The museum is currently open from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday with the exception of state holidays.
Beginning June 1st, we will be open from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday with the exception of state holidays.
If we need to close unexpectedly, we will post that on our website and social media channels so please check those before visiting.
There is no admission cost. As part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Regional History Museum Division, we offer free admission. If you are inclined, we have two donation boxes placed in the lobby and main gallery. Monetary donations directly support museum operations.
The museum's parking lot is located just past the building itself. It is suitable for all types of vehicles, including RVs and trailers. No overnight parking is allowed. The small lot directly across from the museum is for beach access and we ask that you not park there to visit the museum.
That depends on you! The museum is self-guided so it will likely depend on how much reading you want to do. We recommend planning to stay for at least one hour.
The museum is fully accessible to those with mobility issues. The museum offers two wheelchairs for visitor use, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Most audio-visual displays in the museum have closed captioning for the hearing impaired.
Pets are not allowed inside the museum. Only medical service animals, as specified by ADA standards are permitted.
We offer scavenger hunts at our front desk for children to enjoy throughout the museum. Upon completion, they will be given a prize at the front desk.
We also offer our education center which features coloring pages, books, a giant Lite Bright and more. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the activities available in the education center on their own.
Food and beverages are not permitted in the museum gallery. You may leave water bottles or other such items at our lobby desk if you would like. The Meekins Chandlery Gift Shop sells snack items.
Absolutely! We ask that you please schedule tours and school trips in advance. Please contact us at (252) 986-0720 with your preferred date and time, and approximate number of participants.
We do not give guided tours, as the museum is designed to be fully self-guided. We can offer a brief introduction in our lobby to what visitors will see and answer any questions they may have.
Photos may be taken on a personal device for personal use. Please remember to turn off your flash to protect the objects! Tripods, selfie sticks, and professional camera equipment are not permitted. For information on professional photography, please contact Mary Massie, Site Manager at mary.massie@dncr.nc.gov or 252-986-0722.
If you have any item you are interested in donating to us, please reach out at 252-986-0720 to speak with our Education Curator. We cannot accept donations without an appointment.
If you find an artifact on the beach, the best thing to do is leave it! The beaches on Cape Hatteras are part of the National Park Service’s Cape Hatteras National Seashore and are federally protected (which includes any items on the beaches). If you feel the artifact may be of significance or in danger of washing away, you can take a picture, mark the location with GPS point (available on your smartphone map), and call the Cape Hatteras National Seashore at 252-473-2111. The museum can not accept items brought in that were found on the beaches in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
For more information, see our Donate page.