North Carolina Maritime Museum Reviews

This museum is free to the public. It covers much of the maritime history of Beaufort with an extensive exhibit on the life and times of famous pirate Blackbeard. Great spot to get an overview of Beaufort past and present.

This is a great museum with things from Blackbeard's ship and other interesting things! A great way to spend an hour or 2. Best of all it is free but donations are accepted!

interesting exhibits, -especially to boaters
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This free museum had multiple interesting exhibits with many artifacts recovered from shipwrecks. There was an underwater video of divers recovering objects which showed how difficult the recovery job is. The museum shows a fascinating period of American history We spent about two hours at the museum and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Great place with very interesting information. Lots of reading but worth it. Go at your own pace, self-guided tour.

A wholesome activity for every one. Many things to see very interactive and a superb facility. Good on sunny and rainy days.

Yes. Yes you SHOULD do this.

It’s a really nice museum with a fascinating display on Queen Anne’s Revenge.

Polite staff. Nice gift shop. A great way to learn about the area!

Thus is a very good place for the whole family it has everything to inform the public on protecting the ocean wildlife and the history of things that have happened off the coast of North Carolina.

Many worthwhile exhibits, including an excellent history and lots of actual relics from Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge.

Great museum in downtown Beaufort. Features many artifacts from the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the flag ship of Black Beard the pirate. There are many other nautical exhibits as well.

Always a great place to visit. We go there whenever we go to Beaufort. Interesting displays and lots of information about the North Carolina coast. Worth your time to go see.

Nice place, well though out. Did not know Blackbeard's ship wreck was local. Nice displays of Maritime items, well made replicated small ships and tiny items found from the wreckage. Free and worth the walk through. Enjoy

We were spending a week in Surf City and decided to go up to Beaufort for the day. Our last stop was the museum and we received a very friendly welcome and detailed explanation of the exhibits. We spent about an hour there and enjoyed all of the displays and information on Blackbeard and the local fishing industry. A very nice theater with an informative film playing. Very nicely done and very interesting. To top it off, very clean bathrooms. Don’t forget to walk across the street and see the boat building shop. A “must see” in Beaufort.

This is a small place but filled with maritime details. The kids loved the scavenger hunt and the staff were very helpful. It is Free but they ask for a donation.

On a recent diving trip to the area, we had some down time and decided to explore Beaufort. The museum has a lot of artifacts on display from the wreck. All are nicely displayed with detailed information. Anyone interested in pirate history will enjoy a visit.

Located in downtown Beaufort, this free museum has lots of good stuff to explore. Describes the history of the area, it’s geology, it’s shipbuilding, and it’s pirate legacy. Well staffed and interesting, kids will love it as will adults.

As an adult I enjoyed this museum more than my tween aged grandsons (11 & 13). I learned a lot about the history of the area including the boat-making, the coast and the legends. The artifacts they are finding from Blackbeard's ship are worth a look see, it is amazing what they find at the bottom of the ocean. My grandsons however LOVED the Boat Works across the street, not sure of the name of it. They spend 1/2-45 minutes talking with the boat maker, they learned how they bend wood and fasten the boards. Fascinating stuff.

Delightful museum with Blackbeard treasures on display. Something for all ages. And free! Don’t miss the chance to visit

We've been going to Beaufort for years, but this was our first visit to the museum. Extremely interesting and worthwhile! Be sure to go across the street and chat with the volunteers who restore wooden boats while you're there...

We loved this museum...both the ship building part and the main part. The kids were amazed and had fun. Very educational. Highly recommend.

If you are into Blackbeard and anything maritime, this is a must see. The museum is free of charge and the exhibits are amazing. I have been here several times over the years (I am a local), and I am never bored. There is a scavenger hunt activity that the younger visitors can complete while visiting to keep them interested. My favorite display is the Queen Anne’s Revenge artifact display which shows many of the items retrieved from the shipwreck discovered in Beaufort Inlet.

My history with he museum really goes
back to one of my best friends whose mom worked there as long as I can remember The Maritime Museum hosts other events and outings than just the museum so if you want to
do other things in the area, just ask the front desk. The biggest draw for me today besides shelter front the rainstorm during the Pirate Invasion was the findings and exhibits for the Queen Anne's Revenge. (a/k/a Blackbeard's ship). The exhibit has some really neat things now and I'm sure will keep expanding over time
Folks from ECU who have been doing some of the work with the QAR were there and even finding tiny, tiny pieces of gold and working on getting years of rust and growth off other pieces. I also like the outboard motor history and even not owning a boat got a lot out of it
If you have an hour to spare, stop on by. You can only learn something new or experience something new

Great little museum. History of the area and the lifesaving service. Excellent Blackbeard exhibit with multiple artifacts. And the best part it is free.

We most likely would not have been drawn to a maritime museum, but our grandchildren's great-grandparents were very much a part of establishing this wonderful museum years ago. The museum is well put together, with activities for both adults and children. Technology has been appropriately woven throughout the exhibits whenever possible. Many of these focused on the research that is ongoing in the recovery of sunken vessels and of great delight to our grandchildren, we learned a lot about Blackbeard the Pirate. This should be a do not miss item on your itinerary when in the Beaufort area. You will not be disappointed.

A very well presented story of the "Wild Pirate's" wild ways and his Queen Anne's adventures. Great for young and old alike. Volunteers are available to add explanations and details, a very worthwhile outing.

A must stop if you are into Maritime History and Lore - An awsome collection of books, loggs, manuscripts...along with rare art pieces. Great location, easy parkinh

Very enjoyable visit to this museum. Was packed with many historical artifacts, many from Blackbeard's shipwreck. Is free but they have a donation box. Have an boat building shop across the street as well.

This is a small museum but packed with great stuff. I wish we had spent more time there. We only spent about 45 min to an hour, and I probably could have spent another hour or so to read all the facts. It is a nice spot for rainy days or just getting off the beach for awhile. We breezed through but I did talk with a scientist about finding the treasures in the shipwreck for a few minutes, and learned a quick lesson on the process of preserving what they find. It is free, and that is a wonderful thing!

Free museum (donations suggested) with local sea faring history. A nice exhibit with history of Blackbeard and artifacts from the Queen Anne's Revenge.

Go in the room with movie first to see how they found Blackbeard’s ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. It was amazing to see all of the artifacts found from the shipwreck. The museum looked fun for kids too. There was a scavenger hunt paper for them. So nice this museum was free. Donation box was nice place to put some cash to keep them going.

This museum about Beaufort was really interesting. I really enjoyed watching the movie about the history of Beaufort, especially the interviews of the older people who grew up in Beaufort during the 1930s to 1960s. The museum was packed with information and displays. The books, toys and gifts in the museum store were also really interesting. I hope everyone who goes to this museum gives a free will donation because it really is a gem.

It was very interesting,it was free there was a gift shop in side this place. I'm not much on this kind of stuff,but was very informative

A beautiful museum with so many neat exhibits. The pirate exhibit was one of our favorites. We really enjoyed the interactive exhibits as well, they are so engaging and educational.

I have visited here many times. This museum is a great place to take family and children. There are many activities for children and older kids to do.

The Outer Banks and North Carolina's important nautical heritage and history are very well documented and presented here.

Numerous artifacts and displays of ancient shipyard relics and perfectly scaled reproductions of historical events are displayed throughout the well-lighted and inviting facility.

Well worth the time to visit.

This fabulous maritime history of North Carolina is very interesting for young and old. A large section devoted to the history of boats and other water equipment. Also many features relating to early pirate-try. Well worth a hour of time for you and your family!

Loved the information about Blackbeard and the Queen Anne's Revenge! It didn't take a lot of time to see, but it was definitely worth it.

Excellent volunteer staff and plenty of exhibits and history. A lot of information about Black Beard. Well worth stopping by for a hour or two. Across the street and part of the museum you can watch volunteers working on or restoring boats.. both are free!

This is a smaller museum, but really a treasure in Beaufort. It's free of charge, but donations are appreciated. The museum has a wonderful Blackbeard exhibit with amazing artifacts and lots of great information about pirates from long ago in the area. They even have a lab area where you can ask questions about their conservation. There's quite a bit to see and experience and great for a bit older kids. It's located in the downtown area and parking is free. Well worth the trip if you're in Beaufort!

Wonderful Museum with videos and a library of many books about boat making, pirates, coast, etc. No charge. Can make donations. Spend a good hour or so.

We had the best time exploring the entire museum. Great blackbeard exhibit. Everyone of all ages will enjoy this.

Nice little museum. The big draw for me is the Blackbeard / Queen Anne’s Revenge display. They have a scavenger hunt to keep the kids occupied if they aren’t as interested in the exhibits. Interesting video about B.B. also.

