North Carolina Maritime Museums

Discover North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal heritage and marine environments at our three North Carolina Maritime Museums.

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras, the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort and the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport each offer unique exhibits and programs designed for all ages. See relics pulled from the deep, build a boat, follow Civil War battles fought along the coast, cast a line and learn about the state’s seafood industry, sail or paddle along waterways, and retrace Blackbeard’s voyages and ultimate demise.

The three North Carolina maritime museums preserve and interpret North Carolina’s coastal life and history. They paint a picture of the maritime and coastal culture including fishermen, boat builders, decoy carvers and more. They present exhibits tell the tales of painters and pirates, shipwrecks and sailboats and marine life and maritime habitat protection.  

Visit North Carolina's Maritime Museums

Whether you're interested in seeing cannons or grenades that may have been used by Blackbeard or want to relive the adventure of blockade running during the Civil War, all three of North Carolina's maritime museums offer unique experiences for family fun near the beach. 

The three museums operate on slightly different schedules, though all are closed on some holidays.

Experience the Rich History of North Carolina's Coast at Our Three Maritime Museums

Contact the Museums 

All three our maritime museums can be reached by phone or email: