In the late 19th century, North Carolina promoted the cultivation of oysters to provide a sustainable oyster industry. Large corporate interests quickly became involved and purchased thousands of acres of “submerged lands” in the state’s sounds and rivers. These giant oyster gardens triggered rampant speculation in oyster cultivation. Simultaneously, local oystermen believed that they were being robbed of their traditional oyster grounds. The combination was a recipe for disaster. Join Maritime History Curator David Bennet in the museum auditorium to examine this part of North Carolina’s commercial oystery history. Free; no registration required.