This is not a large museum and requires a self tour - but it is an awesome display for the area. The staff is very knowledgeable and quick to answer any questions. They have some surprising displays of great interest.

Excellent little museum! Free admission, affordable gift shop; lots of info on Blackbeard, the Civil Air Patrol's effort in wartime and maritime history. One of three uniquely different but same themes museums along the coast. Will be back with my kids.

When we were there it was the off-season and there were no organized tours. The staff went out of their way to make sure we watched the background video and explained the exhibits well. The knowlegable young woman in the Black Beard artifact area was willing to discuss the ongoing project ahd the processes for recovery. Facinating and informative!

On a day with lightning and thunder (when we did not want to be on the beach), we spent a wonderful hour roaming through the museum. It was not nearly enough time. The section on Blackbeard and the Queen Anne's Revenge consumed most of that hour, but there was much more to see. Highly recommended -- especially when you don't want to be at the beach.

Good pirate and maritime museum. Big enough they had a lot to look at but not big you got bored. Lots of info on Black Beard.

This free museum displays a fabulous collection of artifacts from the Queen Anne's Revenge, Blackbeard's ship that was sunk off the coast nearby. Other exhibits tell about the fishing/boating industry of the North Carolina Outer Banks. Highly recommend spending a couple of hours here.

The Maritime Museum is a must see visit when in Beaufort, NC. The rich maritime history an culture of Eastern North Carolina is priceless. The curators take the time to talk with you and are passionate about their work. The Queen Anne's Revenge exhibit is really interesting. Must also see the boathouse attached to the museum.

If you like nautical history, make certain you see this. Enjoyable for whole family. This is a free exhibit however you can make donations. Prepare to spend at least 2 hours or more.

I try to visit at least once a year to see what else has been added to the exhibits. Admission is free & museum is located downtown. Truly enjoyed the fabulous QAR exhibits & other coastal items of NC history. A must see; entire museum can be viewed in a few hours. QAR documentary is 50 minutes long but worth watching if you have the time. Most of the QAR exhibits are along the outside walls; cannons are in the front center of museum.

We live in Emerald Isle and we always love taking our guests down to the museum. IT s a great place to learn more about the great treasure of the Crystal Coast and to learn about Blackbeard!

Always enjoy seeing the updates on Queen Anne’s Revenge and other exhibits. The gift shop always has something new as well

This was a good recommendation from a few locals and I was glad I went. First, there is no charge to enter and walk throughout the museum (yay!). It is very informative and easy to navigate around.

The museum educates us on maritime life, how we are harming the ocean and life below as well as how to protect it. The majority of the museum, however, revolves around piracy especially Blackbeard. I didn't realize how much I did not know about him and left with a whole lot of new trivia.

To make it interesting for children they have a scavenger hunt for them to find things throughout the museum. It looked like a lot of fun as I watched a bunch of children participate.

I took my children 10 and 16 to learn about maritime history. They loved looking at the variety of displays. The info is easy to read and digest at any age. The displays are not hokey and there is good variety of things to keep one interested. Multi-media and your typical display boxes.

The NC Maritime Museum is full of interesting tidbits and artifacts - some historic, some recreations. Did you know that no one truly knows who Blackbeard was? That is what I learned while perusing the collections at the museum. Genealogists have tried to pin him down, but no luck yet. (Don't tell that to the shops selling souvenirs proclaiming he was Edward Teach.)

The museum guides are friendly. Children can receive a prize for participating in a scavenger hunt. Careful patrons are welcome in their library stocked with maritime reading. I didn't have time to watch a presentation, but I picked out some fun items from the museum shop.

I visited with one of my adult children, my son-in-law, my 2-year-old granddaughter, and my husband.

There is no charge to explore this beautiful, informative museum. Our grandchildren could identify the shells they found on the beach and enjoyed the interactive exhibits about boat/ship building, the coastal environment/sea life, and the Blackbeard/Queen Anne's revenge display.

Excellent display of artifacts from the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Definitely worth a stop!
Greeter at front desk very friendly and knowledgeable. Older ladies in gift shop not so friendly.

Very enjoyable. The video and the Blackbeard exhibits were especially interesting. Lots of children seemed to be enjoying the scavenger hunt.

Museum can be visited at no cost. Features a lot of history and super nice people working. We came before the new blackbeard exhibit had opened. But we really loved all the blackbeard artifacts that were on display. Especially the remains of the QAR. Also liked the Otway Burns exhibit and seeing a replica of his Snap Dragon ship as our town was named after him.

Nicely done for a small town museum. It had some interesting information and really nice displays. There were volunteers that were helpful and knowledgeable.

This is a small museum but it is very well done. I would especially encourage a trip there if you are interested in Blackbeard—the museum has an incredible number of artifacts that have been linked to him. Great way to spend 2-3 hours on a rainy day.

What a pleasant surprise this little museum is! Well laid out and so informative but accessible. Highly recommend.

We come here every year or two, manly to see progress made on Queen Annes revenge display.
The Black beard video/documentary movie as a 45 min one, good just be prepared.
It is a free attraction and well worth a few dollars fonation

A first rate small maritime museum with a heavy emphasis on Blackbeard’s exploits and archialogical relics. Captures your imagination and attention. We stayed for 3 hours.

As a local who returns home every six months, visiting the North Carolina Maritime Museum was a delightful experience that allowed me to share the rich history of our coastal region with my family, especially my father, who could deeply appreciate the stories of the fishermen. This well-maintained museum offers a captivating journey into the maritime world, providing a variety of exhibits that make it a must-visit attraction in the area.

One of the highlights of the North Carolina Maritime Museum is its impeccable preservation of history. The museum showcases the fascinating stories and traditions of our coastal communities, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the heritage and lifestyle of the fishermen who have shaped our region. It was heartwarming to witness my father's connection to the exhibits, as he shared his own memories and experiences that resonated with the stories presented.

Despite the parking challenges, the museum managed to accommodate our needs, as we had a handicapped person with us. The availability of accessible facilities allowed my grandmother to navigate the museum comfortably. It was reassuring to see that the museum strives to create an inclusive environment that caters to visitors with different mobility needs.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum offers a great variety of exhibits that cover a wide range of maritime history. From the evolution of fishing techniques to the tales of legendary shipwrecks, there's something to captivate every visitor. The museum's comprehensive approach to preserving and sharing our maritime heritage ensures that both locals and tourists can appreciate the rich cultural tapestry of our coastal communities.

One outstanding aspect of the North Carolina Maritime Museum is that it offers free admission. This allows visitors from all walks of life to access the exhibits and engage with our maritime history without financial barriers. The commitment to providing this educational and enriching experience to the public is commendable.

In conclusion, the North Carolina Maritime Museum is a true gem that offers a fascinating journey into our coastal heritage. The well-maintained exhibits, the ability to accommodate visitors with different accessibility needs, and the variety of captivating maritime history make it a must-do attraction in the area. The fact that it offers free admission further enhances its accessibility and highlights its commitment to sharing our cultural legacy. When in the area, make sure to prioritize a visit to the North Carolina Maritime Museum for an educational and enjoyable experience that will deepen your appreciation for our maritime history.

Walking around Beaufort on a beautiful fall day and noticed the museum. There is video about Edward Teach aka Blackbeard, just enough information to make you want to learn more. Then the video changes gears and I’m learning about the recovery project of the Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s ship that ran aground nearby. Within the museum are some of the artifacts recovered, small beads to cannons. NC is rich with maritime history. Enjoyed our visit, but the lighting for the displays isn’t good. The only reason I gave it 4 stars.

This is a great museum right across from the water. Loved seeing the whale skeleton. Very informative. Great exhibits. The museum is free. Great place to visit.

This was nice to see and upon entering. The people who work there were actually building a small sign boat out of real wood. Very interesting to see how its done.

This is a 'must visit' when you are in Beaufort. And do catch the watercraft element across the street. Great for the whole family.

This museum is wonderfully curated and exceptionally interesting. The Pirates and especially the Black Beard / Queen Ann's Revenge exhibits are a must see. The entire museum is interesting.

This wasn’t on our agenda, but I was visiting my brother and his friend and they took us here before we went to the Seafood Festival in Morehead City. What a fantastic and interesting place packed in a small building!!! So glad we went here. Stop by if you get a chance.

Well-worth the trip! There are quite a few displays and many items of interest concerning the shipping industry of the early 1700's through the early 1900's! Quite a lot to see and learn about - all of it happening right off the coast of NC!

It's been 25 years since we visited Beaufort and the museum. I remember it as being quite good, and I was not disappointed on this visit. Fascinating exhibits which are very nicely curated. The boat building house across the street is not to be missed. And it's free!

Lots to see and learn about. We especially enjoyed the "secrets of the dead" film on Blackbeard and his ship as well as the "boat shed" across the street.

