NC Maritime Museums have full month of programs ahead

North Carolina Maritime Museum system staff have planned a range of programs at its three facilities next month.

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras, N.C., Maritime Museum at Beaufort and N.C. Maritime Museum at Southport make up the system that is part of the Division of State History Museums in the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

Reopened May 20 after extensive renovations, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras is named in honor of the thousands of shipwrecks that sank off North Carolina’s coast.

Dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the state’s coastal culture and maritime history, highlights include a Monomoy surf boat, a first-order Fresnel lens from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and interactive displays showcasing shipwrecks off the coast. The exhibits cover periods from pre-colonial times to the present, offering a comprehensive journey through the region’s history.

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, visit graveyardoftheatlantic.com.

Staff have the following talks planned for June as part of the Salty Dawgs Lecture Series:

• North Carolina Whales: Diversity, Distribution and Conservation 11 a.m. June 4. Keith Rittmaster, Beaufort museum natural science curator and Bonehenge Whale Center director, is to share an overview of species he encounters through his work and some of the conservation issues they face.
• Early NC Ferry Crossings 11 a.m. June 11. Benjamin Wunderly, Beaufort museum education curator, will discuss some colonial-era river crossings and the ferry systems that carried vehicles and passengers to the outer barrier islands of the state’s coast.
• In the Eye of the Storm: Hurricanes, Archaeological Sites, and Environmental Change in Coastal NC 11 a.m. June 18. Join Allyson Ropp, a maritime archaeologist and historic preservation archaeological specialist with the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology, for a presentation that looks at how hurricanes impact the work of finding and preserving history.
• U.S. Life-Saving Service 11 a.m. June 25. James Charlet has planned an informal lecture on the U.S. Life Saving Service.

Beaufort museum

The Beaufort site reflects coastal life and interprets lighthouses and lifesaving stations, the seafood industry, motorboats, and is a repository for artifacts from Blackbeard’s wrecked flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, including cannons, grenades, belt buckles and beads. The Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center teaches boatbuilding for all ages.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Many of the following events require registration, which can be done by calling 252-504-7758 or at ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com:

• Behind the scenes at the Whale Center 10 a.m. June 7. Free, 40-minute program on the marine mammals, including bottlenose dolphins, that live off the coast. Registration required by noon the day prior.
• Introduction to Wooden Boat Building 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 8-9. Two-day, hands-on course. Fee is $200, or $180 for Friends of the Museum members. Advance registration is required.
• Kids’ Cove 11 a.m.-1 p.m. June 9 and again 11 a.m.-1 p.m. June 12. Free-play program for ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Different maritime themed craft and wiggle activity each month. Registration preferred.
• Exploring Coastal Habitats on the Rachel Carson Reserve 9 a.m.-noon June 18. Guided hike through different habitats and sandy, muddy, and wet terrain found on Town Marsh and Bird Shoal. Cost is $25. Registration required by noon the day prior.
• Fish and Fishing 9 a.m.-noon June 20-21. Third and fourth graders can learn about coastal fish and fishing methods. Fee is $90. Registration required. Contact Wunderly at 252-504-7741 or ben.wunderly@dncr.nc.gov for information on the limited scholarships available.
• Kayak the Salt Marsh 9 a.m.-noon June 25. Basic kayak instruction and safety lessons on shore followed by a 1.5-mile paddle through the salt marsh in a sit-in cockpit touring kayaks. Cost is $35 or $30 with own kayak. Registration required by noon the day prior.
• Sailors Life 9 a.m.-noon June 25-26. Young mariners entering first and second grade can learn how sailors lived aboard a ship. Fee is $90. Registration required. Contact Wunderly at 252-504-7741 or ben.wunderly@dncr.nc.gov for information on the limited scholarships available.
• A General History of Mermaids 11 a.m. June 27. Associate Education Curator Christine Brin will share some of the iconic tales of mermaids, as part of its Maritime Heritage Series. No charge or registration needed.
• Seashore Life I 9 a.m.-noon June 27-28. Students going into first and second grade can investigate the coastal marine life of the tidal flats, salt marshes, and sounds on local islands during this two-day class. The field-based classes include ferry ride, barrier island hiking, and animal identification. Fee is $90. Registration required. Contact Wunderly at 252-504-7741 or ben.wunderly@dncr.nc.gov for information on the limited scholarships available.

Southport museum

The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport features exhibits that tell the story of the region’s people and their relationship with the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River, which converge nearby.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The museum is open to the public at no charge.

The following programs are being offered at no charge, but donations are accepted:

• Skipper’s Crew: Light It Up with Lighthouses 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June 1. Program features hands-on activities that combine arts and history. Lights will be dimmed and interactives muted during the first two hours to provide a calmer environment for those with sensory sensitivities.
• Anchors Aweigh: Go the Distance: Map Reading and Orienteering 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 12. Hands-on activities that focus on a specific part of Lower Cape Fear and North Carolina history. 
• Anchors Aweigh: Declaring Independence 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 26. Hands-on activities that focus on a specific part of Lower Cape Fear and North Carolina history.