Observe wintering waterfowl at wildlife refuges and seashores in Eastern North Carolina and experience some of our unique coastal communities. Museum staff will lead the tour through remote and beautiful regions of Pamlico, Hyde, and Dare counties. This is an overnight adventure and requires pre-registration....

North Carolina’s shrimp industry slowly emerged in the Lower Cape Fear region during the 19th century. However, it did not take-off until the years leading up to World War I when Scandinavian immigrants introduced the otter trawl to Brunswick County. Following the introduction of the...

For generations, North Carolina’s oyster industry was underdeveloped. This changed in the late 19th century when North Carolina oyster beds attracted attention following overharvesting in the Chesapeake Bay and the nation’s insatiable appetite for oysters. By the late 1880s, North Carolina oystermen and fish dealers...

Summer Science School offers students the opportunity to learn about the natural and maritime history of coastal North Carolina during the school break. Programs are planned for students of varying ages, from those entering preschool up to rising sophomores. Click here for a full list...

Sharks are some of the most fascinating, ecologically important, threatened, and misunderstood animals on Earth. Join award-winning marine biologist Dr. David Shiffman in the museum auditorium for a free presentation on how—and why—we should protect these mysterious, misunderstood guardians of the ocean. Copies of his...

Students entering grades 7 through 10 will learn more in depth the importance of estuaries and coastal processes in this three-day camp that includes a field trip to the Rachel Carson Reserve, plankton observing, squid dissections, bird watching, and many more hands-on scientific experiments. Cost...