We made a special point of stopping here as we wanted to see the Blackbeard exhibit. Such a great find! Lots to see and so informative. They have a scavenger hunt for the young ones and every child we saw was so excited to look for the items on the list. The museum is free to visit but they have a box for donations. Absolutely worth a visit!

Beautiful museum with outstanding exhibits and history of the NC coastline. Make sure you drop some money in their donation bin, as there is no admission price. The museum is 2nd to none with history and exhibits about the coast, pirates, seashells, and a working research lab in the back of the museum. The gift shop is great, many small items that are affordable but will be great mementos of your visit. Very kid friendly with lots of hands-on experiences for them to enjoy, oh, and always clean bathrooms.

A focused museum, which adds to significance. Helps those not familiar with our North Carolina coastal history to get a better understanding of its importance to the state.

Weekend exploring found this small town gem . The admission is free a great informational film narrative by Merrill Streep lots of displays there are activities for children and lots of information from volunteers .

Very well laid out museum and exhibits. Some very interesting material for all ages. It is for free and the staff is truly friendly with guiding to the exhibits and points of interest. A must see.

Small but complete museum with a focus on the USCG, Blackbeard, fishing and boat building. Make sure you also view the film that is on a continuous loop.

Very well done! Our party was very impressed with the building of and presentation of information. Would love to spend some time digging in that library.

Saw Blackbeard's ship and lots of local info on things I never knew about Beaufort! Lots to see so take your time and wear comfortable shoes. INfo on how canoes were built long ago>

Interesting exhibits. Very interactive for children. Enjoyed my visit. Will be excited to see what the addition will bring.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum was very interesting and informative. From showing the evolvement of boats and the designs to the environmental concerns, this place was very interesting. One of our favorite parts of the museum was that of Black Beard and the pirates, and I love the library they had as well. Great experience for my family and I.

Off season is so relaxing to visit the Crystal Coast of NC. Beaufort ferrys are cut back so it is a great time to hit the museums. The Maritime Museum is free to visit. They have a nice exhibit of the local Civil AIR Patrol used during the war and the main section of the museum has nice exhibits on different methods of building boats from Indians to the first steam powered schooner. They have an excellent Blackbeard history exhibit and some history on Queen Anne's Revenge.

Spouse had never been. We were in town so it was a good time to go. Lots of good information about Maritime history. Kids would like also.

My son was really looking forward to this trip. Unfortunately, we drove down from New Bern to take a look on our spring break and it was closed. Updating the website for holiday hours should be a given.

Loved the models of north Carolina shallow draft sailing boats, the exhibit on the Coastal Aviation Patrol and the Coast Guard rescue

Large enough to move around and learn a lot, small enough so its not overwhelming and boring. Great place to go for an afternoon. Kids had fun doing the scavenger hunt. Staff was amazing, friendly, and informative. Gift shop was reasonably priced.

Nicely done, informative. Especially enjoyed the information on Blackbeard and whaling. Recommend to all. Special activities for kids. Small but nice gift shop.

Interesting thing to do if you are in Beaufort. Good history and reading. Lots of old-time pieces. Not a huge place.

Excellent museum with some great artifacts from Queen Annes Revenge! lots of history, a great library of reference books, and its quiet! located right on Front Street and very convenient! The wooden boat shop across the street is great to visit as well!

I was attending our CDC/SPC Regional meeting and we took at tour of the museum. It was great to hear about the past and see how it relates to current events now.

Pretty small but interesting array of sea related information. My boys are 8 and 11 so mostly interested in the whale skeleton and some of the information on Blackbeard. The scavenger hunt list kept them occupied (although they were a bit disappointed they only got a sticker for completing.) worth a stop if you need to fill an hour or two.

Small but packed full. Much info on Black Beard. My wife and I could have spent a full three hours reading all the info, but the younger couple we were with finished in about 90 minutes. Nice clean Restrooms as well.

This attraction is designed for those who love nautical history. I was especially interested in the research and artifacts of the Queen Anne's Revenge (Blackbeard's ship). Also, offered a one hour show about the ship. Highly recommend.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum always has interesting and informative displays. Their Queen Anne’s Revenge exhibit is an ongoing presentation of the archeological excavation of the sunken ship. The museum offers a cool respite and a trip back in time.

Very Kid Friendly and Fun plus educational for all , Very clean, touch feel aquarium pool /pond. Rate this as a must go to visit for everyone.In door and outdoor

My husband and I with our two children stopped in the museum. They had a movie That detailed the excavation of Blackbeard's ship. There was also a great little gift shop there too.

Lots of nice information and displays. It was a nice break from the beach for a couple hours. It is free to walk through and it is air conditioned.

Spent a couple of hours here on a sunny hot afternoon. Admission was free and we enjoyed all the exhibits about fishing in the Carolinas, the right whale skeleton and of course the finding of Blackbeard's ship and all its contents. Definitely a good and fun way for children to learn about pirates and other nautical stuff.

What an amazing, ‘hole in the wall’, little find. This museum is small, but full of great information. They are currently expanding it & I can’t wait to go back when it’s finished to see what they added. It had a small little section on NC surfing history - which was interesting to my surfer girl, and a lot of really cool information on Queen Anne’s Revenge. Highly recommend if you have an hour to spare to go check them out.

This is our second visit to the Maritime Museum. The exhibits are very well done and one can spend as much or as little time studying the contents. The production on Blackbeard was interesting and a very nice complement to the museum. Visit the boathouse across the street.

One of those unique places where you can explore the unique history of North Carolina's Crystal Coast from fishing to piracy. Artifacts from Blackbeard's ship, Queen Ann's Revenge. Informative displays coastal life related to the sea and the people who have made it their livelihood. Flora and Fauna that abound here, or in some cases are threatened with extinction. They even have a wonderful library full of tomes, and a quiet,peaceful environment to just relax and read!

this is a must do if you're in beaufort. it is educational about north carolina's maritime history and contains artifacts from blackbeard's flagship, queen anne's revenge. did i mention it's free?

An easy walk for almost anyone, the trail wanders through areas typical of coastal NC, with wonderful and, for a northerner, unusual pines and cypress trees. Highlights for us were the water birds toward the end of the trail in interior marshy areas. We went in late summer and there were mosquitos, but not bad. A great way to soak in the calm, soothing atmosphere of the coast.

Note that it's free and separate from the nature walk that the maritime museum offers.

Great presentation of Beaufort's nautical history and ties to pirates. The artifacts from Blackbeard's ship The Queen Ann's Revenge are amazing and the archeological examination continues to this day. The price of admission is free, so please leave a donation so they can continue the work. We were very impressed with this museum.

We stopped by this on a whim... saw the Museum Signs in town. We’d just left Ft. Macon and decided to go.
Great Decision!
Museum closes at 5pm, so we only had about 45mins... definetly didn’t get to see everything, but just the Blackbeard display was worth the trip. Historical information for the adults/pirate enthusiasts... documenting the actual wreck site and recovery operation... and of course, lots of fun, interactive pirate stuff for the kiddos!
We definetly go back... have to check out the videos and rest of the Museum.

Great museum to visit while in Beaufort. Loved seeing all the items from the area on display. Shows a true love of the all things nautical as well as of the history of the town. Nice break from the hot summer heat also.

My husband and I spent a couple hours here. Much of the exhibits were about the Queen Anne’s Revenge. The process of salvaging the wreck was very interesting.

very interesting and like the movie ...lots of information to process. We liked the detail in description about the canons and how they are loaded.

This museum packs a lot into a small space. Our kids were kept entertained by the variety of the exhibits. Lots of cool models, displays, and historical facts about the coast of NC. Definitely worth the visit. There's a scavenger hunt for the kids through the museum, and coloring station to give kids a break.

A wonderful PBS film about Blackbeard and finding Queen Anne's Revenge. See that first, as many of the artifacts and displays will have been seen in the video and then be of more interest to the visitor. We live about an hour away and will certainly bring friends and relatives here if they choose to spend some time in Beaufort.

Very informative and interesting. A lot of information was learned. Exhibits well presented. Good for some hands on with kids. Also interesting for adults.

The lady in the science center was fantastically knowledgeable down to the microscopic level, with detailed explanations of metallurgy and ceramics. The clueless kid behind a sign indicating expertise in pirates had less than zero knowledge of the topic, and fully exposed his ignorance.

The maritime museum is right on the waterfront. It is free, small, but packed with interesting facts. There is a whole exhibit dedicated to Blackbeard and the artifacts recovered from the Queen Anne's Revenge. Great way to spend an hour or two inside, and great for kids.

Really enjoyed the section covering the discovery and artifacts from the QUEEN ANNE'S REVENGE <<< flagship of Blackbeard the year before his demise.

