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.

U.S. Life-Saving Service Operations on the North Carolina Coast

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

Join Education Curator Benjamin Wunderly in the museum auditorium as he covers the history of the United States Life-Saving Service in North Carolina. The small crews of this service, the predecessor to the United States Coast Guard, rescued hundreds of shipwrecked sailors during a time...

Free

From Lightships to Light Towers: Illuminating the Capes of North Carolina

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

Shortly after the construction of several coastal lighthouses in North Carolina, it was apparent that some locations would require additional warning lights. The dangerous shoals of Diamond, Lookout and Frying Pan proved difficult to pilot around for many seafaring captains. Join Education Curator Benjamin Wunderly...

Free

Beaufort’s Dolphins: Getting to Know Them

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

Bottlenose dolphins occur in Beaufort year-round but they’re not the same individuals and we’re learning a lot from photo-ID and stranding response. Join Museum Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster for an informal discussion about the biology, behavior, and conservation issues affecting "Beaufort’s Dolphins."   This...

Free

A General History of Mermaids

Fort Macon State Park 2303 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 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. A half-human, half-fish creature has appeared in many cultures throughout time and...

Free

By Hook or By Crook: Women Pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read

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

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.