NC Maritime Museum : BEAUFORT

Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding
2026-05-09 - 2026-05-10, 2026-04-11 - 2026-04-12, 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.

Kayak the Salt Marsh
2026-05-05 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-02 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

In Irons: American Prisoners of War, 1775-1783
2026-04-30 12:00 - 13:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
During the American War of Independence, many patriots who served on land and sea found themselves as prisoners of war. Some were in British prison camps while others were held aboard British prison ships. Join Maritime History Curator David Bennett as he details the captivity of North Carolinians and other American patriots, as well as daring escapes and maritime routes to freedom.
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.

Science and Exploration on the Rachel Carson Reserve
2026-04-27 08:30 - 12:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Join a museum educator and the Central Sites Manager from the N.C. Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve for a guided hike through the Rachel Carson Reserve. Discover the diverse plants and animals of the salt marsh and tidal flats while exploring the interconnected habitats of Town Marsh and Bird Shoal.

Offered as part of the NC Science Festival, this hike highlights how the reserve’s ecosystems are managed for research, education, and long-term stewardship. Participants will also learn how they can support the reserve through citizen science efforts.

The hike will traverse sandy, muddy, and wet terrain. This program is recommended for ages 12 and up; participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

This hike is one of the museum’s field programs, which 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 Woodworking
2026-04-25 - 2026-04-26, 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.

Beaufort’s Dolphins, Getting to Know Them
2026-04-23 12:00 - 13:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Bottlenose dolphins are seen in Beaufort year-round, but they’re not the same individuals. We’re learning a lot from photo-ID and stranding response. Join Museum Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster to learn about the biology, behavior, and conservation issues affecting “Beaufort’s Dolphins.”
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.

Exploring Coastal Habitats on the Rachel Carson Reserve
2026-04-23 08:30 - 12:00, 2026-03-11 08:30 - 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 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.

A General History of Mermaids
2026-04-09 12:00 - 13:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
The oceans truly connect us all, from pole to pole and around the equator. The legend of the mermaid is a great representation of that connection, one that binds seafarers the world over. The half-human, half-fish creature has appeared in many cultures throughout time and geography. Associate Education Curator Christine Brin will share some of the iconic tales of mermaids, how they have appeared in other regions of our watery planet, and the evolution the mysterious creature has undergone through the years.
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
2026-04-08 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.

Bonehenge Family Friendly Tour
2026-03-27 14:00 - 14:30, 2026-02-16 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.

Can You Knot? A Knot Tying Workshop
2026-03-26 14:00 - 16:00 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
This hands-on course will review the history of knot tying in the maritime industry, followed by an opportunity for participants to practice their knot-tying skills. The course will cover a minimum of 10 knots, with the potential to cover more, including splicing, as time and participant interest allow. Program is open to ages 12 and up. 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
2026-03-25 09:30 - 13:00 | 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 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.

Half Hull Model Class
2026-03-21 09:00 - 17:00 | Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
Half hull models serve as traditional methods to visualize, plan, and understand a vessel’s three-dimensional design and proportions. This half hull model class teaches participants to create a scale, half-side replica of a North Carolina Shad boat’s hull. Classes provide hands-on woodworking experience by teaching techniques like transferring boat plans, cutting laminated “lifts” of wood, and carving the hull into its final shape, resulting in a finished model ready for the participant to apply the finish of their choosing at home.
Class fee is $150 ($135 for Friends of the Museum, which sponsors the program). Minimum age is 16. Course size is limited, and advance registration is required. Register below or by calling 252-504-7758.

Annual Whales and Whaling Symposium
2026-03-20 10:00 - 18:30 | North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 28516, United States
The history, biology, conservation, and pedagogy of whales and whaling specific to North Carolina will be covered during the North Carolina Maritime Museum’s annual Whales and Whaling Symposium. The program is free. However, pre-registration is preferred due to limited seating. Register below or by calling 252-504-7758.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
10:15 a.m.: “NC Whales: Diversity, Distribution, and Conservation,” presented by Keith Rittmaster, the museum’s natural science curator and director of the Bonehenge Whale Center. Rittmaster will discuss the 35 species of cetaceans documented off North Carolina’s coast, conservation challenges and ongoing work at Bonehenge Whale Center.
11:15 a.m.: “Nye’s Clock Oil and the Bottlenose Dolphin Fishery at Hatteras Island,” presented by historian David Cecelski. Cecelski examines the surprising connection between North Carolina’s coastal fisheries, the waning days of American whaling and the rise of the U.S. clockmaking industry at the turn of the 20th century.
2 p.m.: “Watching Whales in the Middle Ages,” presented by Dr. Vicki Szabo, professor of ancient, medieval and environmental history at Western Carolina University. Szabo contrasts whale mythology in medieval Europe with the practical knowledge of coastal communities, drawing on historical texts and archaeological evidence.
3 p.m.: “How Many Whales Does It Take to Save a Species?” presented by marine biologist and conservation-based crafter Tommy Tucker. Tucker’s program focuses on the critically endangered Rice’s whales and uses the stories of individual whales to illustrate the intersection of maritime history, natural history and conservation.
5:30 p.m.: The North Carolina aerial survey team for North Atlantic right whales. Operated locally in Beaufort by the Clearwater (Fla.) Marine Aquarium Research Institute and funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the team will discuss right whale biology, current population trends and how aerial surveys are supporting recovery efforts for this critically endangered species.

Wreck of 'Caribsea'
2026-03-12 12:00 - 13:00 | 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

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.

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.

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.
