North Carolina Maritime Museum

These classes, programs, and events are activities of the Beaufort facility of North Carolina Maritime Museum. Contact the Museum at (252) 728-7317 between 9 AM and 5 PM for information or reservations. Note: Reservations must be made by phone or in person (no reservations by email), due to limits on group sizes.

DECEMBER

3 Thursday Blackbeard: Fact and Folklore
Examine the legends & historical evidence surrounding the pirate’s life & times including why
this day is the anniversary of his death. Presented by Staff Archaeologist David Moore 2 PM.

5 Saturday Carolina Maritime Model Society
Meeting open to the public, auditorium. 2-4 PM.

5 Saturday Christmas Flotilla
Boat parade begins in Morehead City at 5:30 PM & arrives in Beaufort about 6:15 PM.
Awards to follow in museum auditorium.

9 Wednesday Beaufort’s Bottlenose Dolphins
Photos & display on local dolphins by Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster. 11 AM.

13 Sunday Holiday Open House
Friends of the Museum Annual Membership Meeting 2-3 PM. Holiday reception to follow,
open to the public 3-4 PM.

The Museum and Watercraft Center will be closed Dec. 24-27, 2009 and Jan. 1, 2010

Happy Holidays!

JANUARY

12 Tuesday “Hoi Toide on the Saind Side”
Find out why “dingbatters” get “mommucked” when they hear this accent unique to the Outer Banks of NC. Presentation by Educator Laurie Streble. 2 PM.

14 Thursday Inland Steam Navigation in North Carolina
Explore the rise and fall of steamboats on NC’s rivers and sounds with a presentation by Maritime Curator Paul Fontenoy. 2PM.

16 Saturday “Cold as the Night Crissie Wright Came Ashore”
A lecture of the ship’s history and loss and a ballad tell the story of this local seafaring tragedy. Presentation by Nautical Archaeologist David Moore. 2 PM

17 Sunday Maritime Speaker Series- Nelson McDaniel
Oysters, cantaloupes, naps on the Grecian lounge: Why Verrazano made a big mistake by not staying put. This presentation is hosted by the Friends of the Museum. No charge for FOM members, non-members $5. 2 PM.

19 Tuesday Whales in North Carolina
Slides & display about these fascinating and threatened marine mammals by Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster. 11 AM.

20 Wednesday Ports & Pilots
Guided tour of NC State Port at Morehead City. Reservations $10. 10 AM-12 Noon.

26 Tuesday Nautical Terms in Everyday Use
Author and historian Jay Barnes will “show you the ropes” as he explores the etymology of nautical expressions used in everyday conversation. 2 PM.

30 Saturday Life as a Waterman on a Chesapeake Bay Skipjack
The Carolina Maritime Model Society and the Inlet Inn sponsor this presentation by Captain Wade Murphy of the Chesapeake Bay Skipjack, Rebecca Ruark. 11 AM.

30 Saturday Carolina Maritime Model Society
Meeting open to the public, auditorium. 2 PM.

FEBRUARY

MUSEUM STORE SALE
Each February, the Museum Store offers patrons a 25% discount on all items! Find the perfect gift in our store for any occasion, such as books, jewelry, children’s games, artwork, nautical items, and much more. Also available is a one-year gift membership to the Friends of the Museum. Stop in during museum hours or visit us online www.ncmaritimemuseum.com and let us make your shopping easy!

2 Tuesday Ports & Pilots
Guided tour of NC State Port at Morehead City. Reservations $10. 10 AM-12 Noon.

3 Wednesday Lost Ship of the Slave Trade
Lecture by Staff Archaeologist, David Moore on the Henrietta Marie. 2 PM.

6 Saturday Surviving Shackleford Banks
Experience horse viewing, shelling, and heritage as we hike Shackleford banks from end to end. Reservations $35. 8 AM–4 PM.

10 Wednesday On the Waterfront
Maritime Curator Paul Fontenoy presents images and stories of the waterfronts of 18^th century colonial ports. 2 PM.

12 Friday Love on the High Seas
Bring your Valentine to hear stories of maritime love and romance, meanwhile enjoying sweet treats. Reservations & fee. 6 PM.

13 Saturday Sailor’s Valentines
Learn the history of the craft, and make & take your own. 2-4 PM.

17 Wednesday Bonehenge
See the latest updates on the creation of a skeletal display from a sperm whale that stranded at Cape Lookout in 2004. Images & display presented by Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster. 11 AM.

21 Sunday Maritime Speaker Series- Larry Babits
ECU and the Civil War in North Carolina, an Underwater View. This presentation is hosted by the Friends of the Museum. No charge for FOM members, non-members $5. 2 PM.

25 Thursday Winter Bird Watching Tour
Identify winter birds of forest & shore in the Morehead City area with naturalist Jeannie Kraus. Reservations $10. 9 AM-1 PM.

