyde, and Dare counties. This is an overnight adventure and requires pre-registration. Hotel reservations and meals are not included.
The program primarily takes place outdoors and is not recommended for children under 12. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
The fee is $95 per person ($85.50 for members of the Friends of the Museum, which sponsors the program). The cost covers the guided tour and transportation for the overnight adventure. Meals and hotel accommodations are the responsibility of individual participants. Travel is via the museum van; therefore, seating is limited and advance registration is required.
Register below or by calling 252-504-7758.

Friends of the Maritime Museum Holiday Flotilla
2025-12-06 17:30 - 19:30 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Join the Friends of the Maritime Museum for their annual Holiday Flotilla!
Yachts, oars, kayaks and commercial vessels decorated for the season can be seen at 5:30 p.m. on the Morehead City waterfront and at 6:15 p.m. on the Beaufort waterfront.
Friends’ Viewing Party
The Friends host a members-only Flotilla Viewing Party from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the Harborside Park deck. Tickets are $75, and there are sponsorship opportunities that include tickets.
To Participate In The Flotilla
Boats may register to participate in the Flotilla by phone or email brent@maritimefriends.org until noon on Saturday, December 6, the day of the flotilla. There is no registration fee.
All vessels are asked to proceed east down Taylor’s Creek to the Beaufort Hotel where judges will pick their favorites. Flotilla participants may also dock for free (there is a charge for power) at the Beaufort Town Docks (subject to availability).

History of Santa Claus, Patron Saint of Sailors
2025-12-04 11:00 - 12:00 | Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 28512, United States
Did Santa prefer a green suit before he started wearing his now iconic red? What is Mrs. Claus’s first name? We may not have all the answers regarding the mysterious and jolly figure; but during this family-friendly presentation, we will try to answer some questions without taking away any of the magic. Associate Education Curator Christine Brin will present on the history of Santa Claus for this holiday-related program.
This program is part of the museum’s Maritime Heritage Lecture Series, informal lectures focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. The lectures are currently held in the Fort Macon Coastal Education Center and streamed via Zoom. is free, and registration is not required for the in-person program. Visit ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com/virtual to sign up to receive the Zoom links. Programs are also posted to the museum’s YouTube channel.

Introduction to Wooden Boat Building
2025-11-13 - 2025-11-14 | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
The introductory wooden boatbuilding class provides hands-on experience with fundamental boatbuilding concepts. The course teaches students to select wood, design a boat, and use various techniques like steam bending, planking (carvel or lapstrake), and fastening to construct a small boat. The curriculum covers basic design, essential tools, safe workshop practices, and the properties of wood, culminating in a small project that builds confidence for independent boatbuilding.
Class runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Class fee is $200 ($180 for Friends of the Museum). Minimum age is 16. Course size is limited, and advance registration is required. Register below or by calling 252-504-7758.

Kids' Cove: Talking Turkey
2025-11-12 09:00 - 11:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Kids’ Cove is a free-play program designed for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers with a different maritime themed craft and wiggle activity each month. While the museum’s gallery remains temporarily closed, the Kids’ Cove programs will return to the museum auditorium. This is a screen-free program meant to help caregivers connect with their little ones, each other, and their local maritime heritage. The program is designed so that participants can stay for as short or as long as they want, arriving and leaving at any time during the scheduled program. Programs do not build on each other, so you can participate in one, all, or some without feeling left out. Programs are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. Pre-registration preferred.
Sign up below or by calling 252-504-7758.

This Collection Will Kill You: Identifying and Addressing Hazardous Materials in Your Collection
2025-10-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 28512, United States
From arsenic to uranium, humans have long had the pesky tendency of using poisons, caustics, carcinogens, and things that go BOOM! in our art, our clothing, our entertainment, and as part of our everyday lives. Sometimes these items even make their way into museums, often in odd or unexpected ways. Join museum conservator Michelle Crepeau as she discusses how to identify hazardous materials in your collection, options for mitigation and remediation — and why you shouldn’t lick the science.
This program is part of the museum’s Maritime Heritage Lecture Series, informal lectures focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. The lectures are currently held in the Fort Macon Coastal Education Center and streamed via Zoom. is free, and registration is not required for the in-person program. Visit ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com/virtual to sign up to receive the Zoom links. Programs are also posted to the museum’s YouTube channel.

Kayak the Salt Marsh
2025-10-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Gallants Channel, 293 West Beaufort Road, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Learn about salt marshes and wildlife while on the water. Basic kayak instruction and safety lessons on shore are followed by a 1.5-mile paddle through the salt marsh in the museum’s sit-in cockpit touring kayaks. The program is recommended for ages 12 and up. All participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants must know how to swim; some kayaking experience is recommended.
Field programs are designed to give participants a hands-on experience with North Carolina’s environment, history, and culture. Please note that these programs take place primarily outside. Please review the age and experience requirements before registering. Pre-registration is required by noon the day prior to the program. Register below. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

Introduction to Wooden Boat Building
2025-10-18 - 2025-10-19, 2025-09-06 - 2025-09-07 | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Explore the art of boatbuilding — beginning with lofting, and moving on to the setup, steam bending and different methods of creating the backbone of small boats — in this two-day, hands-on course. You’ll also learn planking methods, both carvel and lapstrake, and use of appropriate fasteners. After two days, you will have the knowledge, skill, and confidence to choose a design and style of boat to build on your own.
Class runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Class fee is $200 ($180 for Friends of the Museum). Minimum age is 16. Course size is limited, and advance registration is required. Register below or by calling 252-504-7758.

