State Boat. Navigating through the museum, visitors come face-to-face with one maritime treasure after another. Ir might be an air pump for a deep-sea diver, an engine room telegraph, fossil remains, a dugout canoe, or those ultimate treasures-artifacts from what is believed to be Blackbeard's flagship, Queen Ann/; Revenge. Navigational instruments used to determine a ship's position such as sextants and quadrants are suspended among a starlit sky in .. .And A Star To Steer Her By. The research library at the aft end of the building offers ward-room style comfort for transient boaters, students, boatbuilders, ship modelers, and others seeking information from the 1,500 volumes and magazines on maritime and natural history. In addition ro the museum's conventional role interpreting history, it also serves as a haven, which supports transient boaters-Beaufort is often a final coastal port and launching spot for vessels sailing to the Caribbean and elsewhere in the Atlantic. Across the street on the waterfront is the museum's Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center. This boatshop had charisma almost from the day it opened. The huge double doors at either end frame Tay!ors Creek as the parade of boats from all over the world transit the harbor. Inside the wooden building, volunteers work to restore wooden boats as the smell of juniper permeates the air. From a platform above the work floor, visitors observe the construction and restoration projects as well as model builders working in the ship
model shop. On weekends students participate in boatbuilding workshops that include classes in boarbuilding carpentry, diesel maintenance, plane making, lofting, oar making, and orhers. Among the projects recently completed by Watercraft Center volunteers was a 30-foot replica of a colonial era logboar called a periauger (seepages 15-11). Nearly complete is the restoration of a 26-foot Coast Guard surfboar for display at the USCG Museum in New London, Connecticut. A volunteer crew is building seventeen new Optimist prams for the museum's widely-acclaimed Ju- The museum and Watercraft Center are visible downnior Sailing Program. In fall and town on the waterfront. At the top and just to the left of winter, there are the usual repairs, the marina is the 36-acres of Gallants Channelproperty. of course, resulting from a sumeight and older, learn basic and advanced mer of youngsters learning to sail. The museum's Wooden Boat Show, sailing in the Junior Sailing Program. scheduled the first full weekend in May, Adults learn to sail in traditional boats. is an annual tradition that began in 1975. TI1e museum's continued growth is A non-commercial event with workshops, heavily dependent upon the development demonstrations, launchings, and races, the of thirty-six acres of property acquired by boat show focuses on small crafr and the the Friends of the Museum organization amateur and professional builders who come together to share their boats and experiences. Many of the environmental field trips and other education programs conducted by museum curators have been a staple for thirty years. Programs have been added or expanded to serve the increasing desire of the public
In the early stages ofconstruction, the 30joot periauger commanded its share ofspace in the museum's Harvey W Smith Watercraft Center. (Photo by Diane Hardy)
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to learn while doThese spritsail skiffs are the traditional boats used in ing and to have the adult sailing classes. (Photo by Diane Hardy) fun while learning. The quarfor future expansion. Located less than a terly calendar of activities includes marine life colmile away, the future Gallants Channel lecting cruises, field trips Annex could prove to make this museum a to coastal habitats, fossil facility better able to reach a broader pubhunts, mushroom and car- lic in, perhaps, the spirit of that estimable nivorous plant excursions, museum in Connecticut. A lofty goal inkayaking trips, seafood deed, but for a state with such a rich mariworkshops and more. The time heritage and for a museum about to Summer Science School enter Phase Three of its history, an achievfor Children provides field able one. J, classes in natural and maritime history for school-age Jane Wolff is the Public Information Officer students. Youngsters, ages and Volunteer Coordinator for NCMM.
SEA HISTORY I 09, WINTER 2004-2005