There is plenty to appreciate about North Carolina’s Atlantic Coast. Besides the stunning coastline and pristine sandy beaches, there is an incredible amount of fascinating coastal history that any visitor should explore. Fortunately, Beaufort hosts one of the best maritime museums in North Carolina. After a day trip to the museum, you will be an expert on pirates and sea battles, and more! Visiting the museum is definitely on the list of the best winter activities in Atlantic Beach!
History and Visiting the Maritime Museum
There is always something to see and explore at this Beaufort maritime museum! The North Carolina Maritime Museum displays all aspects of coastal life, including lighthouses and lifesaving stations, the seafood industry, and motorboats. Here, visitors can ogle artifacts from Blackbeard’s wrecked flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, which include cannons, grenades, belt buckles, and beads.
The Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center is an especially unique attraction. All ages can learn to build their own boat! The Watercraft Center sits on Taylor Creek, just across from the Maritime Museum, and it was built on land donated by Harvey W. Smith’s widow. She donated the land to build a new museum to replace the Hampton Mariners Museum as it had outgrown its old location. Mrs. Smith also donated her husband’s maritime collection, and this was the start of the North Carolina Museum as we know it today!
Tours and Events
In addition to its incredible collection, the museum regularly hosts workshops and other hands-on events. To see the latest list of activities before planning your visit, be sure to visit the museum event calendar.
The most popular and frequent activity is boat-building workshops. This class takes you through all the steps of boat building from start to finish during a two-day course. Participants start with the design and lofting of boats and move on to the setup, steam bending, and different methods of creating the backbone of small boats. Other topics include making planking systems and all the appropriate fastening systems. The course costs $180, and by the end of those two days, you’ll have the knowledge and skill to choose a design and style of boat to build on your own. Because course sizes are limited, advance registration is required.
Another popular course – boat in a day – involves assembling a prepared kit for a small flat-bottomed plywood boat, which will be suitable for paddling. The finished product will be 12” long, 32” wide, and weigh about 40 pounds. The boat will be completed to a watertight condition by the end of the day. All that will be left is to take home the boat for paint or varnish. Boats are constructed in teams of four, and at least one participant must be an adult. The course fee is $630, and because of limited class sizes, advance registration is required.
The center is open year-round with fixed hours. While you must register in advance for particular events, the museum is free to tour any time during opening hours. The Maritime Museum is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit at 315 Front Street, Beaufort. Though admission is free, donations are highly appreciated!
Your Atlantic Beach Rental
We recommend making your trip to Beaufort during the day to return to your oceanfront rental in Atlantic Beach to relax in the evening. Depending on your needs, we offer condos, cottages, oceanfront, and Atlantic Beach pet-friendly rentals. Rentals are available for smaller families or those on a budget, and alternatively, we have luxurious properties located right on the coastline. Without a doubt, these are the best places to stay in Atlantic Beach! When planning your Atlantic Beach vacation, choose Cannon & Gruber as your vacation rental experts!