24 Wednesday Seafood Workshop: All About the Oyster
Educators discuss the ecology and local cultural history of this important mollusk, and offer oysters to taste. Reservations $10. 2-4 PM

27 Saturday Carolina Maritime Model Society
Meeting open to the public, auditorium. 2 PM.

The Christmas Flotilla begins in Morehead City at 5:30 PM and arrives in Beaufort about 6:15 PM. Spectators may view the boat parade from either waterfront town. To participate with your boat and attend the awards party at the museum, call the Friends of the Museum at 252-728-2762. The event supports the Junior Sailing Program. (Saturday, Dec. 5)

The Friends of the Museum Annual Membership Meeting reports activities to members and the public and is followed by the drawing for the Swampscott Dory. Raffle tickets are $5 and one need not be present to win. The event concludes with a reception featuring holiday refreshments. (Sunday, Dec.13, Meeting 2 PM, Reception 3-4 PM)

Staff Archaeologist David Moore presents “Cold as the Night Crissie Wright Came Ashore.” So you think you know what happened that night? The myths, legends, and folklore will be discussed, and an accurate portrayal presented on the known local seafaring tragedy. Libby Haynes, guitarist & songwriter, will perform her original piece inspired by Crissie Wright. Be prepared for some surprises. (Saturday, January 16, 2 PM)

Today’s modern English language is steeped in the history and culture of past generations. Among the most significant influences on our language has been that of ancient mariners, whose nautical expressions have found their way into our everyday conversations. Let author and historian Jay Barnes “show you the ropes” in his program that explores the etymology (word origins) of these words and phrases, and offers many surprising examples of “Nautical Terms in Everyday Use.” (Tuesday, January 26, 2 PM)

The Carolina Maritime Model Society and the Inlet Inn sponsor this presentation of “Life as a Waterman on a Chesapeake Bay Skipjack.” Captain Murphy has knowledge and Tilghman Island charm that make him a delightful and well-informed historian on numerous factual and anecdotal aspects of Bay life. As a third generation waterman, his forty years of experience make the difficult task of sailing Rebecca Ruark appear easy. Find out for yourself why Captain Murphy and Rebecca Ruark, the last skipjack, have appeared in a National Geographic Television Special and numerous book and magazine articles, such as publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Baltimore Sun. (Saturday, January 30, 11 AM.)

Larry Babits, Director of the Maritime Studies Program at ECU, presents “ECU and the Civil War in North Carolina, an Underwater View.” Larry will conduct an examination of ECU and its research of the underwater battles of the Civil War in North Carolina. He will discuss the findings by ECU students who located the last known Union gunboat, the Otsego. These students honed their archaeological skills in visibility of three to four inches on a good day and often in near blackness. The Otsego was sent to wrest control of the Roanoke River from the Confederacy, but hit a cluster of mines in the river in December, 1864. Join us for this unique view of the Civil War. This presentation is hosted by the Friends of the Museum. No charge for FOM members, non-members $5. 2 PM. (Sunday, February 21, 2010, 2 PM)

Museum education programs are offered in NC maritime history and environmental education subjects. Field trips into coastal habitats may involve travel by boat or van, hiking, or wading in shallow water. Field attire includes comfortable clothes and closed-toed wading or hiking shoes (absolutely NO open-toed shoes for safety). For group programs, visit the website at www.ncmaritimemuseum.org/education. Call for details and reservations at 252-728-7317 or
e-mail maritime@ncdcr.gov.

The Cape Lookout Studies Program focuses on coastal marine research, conservation and education related to marine mammals and sea turtles. For information, contact Keith Rittmaster at 252-504-2452 or view www.capelookoutstudies.org.

WATERCRAFT CENTER
The Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, located across from the museum, is open for viewing wooden boat construction and restoration, and ship model building. The 36^th Annual Wooden Boat Show is May 1, 2010.

Boatbuilding Skills Classes are for novices and experienced woodworkers. Boatbuilding Carpentry is a prerequisite for the Boatbuilding classes. Build a Boat in a Day is for an adult/child team working from a pre-cut kit.
Contact the museum for details or view the Watercraft Center brochure.

BRANCH FACILITIES

Visit the branch museum of the North Carolina Maritime Museum. For information, contact:

Museum Calendars are mailed four times a year. It is museum policy to register participants for programs after the calendars are in the mail. Paid trip fees confirm reservations and are not refundable later than five days before the program, unless the museum cancels. Please call between 8 AM and 5 PM weekdays for reservations for cancellations. No reservations can be taken via e-mail.

Members receive quarterly mailings of the Calendar and the Waterline newsletter and discounts on some programs and in the Museum Store. FOM denotes a discount for Friends of the Museum. Contact the Friends of the Museum to join.