Really good place to learn more about the early history of the NC coast and it's lifestyle. Lots of history on the US COAST GUARD.

Free museum with lots to see, particularly Blackbeard artifacts and history. Lots more to see but I came specifically to see Blackbeard who incidentally has a house in Beaufort that he stayed at when he made port

Good to see once, well maintained exhibits and was easy to navigate. Would mean more to me if I were into pirates and sea going ships

This quaint and charming museum is a great way to get out of the heat and spend some time learning about what life was like around the 300+ year old town of Beaufort and surrounding areas. There is plenty to see and they have a nice little gift shop to pick up some nice souvenirs. What is really fantastic are the displays and history surrounding Blackbeard the pirate, including photos and artifacts from the sunken wreck, the Queen Anne's Revenge, that Blackbeard stole from the British Army. The museum also has displays of other maritime wrecks, a history of the local Coast Guard, as well as a large building that is across the street from the museum where they still hand-build wooden boats. The museum is free, but they do accept donations to help with the upkeep of the museum. This place has always been a favorite for me and my boys to visit whenever we are in Beaufort.

Been before and it’s definitely worth visiting especially with all the Blackbeard artifacts.

Check the website before going as it is closed indefinitely for remodeling. We found out the hard way.

This is a very nice museum. Very nice exhibits and artifacts, friendly staff, etc. The section on Blackbeard Pirate is nice and informative. Air condition building with nice restrooms. A must stop by attraction....and best of all its free

Great little museum for anyone interested in pirates or maritime history. Definitely coming back when we have more time

Very interesting and informative. Loved looking at all the items from Blackbeard's Queen Ann's revenge

I have to admit I was not excited about going, but the family was going so I went. I was wrong! This Museum will entertain you for hours if you are remotely interested in maritime life, operations or history. It is free to visit and I recommend stopping by even if you only have a few minutes.

This museum is free and open from 9-5. They have an amazing amount of exhibits. A great one being about Blackbeard. It's easy to spend an hour or two here.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, NC is a hidden treasure. I have been to Atlantic Beach many, many times, but have never considered going to the Maritime Museum. What a mistake. We decided to walk around the waterfront in Beaufort one rainy, nasty day. It was not a beach type of day and we were just looking for something to do. We came upon the Maritime Museum by accident and decided to see what was inside. What a pleasant surprise. First of all, it's free. However, they do accept donations. The first thing to do is go into the room on the left and watch the film on the pirates of the NC coast. It is an excellent film and will prepare you for your trip through the museum. We had one major problem. We did not allow ourselves enough time to see everything. We actually closed the museum. There are so many artifacts and displays to see that you just lose track of time. Make it a must do if your are in the Atlantic Beach (Crystal Coast) area. And by the way, did I say that it was FREE!!!

This a great FREE activity. The Maritime Museum has a treasure map/hunt for kids which keeps them entertained. There is a lot of historical artifacts from boat motors, whale skeletons, wooden boats, and lots of great information on the infamous Blackbeard's sunken ship including artifacts from the ship and consultants to discuss their findings. This is a great stop if you are in Beaufort!!!

This is a very cool place to go if you are interested in history especially about pirates and mariners!

Great little museum in a great spot. Free admission and parking. Little kids and teenagers loves it. Watched a documentary on Blackbeard the Pirate, very interesting. Cannons from Queen Anne's Revenge on site.

We had high hopes for this museum after the reviews and a couple of recommendations. It is free which is nice but we just didn't find it all that interesting. There is a whale skeleton that is kind of cool and I was most looking forward to the Blackbeard exhibit. But we left there feeling like we just didn't know everything about Blackbeard that we wanted. Seemed like a lost chance for a really interesting topic. He is a very intriguing character but the exhibit left me wanting more. We spent less than an hour here which was more than enough.

Unbelievable local history with Blackbeard's ship from 300 years ago right offshore, also lots of great info and artifacts on fishing, boats, oysters etc

Went in to get out of the cold for a bit but found ourselves intrigued at the displays as soon as we can in. We toured around all the displays & found them very interesting & informative. I noticed that they also had aspects of "hands on" with some of the displays. I'm sure this made it more interesting for children. I also noticed children with clipboards that had sort of a treasure map I guess to make sure they saw all the displays. This also looked as if it would hold a child's interest. It's a great place to visit & bring the kids.

This is a small museum, but so well done!! We learned a lot about fishing and boating. Lady restoring or examining items from Queen Anne's ship opened the window and answered our questions. A volunteer was patient and answered all my questions as well. We had ages 1-65 years there and all enjoyed it. Would have liked to stay longer. Great gift shop too. Free parking in back of museum and don't miss the building across the street where boats are built. All free with donations welcomed.

A perfect overnight trip.
This little town has so much to offer. Since it was cold, our focus was to stay warm. The Inlet inn was warm and inviting. The Aquarium and Maritime Museum were great places to spend time. The Macon fort is worth a visit, but we did freeze walking around. There are plenty of fine restaurants and hidden treasure.
We experienced Aqua for dinner, the back street pub, and Marmolades for breakfast. There are lots of historical properties and boats galore. We will return when the weather turns to boat, paddle, and enjoy the waters.

This free museum is located right across from the waterfront. There's a heavy emphasis on Blackbeard the pirate, whose history and adventures are interesting for all ages. The ruins of his flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, were discovered not far offshore Beaufort. An intriguing film loops in the auditorium. The museum hosts a beautiful library with many ship models, and a good gift shop. A large whale skeleton hangs in the lobby. Friendly staff.

Very comprehensive museum with many of Blackbeard's artifacts on display.His ship the Queen Anne's Revenge sunk right off the shore of Beaufort NC. Many very nice exhibits encompassing the maritime history.

The museum is so cool! A lot of learning and education opertunities for the young and the old. The admissions is free and they just recently re-opened after being closed due to the pandemic.

The highlight is of course the artifacts and history of Blackbeard, the famous pirate who made OBX his stomping grounds for years. You'll learn where his famous ship was breached and how they found it.

A must stop when you're along the Bogue Banks/Crystal Coast.

Nice museum the articraft was amazing, great display of all sorts of things.,you where able to collect a shell before leaving there was a gentleman that does sculpting and paintings and he was so crafty a must place to see

Great little museum voluntary donation for admittance fee. Perfect location downtown Beaufort. Interesting for our older crowd - is perfect for younger ones as it has fun activities.

A must visit for Beaufort NC. Displays were great. Don’t forget to stop at the section on the water side of the road to watch craftsmen making boats!

We took a day trip to Beaufort from home in Jacksonville with our 3 teens and their friend. They had a blast doing the scavenger hunt! Ask for it at the desk as you walk in. Us adults had one of our own that was a bit harder and you can ask for that also as you walk in!

Happened to be in Beaufort for the day and walked into this free museum. What a great experience to learn the pirate history of the area. Anything anyone would want to know about Blackbeard the pirate. It was worth just looking at the faces on the children.

Really enjoyed this museum! Great display of sea and pirate history and historical items. Fascinating really! When I was there there was a great audiovisual about BlackBeard. And the history/involvement of the Outer Banks in this period of history. Also information about the light houses, rescues at sea etc. GREAT FUN and much more than I had expected.

Very nice way to spend a few hours with the added attraction of artifacts from Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge. It was thought to have been deliberately run a ground and the booty carried off. Located in 1996, almost 300 years later, there are artifacts being identified and restored. A very organized museum, great for families and kids of all ages. Admission is free, but donations greatly appreciated. Museum volunteers were knowledgeable and friendly

Learn all about the pirate's of North Carolina and the fishing history along with exhibits and great displays.

We spent an hour or so visiting this museum while visiting Beaufort and we all, from 10 years old to 64 years old thoroughly enjoyed it. They had a scavenger hunt for the kids while the older folks were reading about the history provided.

If you're at all interested in boats, sailing, and history, this is worth spending an hour or two. Lots of interesting exhibits of local boats, maritime economy and Blackbeard lore. Artifacts of his ship, the Queen Ann's Revenge are on display along with good explanations of each. Just across the street is a boat restoration facility which I think is connected with the museum and worth a short visit, especially when work is in progress.

Great museum for folks of all ages. Amazing documentary film regarding Queen Anne's Revenge and Blackbeard. Would take days to thoroughly explore all the museum offers and across the street the wooden boat building workshop is definitely worth seeing!

Nice little local museum with lots about the local history and pirates. Since Blackbeard’s ship The Queen Anne’s Revenge was found off shore the museum has much information about the excavation and recovery of her artifacts.

There is also quite a bit about the natural history of the area.

Lastly, this place is child friendly due to all the pirate exhibits

It’s free - donations appreciated

This is the home of the artifacts recovered from Blackbeard's ship the Queen Anne's Revenge. When I found out it was all free, I immediately donated. They also have a full calendar of events.

