May 23 Thursday
Come celebrate World Turtle Day! Spending only a brief time on land, sea turtles are quite different from most other turtles we know. From hatchling to adult, a lifetime at sea is no small task for these reptiles that grow so big. Learn about the different species of sea turtles that inhabit the coastal waters of North Carolina and the trials they face before they even emerge from their sandy nest. Admission is free, and registration is not required. The program is part of our Maritime Heritage Series, informal lectures held in the museum auditorium and focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Jun 27 Thursday
The oceans truly connect us all, from pole to pole and around the equator. The legend of the mermaid is a great representation of that connection, one that binds seafarers the world over. A half-human, half-fish creature has appeared in many cultures throughout time and geography. Associate Education Curator Christine Brin will share some of the iconic tales of mermaids, how they have appeared in other regions of our watery planet, and the evolution the mysterious creature has undergone through the years. The program is part of our Maritime Heritage Series, informal lectures held in the museum auditorium and focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Jun 30 Sunday
Join us for a Southern Brunch with the Beaufort Historic Site. Scarborough Fare Catering will be serving delicious food, there will be music by Blue Moon Jazz, and an extra special brunch to celebrate the release of Kristy Harvey’s brand new book “A Happier Life”!
Sep 12 Thursday
The brick lighthouses along North Carolina’s beaches are famous around the nation, probably none more so than the Cape Hatteras lighthouse at Buxton. But these towers weren’t the only structures that helped mariners navigate our waters during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Join Education Curator Benjamin Wunderly for an overview of the screw-pile lighthouses that dotted our internal waters and what life was like for the keepers who maintained them. The program is part of our Maritime Heritage Series, informal lectures held in the museum auditorium and focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. Admission is free, and registration is not required
Sep 26 Thursday
Ever wonder what those little gadgets with the temperature and humidity read-outs in museum cases are all about? How about those pink-blue strips, the ones that look like a flat thermometer? Or those little baggies of orange-green beads? Conservators and Collection’s staff spend a great deal of time monitoring and making changes to the museum environment to prevent damage to artifacts. Join museum conservator Michelle Crepeau as she discusses the ways the environment can impact artifacts and what museums do to control environmental effects, including helpful tips and tricks you can apply to your own collections! The program is part of our Maritime Heritage Series, informal lectures held in the museum auditorium and focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. Admission is free, and registration is not required
Oct 03 Thursday
Diamondback terrapins, a unique and striking marsh turtle, have a long history in Beaufort, from collection and farming in the 1900s to present-day conservation efforts. Join Associate Curator of Education Courtney Felton to discover how terrapins went from being considered a delicacy to being protected. Along the way, you will uncover what makes this species turtle-y awesome. The program is part of the Maritime Heritage Series, informal lectures held in the museum auditorium and focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Oct 17 Thursday
Join Museum Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster for an informal discussion about “Echo” (the museum’s 33.5-foot sperm whale skeleton) and his heart. When the adolescent male whale came ashore at Cape Lookout in 2004, his bones and heart were preserved for study and display. Keith will cover the step-by-step process of retrieving, preserving, and displaying the specimen that now resides in the museum gallery. The program is part of our Maritime Heritage Series, informal lectures held in the museum auditorium and focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Oct 20 Sunday
Professor Tina Pippin will explore ways she encounters "Jesus" in social justice movements and cultural expressions. The phrase "Jesus was a poor man" adorns the ministerial stole of Bishop Willliam Barber (co-founder of the national Poor People's Movement, from Eastern North Carolina). She will examine different media, especially Jesus's appearance in the Poor People's Movement, and also in art, film, and fiction, using examples across centuries and in contemporary and diverse global cultures. This presentation is free and open to the public. It will last about one hour, followed by a short question-and-answer session.
Oct 24 Thursday
During the Civil War, federal soldiers in coastal North Carolina confiscated civilian watercraft on behalf of the war effort. After the war, affected civilians could file for compensation through the Southern Claims Commission. The applications for compensation provide insights into the maritime lives of ordinary people in coastal North Carolina before, during, and after the Civil War. The program is part of our Maritime Heritage Series, informal lectures held in the museum auditorium and focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Oct 31 Thursday
Legends and stories of sea monsters are almost culturally universal, with even landlocked groups of people telling tales of fantastic sea or water creatures. During this presentation museum Associate Education Curator Christine Brin will look at some of the most popular sea monsters and some of the “sea creatures”, like whales, that may have inspired these stories. The program is part of our Maritime Heritage Series, informal lectures held in the museum auditorium and focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture. Admission is free, and registration is not required.