NC Maritime Museum : BEAUFORT

Wreck of 'Caribsea'
2026-03-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Join Education Curator Courtney Felton to learn about the wreck of Caribsea, a casualty of World War II. On March 11, 1942, this cargo freighter was sunk by German U-boat 158 off Cape Lookout while heading from Santiago de Cuba to Baltimore, Maryland.
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. Programs are offered select Thursdays at noon. The lectures are held in the museum auditorium and streamed via Zoom. Admission 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: Sailors
2026-03-11 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.

Exploring Coastal Habitats on the Rachel Carson Reserve
2026-03-11 08:30 - 12:00
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 hands-on experiences 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 Boatbuilding
2026-03-07 - 2026-03-08, 2026-02-21 - 2026-02-22 | 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.

North Carolina’s Role in Supplying the American Revolution by Sea
2026-02-26 12:00 - 13:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
During the American War of Independence, the British Royal Navy blockaded or occupied major colonial ports. However, they dedicated few ships to patrol the Graveyard of the Atlantic. This allowed ships to bring much-needed wartime supplies into Ocracoke Inlet and through North Carolina’s rivers and sounds to supply the Continental Army. Join Maritime History Curator David Bennett to learn about this vital supply route.
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. Programs are offered most Thursdays at noon. While the museum is closed, the lectures will be held in the auditorium at Fort Macon State Park and streamed via Zoom. Admission 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.

Bonehenge Public Tours
2026-02-20 10:00 | Bonehenge Whale Center, 275 W Beaufort Rd Ext, Beaufort, 28516
Bonehenge Whale Center is dedicated to research, marine conservation, stranded specimen collection, exhibit preparation and display, educational programming, and publications that focus on NC cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises). It operates as a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the Carolina Cay Maritime Foundation.
As an active workshop, this site is not regularly open to the public. Join the museum’s Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster and Associate Education Curator Christine Brin for an hour-long guided tour of the whale center. During this program, participants will see the skeletons of multiple whale species, have unique opportunities to interact with these specimens, and learn about the conservation issues facing cetaceans and what the public can do to help.
Participants must be over 14 years old. Limited spaces are available. Pre-registration required by noon the day prior. Register below or by calling (252) 504-7758.

Bonehenge Family Friendly Tour
2026-02-16 14:00 - 14:30, 2026-01-20 14:00 - 14:30 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Children ages 7 to 14 and their companion adults are invited to participate in a new 20 to 30-minute tour of the Bonehenge Whale Center. The free tour is a shortened version of the regular public tour with softer imagery and vocabulary for a younger audience. Along with the opportunity to touch and hold multiple bones, whale oil, and a real whale’s tooth, the tour will include discussions on what whales eat, how they are adapted to deep ocean living, conservation issues regarding whales, and how the public can help.
This tour takes place in an active workshop; therefore, it is not recommended for children under the age of 7. Pre-registration is required by noon the day prior to the program. Register below. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

Heart of the Sea
2026-02-14 19:00 - 20:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Join us in the museum auditorium for a Valentine’s Day presentation about our beloved whale Echo. Learn about putting together his skeleton and preserving his heart. This presentation also covers the story of Bonehenge Whale Center, a massive volunteer effort inspired by the skeletal display. The program is free and open to the public. For more information call 252- 504-7758.

Love at Sea
2026-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Duels and deathbed confessions are included in these local love stories recounted in honor of Valentine’s Day. Associate Education Curator Christine Brin will share eight of her favorite maritime-themed love stories for this special holiday presentation.
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. Programs are offered most Thursdays at noon. The lectures are held in the museum auditorium and streamed via Zoom. Admission 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: Sharks
2026-02-11 09:00 - 11:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States

Lofting a Boat
2026-02-07 - 2026-02-08 | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
The boatbuilding class teaches how to create full-size, scaled-up plans for a six-foot boat using a traditional process called lofting. Students will learn to transfer a boat’s design from a boat plan and draw it out in full scale, the first critical steps for creating templates and building a boat.
Class runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Class fee is $110 ($99 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.

Introduction to Woodworking
2026-01-24 - 2026-01-25 | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
The new Introduction to Woodworking class teaches beginners to safely and efficiently use hand and power tools, understand different wood types and their properties, and apply fundamental techniques like cutting, shaping, joining, and finishing to build a small project. The course focuses on building foundational skills, with instructor demonstrations and supervised hands-on practice, to instill confidence and a solid understanding for future woodworking projects.
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.

Whales in North Carolina
2026-01-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 28512, United States
North Carolina has many species of whales that travel near our shores and sometimes strand on our beaches. This makes it ideal for scientists to study and promote the conservation and understanding of these endangered marine mammals. Join Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster to learn about the whales most commonly spotted off the coast of North Carolina and see some related items.
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. Programs are offered most Thursdays at noon. While the museum is closed, the lectures will be held in the auditorium at Fort Macon State Park and streamed via Zoom. Admission 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.

Coastal Culture and Waterfowl Watching Excursion
2026-01-15
Join museum staff on a full-day tour to observe wintering waterfowl at Lake Mattamuskeet and Pungo Lake national wildlife refuges in Eastern North Carolina.  Program fee is $50 ($45 for Friends of the Museum, which sponsors the program).  The program primarily takes place outdoors and is not recommended for children under 12. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Travel is via the museum van; therefore, seating is limited, and advance registration is required.  Register online at ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

Kids' Cove: Birds
2026-01-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad St., Beaufort, North Carolina, 28516

Coastal Culture and Waterfowl Watching Excursion
2026-01-07 - 2026-01-08, 2025-12-09 - 2025-12-10
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.

31st Annual John Costlow Christmas Train Show
2025-12-14 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-13 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-12 16:00 - 19:00 | 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.

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

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

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 | 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 | 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.
