Beaufort

Rachel Carson's Visit to Beaufort

Beaufort Historic Site
100 Block of Turner St., Beaufort
(252) 728-5225, (800) 575-SITE

Before you begin to look around, go to the Robert W. and Elva Faison Safrit Historical Center at 130 Turner Street. The center welcomes and orients visitors to the historic site with free exhibits, video presentations and demonstrations. If you decide to take any of the tours that charge a fee, the Historical Center is where you pay and meet the tour guide. The Old Beaufort Museum Gift Shop is also here (see our Shopping chapter) as well as loads of information about the town of Beaufort and other not-to-be-missed attractions. The center is open Monday through Saturday 9:30 AM to 5 PM from March through November and 10 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday from December through February. After a visit to the Safrit Historical Center, we guarantee you'll want to spend a few more days in town.

Preservation efforts have kept Old Beaufort much as it was when the town was incorporated in 1723. Most of the restored buildings you'll see were moved to the historic site from other locations in town. These moves were necessitated in many cases by property owners who were ready to tear down an old structure to build a new one. So visitors can get the most out of their tour, BHA has restored and preserved the buildings as authentically as possible. The collections and furnishings help interpret a particular period in the building’s history. Guided walking tours of the buildings (we describe some of them here) are conducted four times a day Monday through Saturday year round for $8 per adult and $4 for children.

Josiah Bell House is the large yellow house with side gardens that is often photographed to represent the site. Built between 1790 and the early 1800s and purchased by Josiah Bell in 1825, its interior reflects the opulent Victorian era.

Samuel Leffers Cottage, c.1778, was once the schoolmaster's house. It is furnished in a primitive style and features a distinctive Beaufort-type roof line.

John C. Manson House, c. 1825, was the first building purchased by the Beaufort Historical Association in the 1960s. Located on its original site, this Federal Period home is an excellent study in the decorative arts, complete with an authentic faux-finished interior.

The Carteret County Courthouse of 1796 has been completely restored to its original condition. It is the only eighteenth-century framed courthouse of its size in North Carolina that has been restored or is in a condition which would allow restoration. The courthouse serves as an invaluable educational tool, according to BHA staff, helping show the transformation of the legal system in North Carolina. The authentic preservation project won several local, state and national awards.

Old County Jail, c.1829, has two cells and jail keeper's quarters, which were in use until 1954. There is a museum room in one of the cells.

The Apothecary Shop and Doctor's Office, c.1859, features a fascinating collection of medical instruments and memorabilia from the county’s early doctors and dentists.

R. Rustell House, c.1732, is home to the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery. In its time, the building was a typical Beaufort cottage and was owned by prominent early citizen Richard Rustell Jr. The gallery operates year round and represents more than 100 local and regional artists.

After touring the historic site, hop on the vintage English double-decker bus for a terrific narrated tour of Beaufort's historic district (an area much larger than the historic site). The tour comes complete with stories about town residents who colored local history. Bus tours depart the historic site from April through October on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Bus tour fees are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Reservations must be made for group tours.

Don't miss the Old Burying Ground, the cemetery on Ann Street, which dates from 1731. From June through September, BHA gives narrated tours of the cemetery on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (fees are $8 for adults and $4 for children). Group tours can also be arranged year round. Or take the tour on your own, using a map available at the Safrit Historical Center.

In addition to these activities, the Beaufort Historical Association conducts the fabulous annual Beaufort Old Homes Tour and Antiques Show during the last full weekend in June (see our Annual Events chapter). Activities include tours of private and association-owned homes and gardens, musical performances, more than 40 antique dealers from all over the East Coast, military re-enactments and more. In case you decide you just can't leave, you may volunteer for a multitude of involvements in coastal history at the Beaufort Historic Site (see our Volunteer Opportunities chapter). The Beaufort Historical Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, education and the preservation of Carteret County's significant history. Memberships are welcomed.
 

North Carolina Maritime Museum
315 Front St., Beaufort
(252) 728-7317
www.ncmaritimemuseum.org

The North Carolina Maritime Museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret all aspects of the state’s rich maritime heritage through educational exhibits, programs and field trips. Its exhibits and programming focus on North Carolina’s maritime history and coastal natural history.

The museum is located at 315 Front Street in Beaufort in an area immediately adjacent to shops, restaurants and the boardwalk along Taylors Creek. The 18,000-square-foot building is constructed of wood, and some of its design features resemble those of the early life-saving stations that were prevalent along the Carolina coast starting in the late nineteenth century. Public areas, in addition to the exhibit hall, include an auditorium, reference library and the Museum Store.

In the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, located directly across the street, visitors can watch boat restoration and construction from a platform above the boat shop floor. In the John S. MacCormack Model Shop, builders construct scale models of a variety of vessels. Classes in boat-building skills are offered for novices and experienced woodworkers alike. Topics include lofting, boat building carpentry, boat modeling for children, diesel maintenance, plane making and others. Class size is limited, and all tools and materials are provided. Classes are generally offered on the weekends.

