Following World War II, the Congress of Industrial Workers embarked on a campaign to unionize the South. As a part of that campaign, the International Fishermen and Allied Workers of America, a small Seattle-based labor union, attempted to unionize North Carolina’s commercial fishing industry. The...
Education Curator Benjamin Wunderly will talk about the history of the Cape Lookout lighthouse, an iconic landmark of Carteret County. The presentation will cover both lighthouse structures at Cape Lookout, the extant 1812 tower, and the still standing 1859 tower. Many images of the lighthouse...
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 all about identifying common...
In 1891, North Carolina created the Shell Fish Commission with the purpose of promoting and protecting North Carolina's most valuable fishery: oysters. To enforce the state's oyster laws, North Carolina leased several vessels to patrol the sounds until it purchased Lily, the state's first official...
Ever wonder what those little gadgets with the temperature and humidity read-outs in museum cases are all about? How about those pink-blue strips, the ones that look like a flat thermometer? Or those little baggies of orange-green beads? Conservators and Collection’s staff spend a great...
Diamondback terrapins, a unique and striking marsh turtle, have a long history in Beaufort, from collection and farming in the 1900s to present-day conservation efforts. Join Associate Curator of Education Courtney Felton to discover how terrapins went from being considered a delicacy to being protected....
During the Civil War, federal soldiers in coastal North Carolina confiscated civilian watercraft on behalf of the war effort. After the war, affected civilians could file for compensation through the Southern Claims Commission. The applications for compensation provide insights into the maritime lives of ordinary...
Lake Phelps was an important maritime resource for Native Americans for thousands of years. In the 1980s, 23 dugout canoes were discovered in and around the lake; and four were recovered for further study. Kimberly Kenyon, head conservator for the North Carolina Office of State...
In 1867, W. J. Bushall moved from Beaufort, North Carolina, to Core Creek to farm and fish. He left behind a diary from 1867 that details his life farming, fishing, and transporting his agricultural products by boat to market. The diary provides a view of...
In the late 19th century, North Carolina promoted the cultivation of oysters to provide a sustainable oyster industry. Large corporate interests quickly became involved and purchased thousands of acres of "submerged lands" in the state's sounds and rivers. These giant oyster gardens triggered rampant speculation...