Paid programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Maritime Museum in Beaufort.
Spending only a brief time on land, sea turtles are quite different from most other turtles we know. From hatchling to adult, a lifetime at sea is no small task for these reptiles that grow so big. Join the museum educators in the auditorium on...
Join Museum Conservator Michelle Crepeau for a free, informal lecture that discusses electrolytic reduction—what it is, how it works and why conservators use electrochemical reactions to clean and desalinate marine archaeological metals. Registration is not required for the in-person program, held in the museum auditorium....
The legend of the mermaid, or half human/half fish creature, appears around the world throughout time. This presentation by Associate Museum Curator Christine Brin will look at some of the better-known legends of mermaids and the interesting evolution they underwent over the last few hundred...
Associate Museum Curator Benjamin Wunderly will talk about the history of light towers at Cape Lookout. The presentation will cover the original 1812 structure and the current 1859 tower, examining some interesting events that occurred throughout their existence. Join us in the museum auditorium to...
Acid-Base chemistry is fundamental to understanding archaeological conservation, both in terms of why some things deteriorate while others are preserved when buried in the ground, and in terms of why conservators choose the materials and treatments that they do. Join museum conservator Michelle Crepeau as...
Curator of Maritime History David Bennett will examine the history of the mullet fishery in North Carolina. During the 19th century, North Carolina's mullet fishery was one of the largest saltwater fisheries in the South, and it continued to be a popular fishery into the...
Museum Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster will present on “Echo”, the Museum’s 33.5-foot-long sperm whale skeleton. When the adolescent whale came ashore at Cape Lookout in 2004, his bones and heart were preserved for study and display. Keith will cover the step-by-step process of retrieving,...
Most of our country's eastern seaboard and Gulf states are lined with coastal barrier islands, but none so unique as the famed Outer Banks of North Carolina. The fascinating cultural history, fragile geologic nature, and diverse flora and fauna, attract and fascinate millions of people...
Join Associate Museum Curator Christine Brin to learn about some of the most popular maritime myths, legends, and ghost stories in this special Halloween presentation. Christine will also discuss the history and possible origins of each story. Free, no registration required for the in-person program,...
Join Associate Museum Curator Benjamin Wunderly and learn about the Native Americans of the coast. Humans inhabited the region well before any European explorers set foot on the land. How did these differing cultures coexist? We will try to uncover some of the history on...
Associate Museum Curator Benjamin Wunderly will talk about the wreck of the Caribsea, a casualty of World War II. On March 11th, 1942, this cargo freighter was sunk by the German U-boat 158 off Cape Lookout. Its route took it right through what became known...
Museum Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster will discuss the biology and behavior of the bottlenose dolphins that frequent the waters around Beaufort. He will also cover the conservation issues that affect these marine mammals. Bottlenose dolphins occur in Beaufort year-round, but they are not the...
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.