north carolina maritime museum

We really enjoyed this small but informative museum about North Carolina ships and pirates and shipwrecks. The Blackbeard exhibits are very well done and interesting. The ship models are quite wonderful. It's all free and run by volunteers, but there's a donation box with a suggested $6 per adult. It's clean, good for all ages, and the staff is very friendly (thanks Grace!) Allow about an hour, but if you have plenty of time stay longer. The Library is so inviting - if we lived in Beaufort, we'd sit and read for hours and hours. Free parking and nice gift shop.

It’s a pleasure to learn at Beaufort maritime museum! The story of piracy on N.C. coast and especially Blackbeard, is explained so vividly through examples. It not only shows equipment, but it presents the why’s, the how’s, … There is a complete section on rescuing crews and passengers from wrecked ships, with precise description of equipment and processes used. It presents also how boats were built throughout the ages. This museum really deserves you spend some time in it, you’ll not regret it!

If you are a pirate fan this is the place for you to see. Very interesting exhibits. The history of boating in North Carolina

Recently the Museum re-opened the QAR exhibit with new artifacts and a conservation lab where ECU graduate students are working on concretions (globs of underwater masses which house artifacts inside) while you watch and ask questions. The rest of the museum is interesting for adults and fun/entertaining for children of all ages. A brilliant gem in the Coolest Small Town in America.

The museum is well laid out, with just enough to be interesting, but not so much as to overwhelm. Staff are very friendly and helpful and the exhibits have nice information cards. Parking is downtown (plenty of restaurants for afterwards) and the museum is free. There is a wood boat workshop across the street that is also simple but interesting.

We visited on 1/24/2015 - there was evidently some type of event going on with many folks dressed as colorful pirates.This is a free museum, with donations encouraged. There are many interactive exhibits. My favorites were on whaling and lifesaving. Do not miss this place if you're interested in ships lost to the "graveyard of the Atlantic." There is a letter to his sister from a captain of a purposely abandoned ship that nearly brought me to tears.This could be a great short stop if you have kids, or a longer linger if you're at all interested in the history of anything nautical. Plenty of whale bones and artifacts from Queen Anne's Revenge.I had the pleasure of stopping at an exhibit that interested me, and one of the staff/?"local pirates" taught me more about Blackbeard, and the history of piracy on the NC coast in general, than I'd ever hoped to know.The folks that work here are obviously passionate about local history. There is a lot of scientific research going on, and there are interactive programs available (check their calendar.) The museum has adequate parking and good restrooms. I believe the ground floor is accessible to wheelchairs.If you go, do ask questions to the volunteers and researchers. They seem eager to share history and information.

If you are into boats, sailing, and maritime history...do not miss this one...Plan on a few hours to chill and browse all the material / displays / etc... the library is one of the best...... take your time...lots to see and do ... cool place to chill in the hot summer also....

Lots of artifacts, Very educational provide explanations of ship, boat making, and the fishing industry.

The museum is under construction right now, not sure when it will be complete. Despite the construction, the museum was still very informative and interesting. A lot of information on Blackbeard. Be sure to peek into the library, it's beautiful!

We actually stumbled upon this place in search of postcards. Yes, they did have them but that played a very minor role in our visit. The maritime history of the area is displayed beautifully through a large variety of exhibits and artifacts and the notorious Blackbeard the Pirate, who frequented this area is prominently featured. This is just a neat place an definitly worth a visit.Bob & Martha

This is a wonderful little museum that provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the seafaring history of the North Carolina coast. There are several displays that highlight such things as whaling, the life saving stations, Light houses, ship/boat building and a very interesting exhibit of items found on "The Queen Anne's Revenge" (Black Beard the pirate's ship) which was ship wreaked just off the coast near here. This is not a huge museum, but it is very interesting, especially since it's totally free to visit.

We mainly went here to see the Blackbeard exhibit but the rest of the museum was very nice also. There are some civil war artifacts and some marine life exhibits but obviously mainly boat history exhibits.

We enjoyed the museum and it is a must when visiting Beaufort, North Carolina. It is a great family trip.

Some of the exhibits were missing items and the boatyard was closed. Those were the only bad things. The Blackbeard movie was really fun and the exhibits were very interesting and informative.

Free museum with a lot to look at. For younger kids, pick up the map of things to search for. There is a movie about Black Beard. Not short (almost 2 hours) but my dad liked it. Nice restrooms and a small gift shop.