I enjoyed this museum much more than I thought I would. There is a huge display of a whale skeleton from a whale that washed up near by, amazing to see the size of the whale. Loved the artifacts from Queen Anne's Revenge and the history around it all.

I have visited the museum twice, last year on my honeymoon, and this year with my husband and family. If you like nautical history, Blackbeard or pirates, it's the place to go! There is no cost, and it really is a great little museum. I believe I read that they are the curators for the artifacts found at the Queen Anne's revenge shipwreck site and as such they have lots of displays on Blackbeard and the wreckage of the ship. I enjoy going, it's a great place for adults and children alike.

I was most impressed with the themes and interpretations in this free museum. It spans ecology, ecosystems, research, lifesaving, the development of boats and ships and so much more. But I actually went there looking for the artifacts and discoveries about Blackbeard the pirate. I was not disappointed. The displays of items found at the wreck site of the Queen Anne’s Revenge was not only an authentic look back in time but their explanations helped me understand so much about the lives and times of the infamous pirates of the Caribbean. It was a great learning experience. You too should visit the Maritime Museum while in Beaufort.

This lovely museum is FREE and full of interesting and informative memorabilia and artifacts. Lots of history and information about the Beaufort area, pirates, the Outer Banks area, native wildlife. My son loved the scavenger hunt provided by the museum staff. After spending time in the museum, walk across the street to the wooden boatbuilding workshop and watch the builders at work. Highly recommend!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The featured exhibit while we were there was about Blackbeard and had lots of items from the wreck of his ship, Queen Anne's Revenge.

Took my son and 7 year old niece to visit. They had a great time doing the scavenger hunt. It was totally free, educational, air conditioned and had free parking. Great activity for kids and adults.

Very interesting - could only see half of it before my brain overloaded.Would definitely like to go back.

North Carolina is bless with several maritime museums. The one in Beaufort is my favorite. On several trips they have events that include children / youth from the area. Every trip is an educational adventure.

A wonderful place to learn about the maritime history of the Beaufort area. Information nicely presented. Learn about Blackbeard, types of boats over the years, fishing industry and more! They had a scavenger hunt available for kids. Staff was helpful. Nice gift shop. All for free - but please leave a donation.

A great little museum full of fascinating facts and activities for young and old alike. Conveniently located across from he waterfront park.

Excellent museum for young and old and in between. From relics of Queen Anne's Revenge to a REAL whale skeleton to an excellent maritime library to a trip through time to the early days of coastal North Carolina. This is the place.

This rather small museum is full of interesting exhibits and tells the guest lots of facts, stories and history about the North Carolina's (especially Beaufort's) connection to the sea. Since it's free, someone should defenitly consider a visit!

Well learned about the North Carolina coastal area that I didn't know 30 years ago. Area is rich in history from the pirates thru the civil war to the American Revolutionary War. Both Northern and Southern used area houses as hospital and prisons .

Great museum if you love boats or pirate history, and it's free! Great experience. Would go back again.

This museum glides you back in time to see what the seafarers and pirates were all about. Great photos, displays and narratives. Relatively small museum but packed with excitement for young and old. Lots of activities for children. Easily accessed and right on Front Street across from the Inlet. Great historical perspective and detail of the Coast Guide and how hard it was to save lives in the region while storms out at sea.

Really enjoyed this little museum. The Blackbeard exhibit was amazing! There was so much info and so many artifacts. Overall, it's a great stop if you're looking for something to do while visiting the Beaufort/Atlantic Beach area.

Wonderful museum that was modern and told the history of each maritime topic perfectly. The Queen Anne's Revenge exhibit was very interesting. I would recommend watching the documentary of the QAR in their presentation room before seeing the exhibit.

Displays of everything from marine life, fishing history, boats, sea rescue and surfing. Worth a visit.

If you enjoy the history of piracy in any way, make sure you stop by. The museum is free to visit, no pictures allowed. But! The QAR sunk in Beaufort’s Inlet and was discovered in 1996! Since then, pieces have been brought up as it’s been uncovered beneath the waters surface. You’ll be surprised to find out what is located more often than any other item! I won’t tell. But there is treasures to been seen here!! PS food and drinks are banned also.

Several people we met on our scuba diving travels to Morehead City recommended stopping by the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. It was perfect because we were there to dive the many shipwrecks off the coast and wanted to learn more about them. Admission was free with a suggested donation, which made it an easy decision even though we didn't have a lot of time before closing. There's a small parking lot in the back, where we fit in the last spot and didn't have to park on the street. And the content is lovely, very interesting and well curated. Wish we had longer than the hour we spent. We'll be sure to return next time.

Anyone interested in North Carolina's maritime history and natural beauty is sure to enjoy this little gem of a museum. From the exhibits detailing Blackbeard's infamous reign of piracy along the Carolinas or the discovery of his sunken ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, to the commercial and agricultural origins of the area, everyone can find something here to capture their interest. They often provide a scavenger hunt activity for the kiddos to enjoy, as well as special exhibits on pirates and the movies or the wartime sinking and sightings of enemy submarines along the Carolina coast. Also provided is a nice little gift shop for a neat postcard, interesting book, or coastal souvenir. No entrance fees are required, but there is a donation box if you are so inclined.

Great maritime museum for kids and adults alike. A nice mix of exhibits and displays ranging from nautical to marine science, local and global.

Strong 5/5

The NC Maritime Museum is a gem...something for everyone. If you can get away from the beach for a while, this is the place to go. Pirates, Blackbeard, Queen Anne's Revenge, NC nautical history...it's all here. Now you can even go up the spiral stairs for a great view of the area. Free..

Great museum, lots of artifacts from the Queen Anne's Revenge. My kids, ages 6 and 8 loved it! Would definitely recommend!

A great place to visit & learn so much! Kind staff. Professionally prepared exhibits. Nice outdoor seating in front of the museum. We enjoyed an evening sitting in that outdoor plaza area playing a dice game. There was live music at Finz at that same time - we even danced to a song they played. Just us on that cool outdoor plaza area. Everyone else was standing in crowds at Finz parking lot to hear the fun live music - while we were in our secluded heaven about 1/2 block away - had the museum terrace area all to ourselves. Love this place - day and night!!

The NC Maritime Museum was a wonderful experience. It was much better than I anticipated and the workers were very helpful and knowledgeable. There is a wealth of knowledge about Blackbeard the pirate and his boat that sunk a few miles off shore near the museum in Beaufort. I highly recommend spending and hour or so in the museum and I am confident you'll be glad that you did.

For a small museum it held a lot of interest and covered Blackbeard to WW2 maritime history.... definitely worth a visit, really good shop as well

We had 30-40 minutes to kill in Beaufort. I am glad we went there. It is a free museum with suggested donation. The staff were friendly and they share good knowledge. We saw the remains of Queen Anne’s Revenge used by the Pirate Blackbeard.

Blackbeard history and artifacts are here! great to see all they have found so far, a legend comes to life. Amazing what things survived so long, underwater, undiscovered for so long so close to Beaufort. Beyond that this is still a wonderful museum filled with displays and lore from a working coastline. And don't miss the Workshop across the street!

My wife and I are locals, but we always come here on slow afternoons to see what the museum has changed up. Always a good time for revisiting local North Carolina heritage and remembering where we live. Great for all ages passing through or locals.

Great museum, with a little of everything Maritime. The focal point however are Pirates, especially Blackbeard which will draw the little ones in. Love the place

The museum is definitely worth visiting. Admission is free, but you are free to give a donation, which should be done to help keep it open. There were artifacts and historical accounts about Blackbeards Queen Annes Revenge, in addition to many interesting historical maritime exhibits.

This is an incredible display of not just artifacts, but musings and information about the maritime history of this area. So much to learn and so many nice folks anxious to assist. The maritime library alone is worth the visit.

The museum is in downtown Beaufort. Parking is free, and either behind the facility on on the street. There is no fee to enter, but a donation is suggested. They have kids activities, documentary type movies, and great displays of the Maritime history of the Outer Banks. There’s a very extensive collection of Blackbeards ship, the Queen Anns Revenge, shipwreck artifacts and great displays of the story around his time along the coast. Plan on an hour or so at the museum then cross the street to visit the wooden boat shop!

Lots of interesting and fun things to see. It’s free and only takes about 30min. Worth a donation to them. Also loved the boat building area across the street.

The visit here was very interesting. They share the history of boat making throughout the years along with a lot of artifacts discovered along the sea.

We stopped in to see the museum while in Beaufort last week its a very nice museum with lots of cool artifacts and pieces,. Really liked the Queen Anne's Revenge items. Would recommend this to anyone.

