Beaufort Maritime Museum set to reopen after year-long renovation

BEAUFORT, N.C. (WITN) - Beaufort’s Maritime Museum will reopen to the public Saturday after closing for more than a year for renovations.

The museum closed in November 2024 for an HVAC system renovation and now features new and revamped exhibits along with improved climate control.

“A lot of the exhibits are going to look similar to what people might remember, and we have some totally new stuff that people will really enjoy,” said Michael Carraway, museum exhibit curator.

The museum added two brand new exhibits: the Life-Saving Service U.S. Coast Guard exhibit and the Swell Times exhibit. Carraway said visitors will have a different experience than their last visit.

“If you’re not from here and you’re visiting, then you can use this opportunity to learn about the place that you’re in and the place you’ve come to visit,” Carraway said.

Jamie McCargo, museum site manager, joined the renovation process in June 2025. She said the renovation required completely dismantling existing displays.

“We had to deinstall all of our artifacts and exhibits, and that meant they all had to be carefully packed and stored,” McCargo said.

All museum employees had to leave their offices and work remotely during the renovation. The museum will open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.