Exhibits Department
The NC Maritime Museum at Southport branch focuses on the maritime history of the lower Cape Fear River. The permanent exhibits and educational programming focus on fisheries, shipwrecks, hurricanes, and military conflicts ranging from piracy to World War II. Temporary exhibits showcase a variety of maritime-themed displays.
Digital Exhibits
Opened September 3, 2022
With so many questions being asked about the Megalodon shark teeth on display and in the teaching collection, Intern Sam tackled a few of the most commonly asked questions and created this digital exhibit.
*Please note: Viewing may not be ideal on a tablet or phone
Opened June 19, 2021
North Carolina coastal communities have weathered many storms and rebuild every time without reservation. Many hurricanes have impacted the maritime environment over the course of time. Look at the cultural history of what is now the National Weather Service, twelve storms from Hurricane Hazel (1954) to Hurricane Florence (2018), and how to prepare, live through, and recover from them.
*Please note: Viewing may not be ideal on a tablet or phone
Opened June 10, 2021
People love pirates, and while Blackbeard is often a person of interest, the Lower Cape Fear had it’s own pirate, a Gentleman Pirate. Click through this virtual exhibit to take a crash course on Stede Bonnet!
*Please note: Viewing may not be ideal on a tablet or phone
Indigenous Mariners of Coastal North Carolina
Opened November 13, 2020
Click through an exploration of the first inhabitants of the Lower Cape Fear, what became of these early tribes, and what we learn from them today. Also available for the first time is the NC Maritime Museum at Southport’s Land Acknowledgement!
*Please note: Viewing may not be ideal on a tablet or phone
Steaming into the 20th Century
Opened September 24, 2020
Join our crew in learning about the Age of Steam and the communities of the Lower Cape Fear during the turn of the 20th century. This exhibit will explore how steam engines work, the island and beach communities, travel within the region and around the world, as well as the African American experience in this post-Civil War era. Access the exhibit through the title above. Enjoy images, news clippings, videos, and more!
Many thanks to Old Baldy Lighthouse and Smith Island Museum, Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, and Elaine Blackmon Henson for images, information, and support!
*Please note: Viewing may not be ideal on a tablet or phone
“Construimus, Batuimus. We Build, We Fight”
Opened May 1, 2020
Just because the building is closed, doesn’t mean learning is! Click on the exhibit name to explore this digital exhibit focusing on the formation and legacy of the SEABEES! Items utilized in this exhibit are on short-term loan or slated for permanent donation to NC Maritime Museum at Southport. In lieu of exhibiting these artifacts in the temporary exhibit space in the entryway, enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
Many thanks to U.S. Seabee Museum, part of Naval History and Heritage Command, as well as Seabee Veterans Association Island X5 for images, information, and support.
*Please note: Viewing may not be ideal on a tablet or phone
