It's taken 20 months of rebuilding and repairs, but the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center will finally reopen prior to the Memorial Day weekend. The museum, located "at the end of the road" on Harkers Island, sustained significant roof damage during Hurricane Florence in 2018. In total, the storm caused an estimated $3.4 million in damages.
After Hurricane Florence, a new location was set up in Morehead City with a store, an art gallery, the Core Sound quilters room, art classes, children’s programming. That building will continue to serve as an outreach center.
The renovated Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center includes new exhibitions, an expanded education area, and updated community exhibits. When it reopens to the public on Friday, museum staff say they will comply with COVID-19 related guidelines. The museum was originally scheduled to reopen on April 1 but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.