News From the Department
The Museum Shop: A Coastal Treat
Contact:
For more information contact Delores Spencer at 252-331-4026 or Lynn Brower at 919-807-7831
Like a cozy beach cottage, the Museum Shop at the Museum of the Albemarle invites you to enjoy the surroundings and linger awhile. The exquisite shop is one of the treasures at the museum’s new waterfront building in downtown Elizabeth City.
“People just marvel at the beauty of the shop and the variety and quality of the merchandise,” says Delores Spencer, shop manager. “The products are carefully selected to represent the Albemarle region and range from children’s toys to handcrafted items by local artisans.”
The Museum Shop’s nautical setting provides a fitting backdrop for the enticing merchandise. North Carolina coastal traditions abound in the wide selection of handmade pottery, baskets, specialty foods, jewelry and other offerings for all ages.
Visitors to the Museum Shop not only come away with unique products; they support a good cause. All profits help fund programs and educational projects at the Museum of the Albemarle and other state history museums. The shop is owned and operated by the N.C. Museum of History Associates, a statewide organization that provides assistance to seven museums within the Division of State History Museums.
“We anticipate that the Museum Shop will become a destination for local residents as well as visitors,” emphasizes Lynn Brower, director of retail operations at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh; she designed the Elizabeth City store. “Residents are returning time and again, especially for one-of-a-kind gifts for birthdays, weddings and other occasions. Shoppers find good quality at a fair price and discover items they won’t find other places.”
Handcrafted Items
The talents of coastal artisans come together at the Museum Shop. Visitors will see stunning pottery by Nancy Fletcher of Hertford and Dan Waters of Point Harbor. Stained-glass items crafted by Elizabeth City’s Carlton Dozier and jewelry by Tina Monaco of Point Harbor dazzle in beautiful displays. Baskets woven by Patsy Ryan of Elizabeth City and Teddy Forsyth of Roper carry forth a regional craft tradition.
Other handcrafted items include period pottery from New Salem Pottery in Randleman and glass reproductions by P&B Glassworks of Williamsburg, Va.
Books About the Albemarle Region
An exceptional selection of books highlights Tar Heel history, sports,
cooking and other topics. Explore a haunting mystery in Ghost Ship of Diamond Shoals by Bland Simpson, or find fascinating insights in The Historian’s Coast: Adventures into the Tidewater Past by David Cecelski. Civil War buffs will want to delve into The Civil War in Coastal North Carolina by John S. Carbone, M.D., among other titles.
Read about local history in Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City Coast Guard Base and North Carolina Lighthouses and Lifesaving Stations (Arcadia Publishers). The shop also offers a variety of texts, such as The Pirates of Colonial North Carolina, published through the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.
Delicious Delicacies
For a taste of North Carolina, create a gift basket of delectable food items. Fill it with Bertie County chocolate or butterscotch peanuts, Lovin’ Oven’s cookies in nautical shapes or Farmer Dave’s Market snacks. Throw in a jar of PJ’s Carolina Critter Sauce for the grill.
Children’s Toys and Books
There is plenty for the kids and grandkids. Great gift ideas include a treasure map (in puzzle form) in a bottle, pirate figures, puzzles with coastal scenes, and more. Choose from colonial period playthings, such as tin whistles and tricornered hats.
Set sail for adventure with children’s books by Outer Banks residents Mary Maden and Suzanne Tate. Maden’s adventure series includes The Secret of Blackbeard’s Treasure, and Tate’s history series features Holly From Hatteras: A Tale of Saving Lives and other selections.
Gifts and Holiday Shopping
With Father’s Day right around the corner, check out the selection of ties with nautical designs, Civil War books and other items. Other gift ideas include the state flag sized for boats, wine glasses with coastal images on the stems, lighthouse models, throws and more. North Carolina lighthouses appear on a selection of tote and lunch bags and other accessory items. Beautiful green gift boxes featuring the museum logo are available at no extra charge.
Closer to the winter holidays, the Museum Shop will offer a gold-plated ornament series highlighting North Carolina sites and symbols. The N.C. Museum of History has produced a new ornament for the series since 1983. The 2004 ornament, a shad boat, is based on the 1904 Albemarle Sound shad boat on exhibit in the museum lobby. All ornaments in the series will be available for purchase.
The Museum Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 252-331-4026 or access www.museumofthealbemarle.com. To shop online, go to www.ncmuseumofhistoryshop.com.Associates members receive a discount on merchandise. To learn more about the Associates, access ncmuseumassoc.com.
The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. The department’s Web site is www.ncculture.com.
* * FOR SIDEBAR: The Museum Shop is looking for volunteers to work several hours on weekdays or weekends. If you are interested, please contact Delores Spencer at 252-331-4026 or dgspencer@earthlink.net.
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