Paid programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

Registration and Refund Policy:

Registration costs, less a 10% fee, are refunded when the museum receives cancellation notice at least 48 hours before the start of a program. There is no refund within 48 hours of the start of a program, and tickets cannot be transferred to a later program date within that 48 hour timeframe. Due to material costs and supply, Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center Courses require a 2-week notification for cancellations; only the course fee is refunded if cancellation occurs prior to 2 weeks. The Museum reserves the right to cancel any program that does not meet the minimum participant requirement up to one week before the program is scheduled. In the event of cancellation due to low enrollment, participants who have submitted a fee will receive a full refund. If a program is canceled due to inclement weather and unable to be rescheduled for another date, the participants will receive a full refund.

  • The Story Behind Echo the Whale

    Fort Macon State Park 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 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...

    Free
  • Hiking and History on Shackleford Banks

    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...

    $31.50 – $35
  • Sea Monsters

    Fort Macon State Park 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 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...

    Free
  • Introduction to Wooden Boat Building

    Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 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...

    $180 – $200
  • Kayak the Salt Marsh

    Gallants Channel 293 West Beaufort Road, Beaufort, NC, 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...

    $27 – $35
  • This Collection Will Kill You: Identifying and Addressing Hazardous Materials in Your Collection

    Fort Macon State Park 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 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...

    Free
  • Introduction to Wooden Boat Building

    Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 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,...

    $180 – $200
  • History of Santa Claus, Patron Saint of Sailors

    Fort Macon State Park 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 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...

    Free
  • Friends of the Maritime Museum Holiday Flotilla

    North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort 315 Front St., Beaufort, NC, 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...

    Free
  • 31st Annual John Costlow Christmas Train Show

    Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 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...

    Free
  • 31st Annual John Costlow Christmas Train Show

    Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 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...

    Free
  • 31st Annual John Costlow Christmas Train Show

    Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center 322 Front Street, Beaufort, NC, 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...

    Free

Registration and Refund Policy:

Registration costs, less a 10% fee, are refunded when the museum receives cancellation notice at least 48 hours before the start of a program. There is no refund within 48 hours of the start of a program, and tickets cannot be transferred to a later program date within that 48 hour timeframe. Due to material costs and supply, Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center Courses require a 2-week notification for cancellations; only the course fee is refunded if cancellation occurs prior to 2 weeks. The Museum reserves the right to cancel any program that does not meet the minimum participant requirement up to one week before the program is scheduled. In the event of cancellation due to low enrollment, participants who have submitted a fee will receive a full refund. If a program is canceled due to inclement weather and unable to be rescheduled for another date, the participants will receive a full refund.