North Carolina Maritime Museum facts for kids
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| Location | Beaufort, North Carolina United States |
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The North Carolina Maritime Museum is a cool place to learn all about the ocean, boats, and history of North Carolina's coast. It's actually a group of museums! These museums are part of the larger North Carolina Museum of History. You can find branches of the Maritime Museum in three different towns: Beaufort, Southport, and Hatteras.
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North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort
The museum in Beaufort teaches visitors about North Carolina's rich ocean history. It also explores the coastal environment and local nature.
What You Can See at Beaufort
The exhibits here show many interesting things. You can see different types of shells found in the state. There are also cool models of fish and displays about famous shipwrecks. You'll learn about old ship equipment and the kinds of watercraft people used long ago.
The museum also covers topics like whaling (hunting whales) and how people harvest oysters. You can explore the history of both commercial and fun fishing. Another part of the museum tells the story of important groups like the United States Coast Guard. These groups helped keep people safe on the water.
The Boat Shed and Watercraft Center
Next to the main museum building is a separate area called the Boat Shed. This shed holds a collection of traditional working boats. These are the kinds of boats people used for their jobs on the water.
Across from the museum, you'll find the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center. This is a special place where old boats are fixed and cared for. The museum even offers classes here where you can learn how to build boats! The center also has the John S. MacCormack Model Shop, where you can see amazing boat models.
North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport
The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport focuses on the ocean history of the Lower Cape Fear area. This is a part of southeastern North Carolina.
What's Inside the Southport Museum?
At the Southport museum, you can see many fascinating exhibits. There are detailed ship models and old tools sailors used to navigate. You can learn about exciting shipwrecks and famous pirates who once sailed these waters.
The museum also covers the history of the American Civil War in the area. You can learn about Fort Johnston (North Carolina), an important historical site. Other exhibits teach about commercial and sport fishing. You can also discover how hurricanes have impacted the coast.
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras
North Carolina's coast is sometimes called the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because so many ships have sunk there. The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras tells the stories of over 2,000 shipwrecks. These wrecks lie off the Outer Banks, a chain of islands.
Exploring Famous Shipwrecks
The museum highlights some of the biggest and most famous wrecks in the region. These include the USS Monitor, a famous Civil War ship, and the U-85, a German submarine. You can also learn about the USS Huron.
The museum also celebrates the brave people who worked to save lives at sea. It shows how local residents helped during different wars. These include the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II.