Museum exhibits include Coastal Marine Life, North Carolina’s Working Watercraft, U.S. Lifesaving Service and Commercial Fishing. Displayed are a typical 1950s outboard motor shop and outboards, ship models, fossil and shell collections, an observation bell, coastal plant and animal life exhibits, indigenous watercraft and more. The museum’s library is available for reading and research.

A permanent exhibit in the museum lobby features Blackbeard and Queen Anne’s Revenge. Included in this display are artifacts, ballast stones and implements such as tacks with decorative heads and a whetstone, which was used to sharpen weapons and knives. There are bones (pig), shards and ceramic fragments of utilitarian containers, and parts of instruments such as dividers and a surveyor’s chain. Additionally, there are small arms hardware, pewter platters and cannon balls.

The museum’s education staff has provided environmental education programs for the public since 1975. Coastal habitats are highlighted in trips to barrier island beaches, maritime forests, salt marshes and tidal flats. In addition there are trawling trips aboard a research vessel, bird-watching, fossil hunts and kayaking trips. All museum trips and programs are guided and presented by natural science curators with many years of experience in the field.

The Cape Lookout Studies Program offers learning opportunities on the coastal waters and islands near Beaufort. Managed by the N.C. Maritime Museum, the program utilizes the museum field station on Cape Lookout National Seashore, 10 miles southeast of Beaufort. The field station was formerly a Coast Guard Station, which was built in 1917 and decommissioned in June 1983. A wide variety of programs and field study opportunities are available for individuals or small groups through scheduled museum calendar programs. Educational, environmental or other special interest groups can custom design a program for workshops, retreats or conferences.

The museum’s annual programs and field trips attract all ages, all interests, all year. The Wooden Boat Show held the first Saturday in May features wooden boats of all kinds, races, workshops and demonstrations for the enjoyment of everyone who appreciates wooden boats. The Junior Sailing Program is a basic-through-intermediate sailing program open to children ages 8 and older. Boat-related program offerings also include Adult Learn to Sail, Beaufort Oars, Sea Scouts, kayaking and Traditional Boat Handling. The Summer Science School for Children offers individual classes and hands-on field trips for students entering first through tenth grades (see our Kidstuff chapter).

Membership as a Friend of the Museum brings the newsletter, The Waterline, the museum’s quarterly Calendar of Activities, special invitations and discounts in the Museum Store. This nonprofit support organization has been vital to the museum’s growth, including the acquisition of 36 acres in the Gallants Channel area, just north of the Beaufort drawbridge. The Gallants Channel site houses a repository for artifacts recovered from the shipwreck presumed to be that of Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s flagship that was discovered near Beaufort Inlet in November of 1996. (For more about Blackbeard, see our Close-up in this chapter.)

Museum and Watercraft Center hours are Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 1 to 5 PM. No admission fee is charged.

Be sure to take time to visit the Museum Store, (252) 728-7317. It's the best place to find a special book on natural or maritime history or a navigation chart or topographical map. For more information, see our Shopping chapter.

In 1770 when it was constructed, New Bern's Tryon Palace was known as one of the most beautiful buildings in America. See our New Bern Attractions section for more about this grand palace.
Photo: NC Travel & Tourism

Crystal Coast Civic Center
3505 Arendell St., Morehead City
(252) 247-3883
 

Everything old is new again at The History Place. This 12,000-square-foot facility houses museum exhibits, the Rodney B. Kemp Gallery with special displays, the Jack Spencer Goodwin Research Library, a classroom, the Les A. Ewen Auditorium/Banquet Hall, the Museum Store and offices. The Tea Clipper, a tea shop and cafe operated by Elaine Gross, is also located in the building. Visitors may enjoy a cup of tea or a light lunch during the day. The History Place houses an extensive collection of textiles, period clothing, furniture, military memorabilia, glassware and artwork, all representing the past of Carteret County. The library has more than 8,000 books and publications and an extensive photo file documenting the history of Carteret County. The genealogy materials and the Civil War history collections are especially notable. Special exhibits are displayed throughout the year, and year-round programs, seminars and musical events keep Carteret County history fresh and alive. The History Place is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM. The museum is open free of charge to the public, but donations are always welcome. Special guided tours for schools are free. Volunteers are needed to assist with a variety of responsibilities. See our Volunteer Opportunities chapter for more information.

Newport

Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter (OWLS)
100 Wildlife Way, Newport
(252) 240-1200

This indispensable wildlife hospital is located on N.C. Highway 24, 5 miles west of U.S. Highway 70. It's the red brick house with a pond and bridge in the front yard. Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter (OWLS) has become a much-depended-on agency along the Crystal Coast for assistance with wounded wildlife. This nonprofit group cares for more than 1,000 injured or sick birds, mammals and reptiles annually through the efforts of volunteers and licensed rehabilitators. Individuals finding injured or sick wildlife are asked to call and then deliver the animal to OWLS.

Tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays include a look at the hospital, orphan nurseries and the permanent resident hawks, owls, opossum, vultures and falcons. Groups are asked to call ahead to schedule a tour. The fee is $2.50 per person with children younger than 2 admitted free. The facility also offers a nature trail open during daylight hours. Check in at the clinic to register for a self-guided tour of the trail. Wildlife programs featuring a live bird or mammal are available to school groups. There are also a gift shop, a wildlife reference library and free teacher materials. The sanctuary operates Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and hours vary in the off season.