Great place to learn a bit about the area and local history. Exhibits were informative and well-done. We enjoyed our time there.

We went to this museum on a rainy day during our spring break. It is free and fairly interesting. The film shown is quite lengthy and somewhat boring, but the information on Blackbeard caught our attention. We also enjoyed seeing the full skeleton of the the whale "Echo" that hung from the ceiling. The detailed scale models of sailing vessels are pure works of art.

After taking the ghost tour, my mom, sister and I visited the museum. We enjoyed the details of Queen Ann's Revenge and the history of the fishing community....and it's free of charge. We did give a donation as it was such a wonderful place to visit. Highly recommend!

Be sure to visit the FREE Maritime Museum on your visit to Beaufort. There is great information, and there are fascinating artifacts. There are even fun activities for the kiddos.

It’s free. It’s interesting. Staff and volunteers are knowledgeable and excellent.
The N.C. Maritime Museum is the official repository for artifacts from the Queen Anne's Revenge, offering a free exhibit where you can see many of the artifacts conserved. The exhibit incorporates interactive displays, quizzes and props to help tell the story of Blackbeard and offer a look into what the future holds for the shipwreck site.

This place is loaded with local historic items . Blackbeards ship sank locally and it has a lot of neat things in museum Definitely check out the boat shop across the street

Very well laid out museum with many items to see and photograph. Loved the Blackbeard area of the museum and would definitely go again. Admission is FREE.

Beautiful museum. We spent over an hour looking at the artifacts.
We came for the annual wooden boat show which was really wonderful.
Just a couple blocks away there is a local farmers market/craft fair that had an amazing selection of items.
The town is very walkable, and we spent hours wandering around.
No doubt we will come back next year.

Loved the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, we also visited the one the Southport. If you see one, you have to visit the other one. A lot of the Pirate Blackbeard's artifacts here. nice place

A small museum with free entry. They have a very interesting Blackbeard collection with many items recovered from the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Not a lot else to see but it appeared that they had a good children’s program.

We planned to visit the museum for an interesting day out of the sun and were pleasantly surprised to find admission was FREE. It was very interesting to learn about Blackbeard and others. Great museum.

How often do you get to experience a museum for free? This is a fun and informative place to spend an hour or two . Loved the displays and replicas. They have a movie to watch and a nice gift shop. Very friendly staff. Also visit the boat museum across the street!!

This museum might be small but it is packed with some great exhibits, particularly the one on pirates. Amazing it is free too, but they gladly accept donations. This is an excellent way to spend a few hour on a rainy day.

Took the family to the NCMM and had a great time. Kids and adults got involved in the scavenger hunt. It was a blast. Lots of interesting information about Blackbeard too. Would definitely recommend, especially if you have kids. No fee to enter but donations are GREATLY APPRECIATED!!
Even left my "painted rock (ladybug)" to brighten someone else day!

We vacation every summer in NC and the kids always look forward to coming here. The scavenger hunt gets them looking at the artifacts. We love looking at the whale heart and learning all about Blackbeard. The attendant working on artifacts was friendly and answered all our questions about finding things in the ocean. Lots of shells and boats to learn about. Takes about an hour. Free with donations accepted.

Excellent museum covering the maritime history of the area, boat building, pirates, treasure, fishing and more. Beautiful displays, enough but not overwhelming information. Figure about 2 hours.

Just an amazing experience to see things that I dreamed about as a kid. Who diddnt love pirates. If you get a chance ask for Tom Myers, he took us to the observation deck and pointed out some amazing things to see. He is very informative and if you were not that interested in the museum before you came you definitely will after speaking with him.

Our family had a great visit to the aquarium. The layout of th aquarium is excellent with the groupings of the exhibits. The employees were extremely kind and helpful.

Donation only museum is well laid out. The Blackbeard exhibit alone is a must-see. There is much more. Don't miss it.

...and it’s free! Great exhibits, lots for children to do, helpful docents and nice museum shop. Don’t miss it!

I hesitate to review this negatively, as Covid-19 protocols were in place, making it awkward to view the displays. The signage routed you through the many displays, but frequently the signs for items were not in front of it and required backtracking, which you were not able to do.

There is a lot of information and artifacts from pirates to the fishing industry to surfing. Very interesting. They even have a scavenger hunt for kids to do to involve them.

I am glad we stopped.

This is an awesome little museum tucked away in a quaint little town. We had a great time visiting and would recommend it to those loving maritime history. They also had a great gift shop with nice jewelry and ornaments (it was a Christmas time visit!)

It’s always fun for the kiddos to come and learn a little history and see some cool stuff. It’s not very big but a must stop while in Beaufort.

The museum appears small from the outside but the displays are jammed packed with artifacts. There are hands on exhibits and activities for the kids including a table with crayons and coloring pages when you enter, a scavenger hunt, boats, puzzles and surfing simulation. Our daughter circled back to use the surfing simulation a second time. My husband enjoyed the Blackbeard exhibit which is very dense. The museum seemed to have something for all ages. No entry fee although donations are encouraged.

We went with one other family and enjoyed a few hours in the Maritime Museum. The age of the children ranged from 5 to 13 and everyone had things to keep them entertained and occupied while visiting the museum.

I love going to the Maritime Museum. Even though I've visited several times, I always find something new and interesting that I hadn't noticed before. The staff is always friendly and you get to pick a shell to take with you. Best of all, admission is free!

Museum is very small and is free (w an optional suggested donation of $6 adults, $2 kids). There are a lot of things to look at. What's there is very interesting. It's a perfect size to let the kids wander safely while we adults could meander through. There was a color activity- if the kids made a shark hat they'd get a shark tooth. There's also a scavenger hunt for them to find things through out the museum.

Be sure to watch the movie in the auditorium about how blackbeard's ship was found and items recovered along with the history of blackbeard and his crew. The museum also has a whale skeleton and the whale's heart. The whale had become beached and died. There is also a lot of other interesting items and info. The gift shop has a variety of quality items and children's gifts. There is plenty of free parking on site and the museum is free.

The museum is a great place to head and enjoy some local knowledge. Basic self-guided tours can be enhanced by a scavenger hunt, taking patrons through key areas of each display. This location had developed quite a bit over the last few years. Its Queen Anne's Revenge display os famtastic amd dogirally interactive. There is a whale skeleton janging from the ceiling, information about boating local history, insights about keeping our waters cleans, and more! Sometimes visitors can get lucky enough to enjoy a talk fron a maritime expert.

Donation based gem- This was an excellent museum. We enjoyed seeing the items salvaged from Blackbeard 's ship as well as the sperm whale skeleton and heart. This museum is free, which we appreciated. We were happy to leave a donation since we enjoyed it so much.

Great exhibits of coastal history including skiffs, sport fishing yachts, sail boats, motors, beach rescue, fish and even a whale. Lots of Blackbeard & pirate info for young and old. Really enjoyed the boat shop across the street from the main museum where they build, repair and restore wood skiffs, sail boats, canoes, , etc. Boat building classes are available too.

We stopped in on a Saturday morning and checked out the exhibits before walking around Beaufort. The building is not very large but there was enough space for a popup model train exhibit the day we were there, plus their usual exhibits focusing on maritime life and pirate lore. It is free and relatively kid-friendly, plus you know they have a gift shop. Worth an hour or so if you're in the area but I don't know if it's worth a special trip just to see the museum. If you or your kids are really into pirates, they will enjoy it.

Great FREE place to visit. Just stop in for an hour and enjoy. Cools items from Blackbeard's boat, the QAR.

My wife grew up in Beaufort and we never get tired of going to the museum. Always finding things that we didn't see the time before, if you have children it's a get place to see. Wandering around front street with a ice cream cone and going to the museum is a must. Enjoy.

We had been here years ago but a ferry operator had advised us the exhibits had been changed up especially since 2018 was 300 years since blackbeard. He was correct. We walked 3 blocks down from the ferry landing and enjoyed the experience. At the exit is a basket of shells with a sign inviting you to choose one. There are hands on activities for kids to do. I learned/relearned things about boat building and pirates. And this is a FREE place to visit and take the kids. Note that as of May 20, 2019 parking in Beaufort in no longer free. I do not think this will deter tourists but it is something to be aware of.

Disclaimer--I like museums and I always enjoy this one.

Most trips to the Crystal Coast will include a visit to Beaufort with a stop into the NC Maritime Museum. The exhibits are constantly updated. If you want to really engage with the information, plan on two hours or you can do a walk around and out in less than one. New exhibit on the Civilian Air Patrol during WWII was new information to me. The Black Beard/Queen's Anne Revenge exhibited has been expanded with new items coming from the wreck and offers a lot more information than when I was last there.

