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Beaufort Historic Site
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People come from far and wide to see the Beaufort Historic Site, a 2-acre area attraction made up of ten buildings, six authentically restored, in the center of town. Cared for by the Beaufort Historical Association, the site annually hosts nearly 60,000 visitors, who tour the buildings and participate in the tours, classes, workshops, special events and historical re-enactments scheduled throughout the year. This heritage tourism site, along with the bustling Beaufort waterfront, is part of what makes this little seaport so special and appealing. 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 and demonstrations. If you decide to take any of the guided tours, the Historical Center is where you purchase tickets and meet the tour guide. The Old Beaufort Museum Gift Shop is also here, 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. Ongoing preservation efforts have kept Old Beaufort, celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2009, in tune with its treasured history and heritage. Most of the historically important restored buildings you'll see at the Beaufort Historic Site were moved from other locations in town to preserve them for current and future generations. So that visitors get the most from each tour, the BHA has restored and preserved the buildings in award-winning detail. The collections and furnishings, some original to the structure, help interpret a particular period in Beaufort’s history. Guided walking tours of the buildings (we describe some of them here) are conducted by costumed and knowledgeable docents Monday through Saturday year-round for $8 per adult and $4 for children. Josiah Bell House, c. 1825, is a Victorian home with side gardens and served as the residence of the influential Bell family of Beaufort. Josiah Fisher Bell, son of the home’s namesake, was a Confederate agent during the Civil War. The home’s interior represents the opulent Victorian period. Samuel Leffers Cottage, c.1778, is a primitive house that was once home to Beaufort’s schoolmaster. The house serves as the perfect setting to showcase artifacts relating to the daily Colonial period chores of cooking, spinning, sewing, candle making and weaving. 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 elegant Federal Period home is an excellent study in the decorative arts, complete with an authentic faux-finished interior. The award-winning home is a testament to the Beaufort Historic Site’s dedication to authentic restoration. The Carteret County Courthouse of 1796 has been completely restored to its original governmental glory. It is the only eighteenth-century framed courthouse of its size in North Carolina that has been restored, or is in a condition that would even allow restoration. The authentic preservation project won several local, state and national awards. The courthouse serves as the backdrop for the Beaufort Historic Site’s courthouse dramatization, an integral tool for educating today’s youth about the early American legal system. Old County Jail, c.1829, has two cells and a jail keeper's quarters, which were in use until 1954. The Old Jail boasts 28-inch thick walls and legends of ghosts. The jailer and his family coexisted here with the prisoners, though the jailer’s quarters were much cozier than those of the inmates. 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, most of which are original to the shop. These items make the building very popular with history buffs. 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 is the oldest in Carteret County and is open year round, offering the artwork and crafts for more than 100 local and regional artists for show and sale. After touring the historic site, hop on the vintage English double-decker bus for a terrific narrated tour of Beaufort's historic district. The tour comes complete with fascinating stories about town residents and noted locations and homes that shaped Beaufort’s 300 years of 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. Groups are delightfully welcomed by reservation. Don't miss the Old Burying Ground on Ann Street. This treasured cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was listed in Our State magazine as one of the top 52 sites to see in North Carolina. It was also featured in the Nicholas Sparks book A Walk to Remember and is open daily from early morning until dusk as an amazing lesson of our past. The weathered tombstones dating back to the early 1700s chronicle the heritage of Beaufort and the surrounding coast. Stories of military heroes, star-crossed lovers, privateers and noted Beaufort residents of all ages are featured under a protective canopy of live oaks. From June through September, the 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. To take the tour on your own there is 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 BHA–owned homes and gardens, musical performances, more than 40 antique dealers from all over the East Coast, re-enactments and more. In case you decide you just can't leave Beaufort (and many have), volunteers are always welcome to become involved in the coastal history presented and preserved through the Beaufort Historic Site and the Beaufort Historical Association (see our Volunteer Opportunities chapter). The Beaufort Historical Association is a nonprofit organization formed in the 1960s by local citizens and is dedicated to the research, education and the preservation of Carteret County's incredible history. Membership at all levels is welcomed. The Beaufort Historic Site also gladly hosts private parties, weddings and receptions by reservation (see our Wedding Planning chapter). |
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North Carolina Maritime Museum
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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. 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 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 the museum’s Junior Sailing Program, the Cape Lookout Studies Program headquarters, the Beaufort Oars and Sliding Seat Rowing Programs and the Great Lawn and Tall Ships Wharf, where special events and ship visits take place. 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. 
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Crystal Coast Civic Center
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Under a canopy of oaks on the campus of Carteret Community College and overlooking Bogue Sound, the Crystal Coast Civic Center is a multiple-use facility offering 18,000-square-feet of flexible space. The Civic Center can accommodate groups from 10 to 1,000, depending on set-up arrangements. Each year the Crystal Coast Civic Center hosts a variety of events such as exhibitions, trade shows, concerts, banquets, fund-raisers, weddings, receptions and reunions. Events such as the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament banquets, Ducks Unlimited Banquet, Numismatic Coin Show/Sale and the Coastal Home & Garden Show are annual favorites. It's a perfect location for private and commercial businesses to hold retreats, workshops and professional development courses, taking advantage of a convenient location and relaxing atmosphere. Accommodations include a full-service catering kitchen, state-of-the-art public address system, wireless Internet, portable staging and a 5,600-square-foot outdoor plaza overlooking the beautiful waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. The History Place 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 Lunch with a Dash of History series with local storyteller Rodney Kemp is a crowd pleaser. 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. For a unique and memorable event location, The History Place can be reserved for weddings, receptions or other special events. Volunteers are needed to assist with a variety of responsibilities. See our Volunteer Opportunities chapter for more information.