Bonehenge Public Tours
2025-10-17 10:00, 2025-09-12 10:00, 2025-08-29 10:00 | Bonehenge Whale Center, 275 W Beaufort Rd Ext, Beaufort, 28516
Join us for a 40 to 60-minute walking tour of Bonehenge Whale Center, led by Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster and Associate Museum Curator Christine Brin. Keith has spent over 35 years studying marine mammals off the coast of North Carolina, focusing on bottlenose dolphins. His work preparing marine mammal skeletons for educational display is as unique as the Whale Center itself.
Bonehenge Whale Center operates as a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the Carolina Cay Maritime Foundation.
Limited spaces are available. The program is not recommended for children under 12 due to the workshop environment. Those 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required by noon the day prior. Register below or by calling (252) 504-7758.

Sea Monsters
2025-10-16 11:00 - 12:00 | Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 28512, United States
Legends and stories of sea monsters are almost culturally universal, with even landlocked groups of people telling tales of fantastic sea or water creatures. During this presentation museum Associate Education Curator Christine Brin will look at some of the most popular sea monsters and some of the “sea creatures”, like whales, that may have inspired these stories.
This program is part of the museum’s Maritime Heritage Lecture Series, informal lectures focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. The lectures are currently held in the Fort Macon Coastal Education Center and streamed via Zoom. is free, and registration is not required for the in-person program. Visit ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com/virtual to sign up to receive the Zoom links. Programs are also posted to the museum’s YouTube channel.

Hiking and History on Shackleford Banks
2025-10-15 08:30 - 12:00, 2025-09-17 09:00 - 12:00 | NC
Experience Outer Banks history and wildlife with a guided hike on Shackleford Banks, part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Participants will take a ferry to an undeveloped barrier island. This field trip requires hiking through sandy terrain for about 1.5 miles. The program is recommended for ages 12 and up. All participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Field programs are designed to give participants a hands-on experience with North Carolina’s environment, history, and culture. Please note that these programs take place primarily outside. Please review the age and experience requirements before registering. Pre-registration is required by noon the day prior to the program. Register below. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

The Story Behind Echo the Whale
2025-10-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 28512, United States
Join Museum Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster for an informal discussion about “Echo” (the museum’s 33.5-foot sperm whale skeleton) and his heart. When the adolescent male whale came ashore at Cape Lookout in 2004, his bones and heart were preserved for study and display. Keith will cover the step-by-step process of retrieving, preserving, and displaying the specimen that now resides in the museum gallery.
This program is part of the museum’s Maritime Heritage Lecture Series, informal lectures focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. The lectures are currently held in the Fort Macon Coastal Education Center and streamed via Zoom. is free, and registration is not required for the in-person program. Visit ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com/virtual to sign up to receive the Zoom links. Programs are also posted to the museum’s YouTube channel.

Kids' Cove: Maritime Masks
2025-10-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad St., Beaufort, North Carolina, 28516
Kids’ Cove is a free-play program designed for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers with a different maritime themed craft and wiggle activity each month. While the museum is temporarily closed the kids cove programs will be hosted at the Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad St. in Beaufort. This is a screen-free program meant to help caregivers connect with their little ones, each other, and their local maritime heritage. The program is designed so that participants can stay for as short or as long as they want, arriving and leaving at any time during the scheduled program. Programs do not build on each other, so you can participate in one, all, or some without feeling left out. Programs are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. Pre-registration preferred.
Sign up below or by calling 252-504-7758.

Exploring Coastal Habitats on the Rachel Carson Reserve
2025-10-02 08:30 - 12:00, 2025-09-03 09:00 - 12:00 | NC
Join a member of our education team to discover the various plants and animals of the salt marsh and tidal flats at the Rachel Carson Reserve. The guided hike will take you through the different habitats and the sandy, muddy, and wet terrain found on Town Marsh and Bird Shoal. The program is recommended for ages 12 and up. All participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Field programs are designed to give participants a hands-on experience with North Carolina’s environment, history, and culture. Please note that these programs take place primarily outside. Please review the age and experience requirements before registering. Pre-registration is required by noon the day prior to the program. Register below. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

'The Rachel Carson Reserve'
2025-09-25 11:00 | Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 28512, United States
Ben Wunderly, site manager of the Rachel Carson Reserve, will give an overview of its history, natural features, and wildlife. The Rachel Carson Reserve, located in Carteret County just inside Beaufort Inlet, is comprised of a series of marshes, tidal flats, and upland islands. The 2,315 acres of combined habitat are dedicated as a nature preserve under the state’s Natural Heritage Program. The Rachel Carson Reserve is home to a diverse number of animals: various mammals, including its wild horses, to more than 200 species of birds and even more types of marine life. Come learn about this coastal treasure and how important its protection is.
This program is part of the museum’s Maritime Heritage Lecture Series, informal lectures focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. The lectures are currently held in the Fort Macon Coastal Education Center and streamed via Zoom. is free, and registration is not required for the in-person program. Visit ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com/virtual to sign up to receive the Zoom links. Programs are also posted to the museum’s YouTube channel.