Swansboro

Cape Carteret

Down East

Nestled at "the end of the road" on Harkers Island, the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center was established in 1992 and is funded entirely by its own 3,000-plus members. Each December the museum hosts the Core Sound Waterfowl Weekend (see our Annual Events chapter). The weekend celebrates the entire community with preview events ranging from wild-game feasts to boat-building demonstrations, community church services and children's activities along with the mid-Atlantic region's finest carvers, artists and writers. This event has grown to encompass the entire island, beginning with the decoy show at the elementary school and including food sales and bazaars at churches, fund-raising for Scouts and community groups, and an Island Holiday Decorating Contest on Friday night.

For more than a decade the Waterfowl Museum has been a clearinghouse for heritage, traditions and history of the Down East communities of Carteret County — a hub for heritage tourism. Local exhibits and programs focusing on local heritage are offered year round, and the museum houses the area's finest collection of carvings and waterfowl art. The museum archives oral histories and artifacts from the Down East communities. Museum staff offers programs for school groups, bus tours, church trips and others. Call to schedule a tour and plan for a real "Down East" experience with local carvers, boat builders, storytellers and musicians.

Construction on the museum's 22,000-square-foot facility began in 1999 and the nearly completed building opened to the public in 2003. Work must still be done on the interior of the west side of the building; however, the majority of the building is in full use. Willow Pond, the 4-acre freshwater centerpiece of the museum's environmental education program, is being restored with financial efforts of Ducks Unlimited, the Conservation Fund, N.C. Wildlife Commission and the N.C. Wildlife Habitat Foundation with assistance from the National Park Service and volunteer labor from across the region.

There is no admission charge to enjoy the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 2 to 5 PM. The museum is closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and for three days at Christmas. Membership categories start at $30 for individuals, and benefits vary based on the amount of contribution.
 

There are a number of ways to see all that the Crystal Coast has to offer — by foot, by boat or by bus, with a guide or without. Guided walking tours are offered by a few businesses and the Beaufort Historic Site. The site also offers double-decker bus tours of Historic Beaufort. While the majority of guided tours are by water, we start off the list with a business that offers all types of tours.

TourBeaufort.Com
Beaufort
(252) 342-0715

TourBeaufort.Com offers a variety of tours for visitors and residents. The Beaufort Ghost Walk takes guests on a evening stroll through town, with stops at historic sites and the Old Burying Ground. They can also arrange ecology and sunset sailing, kayak tours and boat tours. Some tours take guests to nearby Carrot Island and others take guests to Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Reservations are needed for the tours, which vary in price and in point of origination.
 

Diamond City
Beaufort Waterfront, Beaufort
(252) 728-7827, (866) 230-BOAT
www.mysteryboattours.com

Good Fortune
Beaufort Town Docks, Front St., Beaufort
(252) 247-3860, (252) 241-6866 cell

If you are fascinated by coastal ecology or want to know more about the subject, arrange to sail with Capt. Ron White, a marine biologist and owner of the 42-foot sailboat Good Fortune. This is the largest sailboat for charter in the area, and it is a custom-built craft that accommodates six people. The Good Fortune is available for full-day and two-hour sojourns, educational trips, group and corporate charters, and evening sails. Capt. Ron can also take you on an ecology tour, a turtle and dolphin watch, or a sunset sail. You can also enjoy birding, shelling and kayaking. You'll find Capt. Ron at the docks from April through October. If you want a cruise during the other months of the year, just give him a call.

Island Ferry Adventures provides services from two locations. The Beaufort location closes in the winter, while the Harkers Island location stays open year round. This service operates passenger ferries to Shackleford Banks, Carrot Island, Sand Dollar Island, Bird Shoals and other area islands. Tours and dolphin or horse watches are available during the summer. Call ahead for reservations or departure times.
 

Lookout Cruises
Beaufort Waterfront
(252) 504-SAIL

Steve Bishop captains the Lookout, a 45-foot catamaran that can hold 42 passengers. The vessel operates on a regular schedule from May 1 through October 31 and is available year round for special charters such as parties, birthdays and anniversaries. The regularly scheduled early morning, two-hour dolphin watch is very popular with children and families; the trip is a smooth ride up the Newport River and costs $20 for adults and $15 for kids. If you want to swim, snorkel and look for shells, try the six-hour trip to Cape Lookout. This trip leaves the dock at noon and offers catered lunch, snacks, fresh fruit, shell bags and complimentary beverages. The fee is $60 for adults and $50 for children. A romantic, relaxing, 90-minute sunset cruise is also available for $25 per person, and if you want to take your children on this nighttime trip, they will be charged $15 each. Complimentary beverages are served. It is always best to call ahead to book a cruise on this popular vessel.
 

Mystery Boat Tours
The Mystery Tour Boat
Front St., Beaufort
(252) 728-7827
www.mysteryboattours.com