North Carolina Maritime Museum

The North Carolina Maritime Museum is a system of regional museums within the North Carolina Museum of History, which is turn part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. There are several branches of the Maritime Museum located in Beaufort, Southport and Hatteras.

The Beaufort museum focuses on North Carolina's cultural maritime heritage, coastal environment and natural history. Exhibit displays include shells from over 100 countries, fish models, shipwrecks, ship equipment, types of watercraft historically used in North Carolina, whaling, oyster catching, waterfowl hunting equipment and duck decoys, and venomous snakes found in North Carolina. Small aquariums are on display with local marine life. Another exhibit focuses on the history of the United States Lighthouse Service, United States Life-Saving Service, Revenue Cutter Service, Steamboat Inspection Service, and the United States Coast Guard in North Carolina.

The separate Boat Shed contains a collection of traditional working watercraft.

The Watercraft Center across from the museum is a facility for the repair and conservation of various watercraft, and offers boatbuilding courses. The Center also features the John S. MacCormack Model Shop, where visitors can learn the art of ship model making.

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