They do not have much in the way of hands-on activities for the small ones, so younger children may not do well if you get fascinated by the lead shot, cannons and other materials raised from Black Beard's ship. We had dropped my grandchildren off at Vacation Bible School in Morehead and went on to Beaufort, so no children to keep occupied.

This was the perfect way to spend an hour on a cloudy day. Lots of food, shops, and ferries in the neighborhood. My five year old loved the scavenger hunt; was very engaged! I found the QAR wreckage fascinating!

We chose the NC Maritime Museum for my son's rehearsal dinner, it could not have been more perfect! The Museum staff was awesome, it was the perfect venue! Our guests were so impressed with how neat the museum is. Want to give a special shout out to Christine Brian for helping with the slide show, without her we would not have a slideshow. Randy Mann, the director and Martha Bell, thank you, thank you for helping us pull this off without a hitch!

1-2 hours of aquarium exhibits, highlights being the otters and 200k+ gallon shark tank. Employees seemed nice and like they care, a lot. Maybe not the biggest or the most flashy aquarium, but with the most expensive ticket being $13, it's a better value than most movie tickets.

This is a great little museum. There are staff ready to answer questions. The exhibits are very well done! They also sell chances on a boat every year to make money to help with upkeep. The boat shop across the street make it by hand. Very cool!!

This site is interesting only if you are prepared to read the labels on the items and cases. Because I was with my 12-year old granddaughter who didn't wish to do much reading, we went through it quickly and didn't get much out of it. It's one floor only and not very large. There is another building across the street in which boat building is done. Children tend to not wish to do all the reading, so they zip through the place, and to my mind, do not, consequently, get much out of it. There is no admission fee, but a donation box is present.

I cannot believe this was free. This was a great place to learn about Blackbeard, sailing vessels, and animals from NC. The boys loved the scavenger hunt and the stickers they got when it was complete. My oldest cannot stop talking about Blackbeard and wants to learn more. The whale skeleton and heart are cool too. It was also interesting to learn how natives made boats. We learned so much! Do not skip this--and make a donation so they can keep it free admission.

This museum is based upon a pirate theme. Some artifacts from Black Beard's ship and history are given. I found the section dedicated to pirate movies interesting

This place always has something going on. It is great for the whole family, and it is free which is rare.

We recently visited this place as part of a school field trip. The staff made the visit really fun and educational for the kids. They shared with our group a scavenger hunt sheet so that they could look for hidden items while in the museum. This kept the kids attention really well and helped them not overlook items. Would love to go back again to learn more when I didn't have a group of kids. :)

Wonderful artifacts days past when pirates Rome can rule this area. Loved it. Can't believe that it's free. Just a wonderful time walking around and learning so much and seeing what this area has to offer as far as education and Heritage.

Be sure not to miss Blackbeard's exhibit and a video on the discovery. Informative and enjoyable.Large scale models of many ships and boats.Whale skeleton suspended from ceiling.

This is a fascinating museum with everything from whales to pirates to books to seashells to child- friendly exhibits.

It informs well about marine life and the need to protect our oceans. It includes Blackbeard the pirates Queen Anne revenge pirate ship relics.

The museum is right in downtown Beaufort across from the water, with parking spaces in back, and includes a very interesting wooden boat building program just across the street.

Don’t miss the Museum if you are in town!

Hint: They have parking behind the building! We enjoyed perusing the exhibits and were amazed at the map showing all the shipwrecks off the coast of NC. The short video of Blackbeard was particularly enjoyable and informative. A must see IMO.

The exhibits were very nice. There was a group of children that came in at the time we were there and it was fun watching them do a scavenger hunt with the clipboard and clues provided by the museum.

A lot to see especially if you like small craft and pirates. Good in combo with the Beaufort Historic Site, Mattie King Davis art gallery and local restaurants.

It was a little hard to find, but once found, provided a unique look into history with Blackbeard the main focus. It provided an interesting look into the times and hardships endured in that era. Great for kids to learn about history, too.

Stop in and check out maritime history and Blackbeard's QAR ship remnants. Very nicely done. Friendly staff. Gift shop with a nice mix of things to buy. Recommended for families, couples or solo travelers. Free to get in.

The museum was a recommended visit by Captain Bob of the Waterbug Tours! The children in our party participated in the historical "seek & find" learning game put on by the museum, so it was a fun and informative visit for all!

Great free museum. Blackbeard''s ship Queen Anne's Revenge recovered possessions are worth the time . A great many possessions have been recovered. Great display. Great info on fish in north Carolina waters. Scavenger hunt for children. Very nice museum. Nice gift shop definitely worth your time. Free parking too.

I highly recommend going and visiting! Rich in history and great for the entire family or groups to enjoy!

There is something for everyone here, children to scientifically oriented adults. Great history of area seafaring, and fun information about PIRATES.

Loved the video about searching for Queen Anne's Revenge. Great things around the museum to peak interest & curiosity

This is a nice place to learn about North Carolina’s maritime history. Home to the Blackbeard artifacts. Stop by it doesn’t take long.

Jem. Free admission, donations taken and deserved. History is alive with on site teams working a whale skeleton and treasures from Blackbeard's ship.

I really like this place. Maritime museums always interest me. The place was well maintained and all of the staff were decently friendly. Possibly the best part of this place was that it was free.

It is well worth a visit.. or two! It has some really cool kids activities, including a checklist scavenger hunt, which I thought was an excellent idea.

The museum had free admission. There was no parking available at the museum. We had to find parking elsewhere. The exhibits were interesting. There was a lot of emphasis on pirates which was neat.

Make sure to take the to time to visit this museum when in Beaufort!. It is worth the visit. They even have a scavenger hunt for kids to make it entertaining.

Very educational and great for kids to learn about the area and the history of pirates, especially Blackbeard. Free admission. Don’t forget to check out the boat making venue across the street.

We visited and watch the film on Black Beard. The location is free and an amazing find. Seeing some of the artifacts was an astonishing feat.

Pretty informative. Was a nice display. It was free to get in. Clean. Wishing it was open on Sunday.

Great displays on sea rescues and a lot more but a lot of Blackbeard. Still a great place for a small coastal town!

This is a deal if you have any interest at all in pirates, sailing, ship building, whales, and local history. It is free! Leave a donation as you enter and you will not be sorry that you have wasted your paper. This place is larger than it appears and has so much to offer.

So much information! From fishing to whaling to surfing to Blackbeard, this museum has it all. I noticed kids and their families on a scavenger hunt, trying to find all the things on their list, which I thought was a great way to keep young ones engaged. I especially loved the historical timeline and the whale skeleton. We were able to walk around at our own pace, and my 15 year old daughter was able to get her penny souvenir that she missed out on when her 4th grade class took a field trip here!

Came here on a rainy day while my girlfriend was working, and I was pleasantly surprised at how interesting a place this was. The exhibits include a history of boating in the region, and they display and explain clearly the different types of vessels, their use, and other great facts I was not aware of. However, one of the highlights for me was the extensive Blackbeard exhibit, with text, photos, artifacts, etc of the famous pirate. It enlightened me with details about pirates, their notoriety, and how Blackbeard was eventually killed by the authorities. I only stayed about 1.4 hours, you're easily could have filled 2 hours or more with the amount of things to see here. The building interior is all wood, very striking and appropriately nautical. And there are many exhibits that highlight the ecosystem of this region, which I a,so found very intriguing. It's definitely a must if you are in this historic town.

Kids & kids at heart will be fascinated with this museum that focuses on pirates! There are free lectures and activities for kids (I.e. a treasure hunt).

The museum entry is free but they do ask for donations. It is well worth donating to this small town history museum.

Interesting exhibits of local area Maritime history. Shipwrecks, recovery activities, Black Beard history, actual shipwreck relics, cannons, etc..

A must do! Wonderful exhibits and lots of great info on Blackbeard. Interesting exhibits on the ocean wildlife including the wild horses. Very helpful and friendly staff

If you are anywhere near Beaufort, be sure to visit the town and make sure to stop at the museum. Learned so much about the area from one of the docents. This is the friendliest little town we've been to in a long time!

A nice little, small-town museum. Has a decent display on Blackbeard and Queen Anne's Revenge artifacts among their collection. Good for an hour or two visit, maybe longer depending on your interest. Free admission, relies on donations. Be generous.

I now understand why Beaufort is so proud of this museum. It is so well done and we learned a lot. The Blackbeard exhibit is very good and I especially enjoyed the shells found locally and the various biological zones from ocean to land, as well as the different local ocean fish. Great book store, also. Everything is a nice introduction to the tidal area. Looking forward to our return. Be sure to visit the wooden boat exhibit across the street.

