NC Maritime Museum : BEAUFORT

Museum’s Most Wanted: Identifying and Dealing with Museum Pests
2026-06-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Many museum artifacts provide tasty treats for a variety of insects, animals, and fungi. A big part of museum conservation is preventing damage to our artifacts, which means knowing what’s eating your collection. Join museum Conservator Michelle Crepeau in this lecture about identifying common museum pests, their impact on collections, and both historical and modern methods of mitigation and prevention.
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.

Blue Compass I
2026-06-15 - 2026-06-19, 2026-07-27 - 2026-07-31 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Blue Compass I is a new Summer Science School class that provides children entering grades 1 and 2 with fun and adventure in their coastal environment. The five-day camp highlights the traditions, natural resources, and rich history of the North Carolina coast. Campers will discover how boats float, create fish prints, investigate shipwrecks, dress like pirates, and tour Bonehenge Whale Center to learn about whales. Each day features interactive projects, outdoor exploration, and fun discoveries about life along the coast.
Summer Science School courses are designed to give children entering grades one to 10 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 below. Limited scholarships that cover course fees are available; email Education Curator Courtney Felton for scholarship information. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

Bonehenge Family Friendly Tour
2026-06-19 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.

Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding
2026-06-20 - 2026-06-21, 2026-08-15 - 2026-08-16 | 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.

Blue Compass II
2026-06-22 - 2026-06-26, 2026-08-10 - 2026-08-14 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Blue Compass II is a new Summer Science School class that provides children entering grades 3 and 4 with fun and adventure in their coastal environment. The five-day camp highlights the maritime traditions, natural resources, and rich history of the North Carolina coast. Campers will build a stitch and glue model boat, fish from local docks, investigate underwater archaeology, discover a pirate’s treasure, and tour Bonehenge Whale Center. Each day features interactive projects, outdoor exploration, and fun discoveries about life along the coast. The program runs from 9 a.m.–noon each day.
Summer Science School courses are designed to give children entering grades one to 10 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 below. Limited scholarships that cover course fees are available; email Education Curator Courtney Felton for scholarship information. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

Exploring Coastal Habitats on the Rachel Carson Reserve
2026-06-24 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.

Trying Women: A History of Women in the Whaling Industry
2026-06-25 12:00 - 13:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Using information gathered from whaling communities around the North Atlantic, Associate Curator of Education Christine Brin will discuss the history of women in the whaling industry. These roles included net mending, running stores, processing whale meat, and occasionally even joining their husbands at sea. Join us for an interesting insight into the world of women in the early 17th century North Atlantic maritime community.
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.

Family Model Boat Class
2026-06-27 09:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-25 09:00 - 14:00, 2026-08-08 09:00 - 14:00 | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Designed for children but with adult participation, each team will assemble and decorate a model boat under the supervision of experienced boat builders and model makers.
Teams are limited to a maximum of 4 people, at least one of whom must be an adult. Minimum age is 8 years old. Course size is limited, and advance registration is required. Register below or by calling 252-504-7758.

Model Boats
2026-06-30 - 2026-07-02 | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
In this three-day camp at the museum’s Watercraft Center, children entering grades 3 and 4 will build their own model boat while learning about life on the water. As campers assemble their boats, they’ll explore coastal waterways and discover the history and function of local workboats, charter vessels, and commercial fishing boats. Through engaging field trips and museum exhibits, students will also learn about the types of fish caught in our region and the important skills needed to live and work on the water. They will use museum exhibits and field trips to learn about workboats and boats used for charter fishing and commercial fishing. The types of fish targeted by people fishing aboard these vessels will be discussed as well.
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.
Summer Science School programs are sponsored by the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

Seashore Life I
2026-07-06 - 2026-07-07 | 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. A limited number of scholarships are available. Advance registration is required. Register below or by calling 252-504-7758.
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.

Seashore Life II
2026-07-08 - 2026-07-10, 2026-08-05 - 2026-08-07 | 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.

Kids' Cove: Sharks
2026-07-08 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.

Introduction to Woodworking
2026-07-11 - 2026-07-12 | 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.

Blue Compass III
2026-07-13 - 2026-07-17 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Blue Compass III is a new Summer Science School class that provides children entering grades 5 and 6 with fun and adventure in their coastal environment. This five-day camp highlights the maritime traditions, natural resources, and rich history of the North Carolina coast. Campers will build a model boat, learn traditional fishing techniques, investigate underwater archaeology, learn how to navigate the seven seas, and tour Bonehenge Whale Center. Each day features interactive projects, outdoor exploration, and fun discoveries about life along the coast. The program runs from 9 a.m.–noon each day.
Summer Science School courses are designed to give children entering grades one to 10 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 below. Limited scholarships that cover course fees are available; email Education Curator Courtney Felton for scholarship information. For more information, call 252-504-7758.

Sensational Sharks: History and Conservation of Sharks in North Carolina
2026-07-16 12:00 - 13:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
It’s shark week! Join Education Curator Courtney Felton to dive into the history of the sharks of North Carolina, local fishermen, a great (white) catch, and the work being done to conserve these jaw-some predators.
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.

Build a Boat in a Day
2026-07-18, 2026-08-01 | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Participants in this introductory workshop use pre-cut kits to construct a small, flat-bottomed plywood boat in a single session. The course focuses on teaching basic woodworking and assembly skills. The class is designed for beginners and is a collaborative effort for families or small teams. Each participating team assembles a small flat-bottomed plywood boat suitable for paddling. The boat is 12 feet long, 32 inches wide, and weighs about 40 pounds. Each boat will be completed to a watertight condition and ready to take home for paint or varnish.
Teams are limited to a maximum of 4 people, at least one of whom must be an adult. Minimum age is 8 years old. Register below or by calling 252-504-7758.

Model Boats (split days)
2026-07-20 | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
In this three-day camp held July 20, 22, and 24 at the museum’s Watercraft Center, children entering grades 3 and 4 will build their own model boat while learning about life on the water. As campers assemble their boats, they’ll explore coastal waterways and discover the history and function of local workboats, charter vessels, and commercial fishing boats. Through engaging field trips and museum exhibits, students will also learn about the types of fish caught in our region and the important skills needed to live and work on the water. They will use museum exhibits and field trips to learn about workboats and boats used for charter fishing and commercial fishing. The types of fish targeted by people fishing aboard these vessels will be discussed as well.
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.
Summer Science School programs are sponsored by the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

Coastal Adventures
2026-07-21 - 2026-07-24 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Students in grades 7 to 10 will learn in depth the importance of estuaries and coastal processes in this four-day camp offered in partnership with the North Carolina Coastal Reserve Rachel Carson. The camp includes field trips to the Rachel Carson Reserve and Bonehenge Whale Center, as well as plankton observing, squid dissections, bird watching, whale and dolphin study, and much more. The course runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 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.

Battle of Beaufort, American Revolution
2026-07-30 12:00 - 13:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Some historians argue that the final battle of the American Revolutionary War occurred in Beaufort, North Carolina, in April of 1782. Join Associate Curator Christine Brin for a discussion of this dramatic event, complete with daring raids, burning ships, shoot outs, and kidnapping.
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.

By Hook or by Crook
2026-08-06 12:00 - 13:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Ranked amongst the fiercest pirates from the “Golden age of Piracy,” Anne Bonny and Mary Read have stories that daytime TV could only aspire to. 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. 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: Whales
2026-08-12 09:00 - 11:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States

Kayak the Salt Marsh
2026-08-13 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.

Hiking and History on Shackleford Banks
2026-08-19 08:30 - 12:00
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 2 to 2.5 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 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.
