Ahoy!
Olde Beaufort Seaport is envisioned as a living museum — reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century
maritime village — that will allow the N.C. Maritime Museum to significantly expand
its educational programs and provide a unique interactive experience for maritime
enthusiasts.
The seaport is being developed on 36 acres along Gallants Channel in Beaufort. The
property was purchased by the Friends of the N.C. Maritime Museum in 1997 for future
museum expansion.
Plans for Olde Beaufort Seaport include:
- A permanent tall ships wharf with floating docks and water taxis
- A welcome center with administrative offices
- Boardwalks and an outdoor performance pavilion with great lawn
- Exhibit halls (Shipwreck Hall; Museum of Boating & Fishing; environmental exhibits)
- Education conference center
- Shipyard with marine railway, foundry and sawmill
- Nature trails
Olde Beaufort Seaport will provide a modern venue for major cultural and educational
events. The outdoor performance pavilion can host concerts and plays, while the
conference center can accommodate large groups for state and regional meetings.
The site has already received more than 4 million dollars on site improvements. The
existing docks and facilities are currently used for the museum’s junior sailing
program, rowing programs, Cape Lookout Studies program and as a home for artifacts
from Queen Anne’s Revenge.
The N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort currently has an annual economic impact of
$13.5 million on Carteret County, according to a recent study conducted by UNC-Chapel
Hill, and Olde Beaufort Seaport could generate an additional $40 million per year.