I definitely did remember visiting this museum about 17 years ago, and I know that we found it very worthwhile. So, we parked our car in the large lot behind the museum and wandered in. This is a very informative museum. Most of the focus is on the pirate BlackBeard, but the exhibits are wonderful. The property was impressively clean, the volunteers were all cheerful and helpful. Kids will probably want to rush through the exhibits, but adults will want to learn about this history. I can highly recommend this place to fellow tourists.

This is a very nice museum with lots of interesting displays that are very well presented. The information and artifacts from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge are particularly interesting. There is so much to look at we had to make two trips!

Charming museum in a charming setting. I enjoyed a fascinating lecture about dolphins a few years ago. Plan to attend more gams.

This museum is so nicely set up giving you history in ways that it makes it fun to learn! The displays are amazing!

My husband and I have been to this museum more than once over the years and I am glad to say they keep adding to and improving the exhibits. I was impressed to see the large, interactive exhibition on the Queen Anne's Revenge and the one on local vintage surf culture. It is so wonderful that this museum is totally FREE! And don't miss the gift shop there. I got quite a few unique gifts for Christmas presents there.

We stopped in because they had a new Blackbeard exhibit. The actual museum was cool but not with a young child. We had to hold her the entire time. However, there were activities for school age kids to do.

Great museum, full of history, and wonderful for all ages! My seven year old, who has a love for the sea, is always happy visiting this place! Interesting artifacts, and child friendly! A must see in Beaufort!

Great for the whole family. We brought our 4 year old grandson and he had a blast. We did a scavenger hunt that kept him engaged and wanting to see more. Will go back aging on next trip.

The NC Maritime museum has a wide variety of exhibits including Blackbeard artifacts from the Queen Anne's Revenge and a sperm whale skeleton (along with the plasticized heart). Tom Meyers did a great job with our rooftop tour (no little kiddos on this part due to steep staircase). He was very entertaining and informative about some of the local Beaufort history.

I thought this was a good museum which showed the area's history. It is free as well. Lovely giftshop

The museum is a perfect place to visit on a rainy afternoon - but beware a lot of parents think so too and don't mind their kids runny around loose and not wearing masks when they time a visit the same as you. But that aside the museum is a gem and with no admission fee you can't afford to miss this on your trip to Beaufort NC. The museum has exhibits on pirates, Blackbeard, marine archaeology, fishing, boat building and more - but my favorite part was on the Light Saving Service and the equipment they used. The gift shop is a gem too and we returned to purchase some books and glass-blown ornaments when we found the the museum had the best buys in town. Try to time your visit to the boat building warehouse across the street for sometime other than lunch - we just saw a bunch of guys sitting around eating instead of actually using tools. But the small deck beside the boat building loft was great for watching the creek and the passing boats and has the best chairs and picnic tables in town.

Good look at the maritime history of North Carolina with interesting exhibits including a new one showcasing the artifacts being recovered from Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge.

Exhibits were well done, informative and fun. Appreciated the posters at the beginning about the contributions of African Americans. Children were enjoying a scavenger hunt looking for items on display. Loved the library and interactive exhibits.

Staff were friendly and masked but did not enforce mask requirements.

The exhibit hall across the street was also interesting to see boats being made.

Appreciated that this terrific museum was free.

Didn’t have time for the Blackbeard film but will watch when we return.

People were very nice and it was very interesting!! Definitely worth the time to stop in if you are in town. We really enjoyed our time talking with the older gentleman(we can’t remember his name,maybe Bob) that was in the back part of the museum. He gave us so much information and interesting facts about the sperm whale that is on display overhead.

Learned a lot about the ships of the area and the local boating history! Nice place to stop and explore.

Enjoy taking family and friends that visit to the museum. Everyone enjoys doing the seek and find sheet that is available. Adults enjoy doing it as well as the kids

We went into the waterfront part where we were given amazing information about ship building and mast production by a really interesting guy who worked there. They also have a great antique outboard motor collection mounted there. The museum across the street is awesome! There are things from Blackbeards boat there and during the week you can see preservation work being done there on site.

Delightful little museum. It's nice going through and learning new information about pirate history.

We always visit this museum when we're in Beaufort. The inside feels like a boat! Free admission (please leave a donation). Some permanent exhibits about maritime history off the coast. Other temporary exhibits (e.g. Queen Anne's Revenge). The boat-building school is across the street and has an observation area.

The interactive opportunity for children was so much fun. Every child seemed to love it. The video of the search for Blackbeard's ship was very well done. We all felt we learned a lot. What a neat afternoon!

My family and I came to New Bern for a graduation party and decided to do some sight seeing. We came to Beaufort and went to the Maritime Museum. While we were there we ran into a volunteer there that had some shells and other miscellaneous things on a small table. This guy was very informative and very pleasant with me and my children. His name was Tom Meyers. Tom is very passionate with his volunteer work there. He did such a great job explaining about each item that it kept the attention of my youngsters ( age 10 ). We then moved over to the Sperm whale that washed up on a local beach, and Tom was there to walk us thru the entire process of getting it there. He then took us on a tour to the upper floors and pointed out where various things were that he had told us about earlier in the building. He was a delight to be around and I wish I had more time to learn more from him. I am willing to bet he knows a lot about the Blackbeard Pirate and his ship Queen Anne's Revenge. Tom needs recognized for his dedication and passion for the museum. We will definitely come back to hear more from him. The museum itself is a great learning experience for everyone that comes in there. It is wonderful that the Maritime Museum gets to keep the spirit of the Pirates alive with the local find just off shore. We are one entertained family from Marysville, Ohio.
Thank You Maritime Museum & Thank you Tom Meyers.

I have been to this museum three times over the last four years. The two prior visits the museum was bustling with school groups visiting. It brought back memories of 16+ years of school chaperoning and of seeing things through the eyes of a child. There is a lot of information packed into a cozy space. The museum does not charge and entry fee, but there are donation amounts suggested and at least two boxes to drop a donation during your visit. This visit there were no school groups because it was a Monday after a holiday. The information about the sailing ships, lighthouses, area wildlife and of course, Blackbeard, all contribute to a great place to visit for all ages. There is a watercraft center across from and attached to the museum in which replica watercraft are constructed and the volunteers and workers are always happy to answer questions. Also, each time I have been to the museum there has been a small sailboat or watercraft as a raffle and can be viewed in the main museum building. If you like ships, fish, pirates, lighthouses, the seashore or anything nautical, a few minutes in this museum could easily turn into a few hours if you read and view everything.

Hey y'all there's not many free things to do at the beach. But this along with Fort Macon are two things you can do for free. Both are defiantly worth the visit. I really enjoyed the museum and all the history and facts they have on display here.

Spent 1-1.5h with our kids 8,6,3 and everyone enjoyed it. The kids got a clipboard with a treasure hunt and were very into that. The content is great and very accessible to all ages. It’s free but donations are welcome. The pirate relics were very interested. A great stop!

This is a fun and unique museum with a gift shop, library and staff presentations. My children ages 10 and 12 enjoyed the "treasure hunt" and replicas of boats and sea creatures. We all learned a lot from the exhibit of Blackbeard and there is so much information we plan to visit again on our next trip to Beaufort. Free admission, great location, interesting facts and clean bathrooms. Highly recommend.

The displays are well maintained and thought out. The staff was friendly and eager to answer questions. It is air conditioned and free to go through. We took about an hour to see it all.

Neat museum. Very well done & informative. Loved the fact it was free. The huge whale skeleton was impressive. I wish they had informednus of the wooden boat building part across the street. Gift shop was nice. Would highly recommend a stop.

We visited for the pirate invasion - the museum houses some very interesting exhibits for all ages, especially the excavation on Blackbeard's rumored ship nearby. Very well done, interesting nautical library in the back and nice gift shop.

North Carolina's original maritime museum continues to shine,
With its fascinating collection of exhibits in a lovely timber-framed building, it's a place you just want to keep coming back to. The Watercraft Center across the street carries forward the rich North Carolina tradition of wooden boat building with a steady stream of replicas and restorations, not to mention the exquisite work of model builders on the second level. Less obvious, but no less important are the sailing instruction programs run by the Friends of the Museum. Thousands of children have grown up to be confident skippers thanks to Junior Sailing. All in all, the museum is a Tar Heel treasure.

The museum is so well done!! It has something for everyone...I saw several children having a blast doing the scavenger hunt. The artifacts from Blackbeard's Queen Revenge are worth the visit. Informative and the price is right...Free!! But make a donation!!

Lovely little museum with artifacts and information about the history of saving lives on the coast of NC. My husband is retired Coast Guard, so this was a fun thing to see and do together.

Informative, entertaining, cost-effective. History of the area highlighted by the pirating at one and the evolution of boat design in the region

Especially with the new stuff about blackbeard and the queen Annes revenge. If you are a pirate or nautical fan then you can get lost in here for hours.