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NewportOuter Banks Wildlife
Shelter (OWLS) 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. Scheduled tours happen on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2 PM and 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 for scheduled tours 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 outreach programs are available to school groups. Year-round programs for kids include Wild Encounters and the Junior Rehabilitation Program as well as spring, summer and winter camp dates, all of which require preregistration and fees. A gift shop and wildlife reference library are also on site. The sanctuary operates Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. |
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Swansboro |
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Burns Racing &
Performance 915 W. Corbett Ave., Swansboro (910) 389-7117 |
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Burns Racing & Performance operates from a shop in Swansboro and is home to Burns Racing Team, a successful racing team on the stock-car circuit. The team can be seen at a number of area tracks, and currently Coastal Plains Raceway in Jacksonville and East Carolina Motor Speedway in Robersonville are the team's home tracks. When the half-mile oval Carteret County Speedway opens in 2009 it will be the Burns Racing Team's home track. The Burns Racing & Performance shop is also the only place to go for anything and everything to do with stock cars and drag racing. Roger Burns and his crew can build your dream car for you or they can find just the right new or used parts for the do-it-yourselfer. This company has been in business 10 years and specializes in chaisse fabrication and set up.
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Cape Carteret |
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Mac Daddy's N.C. Hwy. 24, at Golfin' Dolphin, Cape Carteret (252) 393-6565 |
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Mac Daddy's opened in October 2008 and offers a variety of activities for people of all ages. This is a complete family entertainment center featuring a 24-lane bowling alley and the largest high-tech arcade on the Crystal Coast. Mac Daddy's is the perfect place for a special celebration such as a birthday party. Mac Daddy's Sports Bar and Grill has a full menu and a great selection of beers and wines. Guests can enjoy a billiard room and snack-bar seating. The conference center can accommodate groups of up to 80 people and offers Internet access. Mac Daddy's is open year round, seven days a week from 10 AM until midnight with extended hours on the weekends. |
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Down EastCore Sound Waterfowl Museum and
Heritage Center Nestled at "the end of the road" on Harkers Island, the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center was established in 1992 and is a true grassroots partnership. 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. 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 Community Hall opened in 2003 with spaces dedicated to demonstrations, community displays and programs and events throughout the year. This area also includes the region’s finest selection of waterfowl art and regional crafts, as well as a wide selection of local history books. Construction is now underway to complete the museum’s gallery, library, gathering room, gift shop, archive reading room and Lookout Tower overlooking Core Sound and Cape Lookout. Plans call for a summer 2009 opening with traveling exhibitions and expanded community programs and documentary projects. During the summer of 2007, the Willow Pond, the 4-acre freshwater centerpiece of the museum's environmental education program, was opened to the public. This interpretive trail and habitat viewing area has been restored in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, the Conservation Fund, N.C. Wildlife Commission, N.C. Wildlife Habitat Foundation and the Cape Lookout National Seashore. 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. 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.. |
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ToursThere are a number of ways to see all that the Crystal Coast has to offer, including guided and unguided tours. Whether by land, sea or air there's a lot to take in. Ride a bike, book a flight, catch a ferry, take a tour bus, cruise in a catamaran or sail the seas — there's just not enough time to do it all. That's why those who don't live here keep coming back year after year. Guided walking tours are offered by a few businesses and by 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 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. |
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Good Fortune 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. 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, snorkeling, a sunset sail, wild-horse watching, birding, shelling and kayaking. This is the only charter that goes to the turtle hole at Cape Lookout in the late spring or early summer. With 30 years experience, Capt. White can customize a package for you and your group. This is a trip that will make your visit to the Crystal Coast a truly memorable one. 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 The friendly staff at Island Ferry Adventures is recognized for its outstanding service. Island Ferry Adventures provides services from two locations. The Beaufort location can found across from Inlet Inn on Front Street and operates April through early October and then closes in the winter. During the season, passenger ferry service begins at 9 AM daily with departures on the top of the hour. The Harkers Island location at Cape Pointe Marina 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. Private charters are also available with flexibility when it comes to price, time and destination. Call ahead for reservations and departure times. |
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Lookout Cruises Steve Bishop captains Lookout, a 45-foot catamaran that can hold 42 passengers. The vessel operates public tours on a regular schedule from April 1 through November 30 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. Complimentary beverages are served. It is always best to call ahead to book a cruise on this popular vessel. |
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Segrave Aviation Air Tours Enjoy views of the Crystal Coast from the air in a Cessna 172. Segrave Aviation, operating out of the Michael J. Smith Airport in Beaufort, offers a bird's-eye view with a choice of two different tours. Rates generally include seating for up to 3 passengers. Tours must be scheduled in advance so call the agency for details. The Cape Lookout Tour runs 30 minutes and starts from the airport and heads over the state port, over Beaufort Inlet, down the main strip of Atlantic Beach and over Shackleford Banks to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. This tour costs $100. The Beaches and Banks Tour runs 45 minutes and runs the same course as the Cape Lookout Tour but with an extended tour down Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores and around the southern tip of the Outer Banks up to Drum Inlet. This tour costs $125. The tours operate year-round.
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