Kayak the Salt Marsh
2025-09-24 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Gallants Channel, 293 West Beaufort Road, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Learn about salt marshes and wildlife while on the water. Basic kayak instruction and safety lessons on shore are followed by a 1.5-mile paddle through the salt marsh in our sit-in cockpit touring kayaks; or bring your own kayak and join us at a discount. The program is recommended for ages 12 and up. All participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants must know how to swim; some kayak experience is recommended.
Field programs are designed to give participants a hands-on experience with North Carolina’s environment, history, and culture. Please note that these programs take place primarily outside. Please review the age and experience requirements before registering. Pre-registration is required by noon the day prior to the program. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

'Life Aboard Ship, Means Going at Sea'
2025-09-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 28512, United States
When nature calls, you must go! But where do you go while at sea? You may be surprised by the historical practices of something so basic as using the bathroom when it comes to being on board a ship many years ago. Join Associate Curator of Education Christine Brin for an informative look at the evolution of the ship’s head (bathroom). She will cover historic sailing vessels, ironclad warships, and submarines, related to this interesting aspect of maritime life you may never have thought about.
This program is part of the museum’s Maritime Heritage Lecture Series, informal lectures focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. The lectures are currently held in the Fort Macon Coastal Education Center and streamed via Zoom. is free, and registration is not required for the in-person program. Visit ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com/virtual to sign up to receive the Zoom links. Programs are also posted to the museum’s YouTube channel.

Kids' Cove: Sailor's Life
2025-09-10 09:00 - 11:00 | Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad St., Beaufort, North Carolina, 28516

Diamondback Terrapins: Uncovering Their History and Shell-ebrating Their Future
2025-09-04 11:00 - 12:00 | Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 28512, United States
Diamondback terrapins, a unique and striking marsh turtle, have a long history in Beaufort, from collection and farming in the 1900s to present-day conservation efforts. Join Curator of Education Courtney Felton to discover how terrapins went from being considered a delicacy to being protected.
This program is part of the museum’s Maritime Heritage Lecture Series, informal lectures focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. The lectures are currently held in the Fort Macon Coastal Education Center and streamed via Zoom. is free, and registration is not required for the in-person program. Visit ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com/virtual to sign up to receive the Zoom links. Programs are also posted to the museum’s YouTube channel.

By Hook or By Crook: Women Pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read
2025-08-21 11:00 | Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 28512, United States
Ranked amongst the fiercest pirates from the “Golden age of Piracy” are Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Join Associate Education Curator Christine Brin to learn about these women pirates. She will trace what is known about their life stories, how they came to be pirates, and their subsequent fates.
This program is part of the museum’s Maritime Heritage Lecture Series, informal lectures focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. This lecture is in-person only in the Fort Macon Coastal Education Center. Admission is free, and registration is not required for the in-person program.

Seashore Life II
2025-08-05 - 2025-08-07 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Children entering grades 5 and 6 will investigate estuarine habitats, plants, and animals through field and lab studies. This three-day course includes a field trip to the Rachel Carson National Estuarine Research Reserve, water quality testing, plankton identification, and many more activities. Course runs from 9 a.m. to noon each day.
The program is part of the museum’s Summer Science School series. Its courses are designed to give children entering grades one to ten hands-on experiences with North Carolina’s environment, history, and culture. Some courses take place outside the main museum building and may involve travel. Advance registration is required. Register online at ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com. Limited scholarships that cover course fees are available; email Education Curator Courtney Felton for scholarship information. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

Seashore Life I
2025-07-31 - 2025-08-01 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Students entering grades 1 and 2 will investigate coastal marine life of the tidal flats, salt marshes, and sounds on local islands during this two-day class. The field-based classes include ferry ride, barrier island hiking, and animal identification.
Course runs from 9 a.m. to noon each day. Cost is $90 per child. A limited number of scholarships are available. Advance registration is required.

Pirates!
2025-07-29 - 2025-07-30 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Young sailors entering grades 1 and 2 will join their fearless captain and work together to learn about life at sea and how pirates of long ago lived. The crew will build their own boats, set the rules of the ship, and go on a hunt to find the hidden treasure. Advance registration is required for the program, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon each day.
Summer Science School courses are designed to give children entering grades one to ten hands-on experiences with North Carolina’s environment, history, and culture. Some courses take place outside the main museum building and may involve travel. Register below or by calling 252-504-7758. Limited scholarships are available; email christine.brin@dncr.nc.gov for scholarship information.
