Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

Ed R

2023-05

A museum built to honor and preserve the maritime culture of the Outer Banks. the structure displays artifacts, variety of exhibits about the rich maritime culture. Artifacts include items from the USS Monitor, enigma machine and items from uboat u-85 sunk of cape haterras, the magnificent fresnel lens from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, piracy and civil war related. they got good programs for kids that makes the visit not only memorable but also educational. Gift shop inside, and it's free.

Gordon Londini

2023-05

Along with visiting the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse we stopped by the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum on Hatteras island. This was a really interesting stop and the exhibits were fun to interact with. We enjoyed learning about the history of the dangerous travel along the barrier Islands on the east coast and how the weather, currents, and winds contributed to very dangerous navigating conditions. This is definitely a place that should be on your list to visit if you come to the Outer Banks islands.

Bob Mahar

2023-05

If nearby, this is a must visit museum engaged in preserving nautical and naval artifacts. At the time of my visit they had an German Enigma machine being stabilized and restored - after having been found on a sunken U boat, for example. They had a wide sampling of various diving technologies, and various displays of various sunken boats. Of course across the street you can cross a short boardwalk through the dunes to a beach for a gorgeous view of the terminus the cape.

Seth Crumpton

2022-05

Great Museum! Love American history, especially that of maritime. So interesting to see and learn about how some of these wonders, disasters and people have shaped culture and history or even the strong impact to the present and future. I personally always get caught up in the history of Titanic and the of Blackbeard, since he is so associated with Ocracoke, which I have been to several times. It is also incredibly neat to see how people lived and made a way of living during those times. When going here make sure to use the left hand driving lane or else you will have to work your way out of the line for the ferry. The building of the museum in interestingly shaped as if it were a boat itself. Enjoy!

Macky Kyle

2023-05

Great maritime museum! It is stroller friendly and well worth your time for a visit. It is conveniently located by the Ocracoke ferry so it easy to take in after a visit to Ocracoke island. It has a great collection of NC maritime artifacts and historical information. It is very informative. The museum closes at 4pm, admission is free, and they have a nice gift shop. You should definitely add this destination to your next OBX visit!

Dameka Watson

2023-11

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Selena Nederhoff

2023-05

We stopped in last minute. There were a lot of interesting artifacts from the Hatteras area. The museum is separated in area from pre-civil war, civil war, World Wars, history if diving, the Titanic in relation to the area.Of course there was an obligatory Black Beard watching over.We learned a lot about the history of the area.

Fiona London

2023-05

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Kelsey Knobloch

2023-05

This museum is "free," and it shows. That's not to say it's poorly put together, or didn't have entertaining aspects, but there aren't any amazing, you-gotta-see-this exhibits.It's free in name only: there's a suggested $5 donation per person at the door, and a volunteer to greet you and give you a look if you don't donate. The peer pressure is real.There was some hastily and sloppily repaired vandalism on some exhibits. Which I suppose is better than having the vandalism still present, but only just. It's clear they're doing their best, and the interpreter I spoke with cared quite a lot about the museum, but they desperately need a federal or private financier to bring it up to a 5 star museum.Still very much worth a stop if you're in the area, but not a must-see.

Brad Paradis

2017-05

Pretty nice little museum. It has a lobby area , an education room and one main museum room. If you're in the area I would definitely suggest stopping I wouldn't travel 100 miles to see it or anything but it's worth the stop. They do a little scavenger hunt sheet for kids to keep them occupied while you're reading the information. It's also free admission with the suggestion of the donation. Stop by and support the museum.

Amanda Whyatt

2023-05

May have been cool, but the main exhibit hall is currently closed. I would call to make sure it's open before you attend.That being said, it is free (but please make a donation), and the lighthouse history and lens in the lobby was cool. Visited the gift shop and watched the educational film as well.

The Original Kirbi

2019-05

Come here year after year and it's always a must! Love the exhibits. Yes they are text heavy, but man the information is great! For the people complaining about the Titanic exhibit didn't read the info on it and how Hatteras came into play. Very cool place to visit regardless if it's rainy or taking a break from the sun. Free with a donation box. Small, yet informative.

Bob Taylor

2020-05

OK this isn't the greatest museum in the world but it is a great place to spend a couple of hours during your beach week. This museum is especially good for grandparents and grandchildren to tour / enjoy together. Part of the museum has a renovation area for artifacts. The original Cape Hatteras Lighthouse light is there. In addition, there is a shipwreak on the beach near the museum and in 2019, an area of the beach is roped off for turtle nests.

Matthew Burns

2021-05

If you are an amateur (or even a pro) student of history, you'll like this place. It covers the nautical and marine history of the Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras from the Explorers until today. I especially liked all the info on sunken ships.

k m

2023-05

There is quite a bit of interesting naval history at the museum. Part of the original Frenell lens from the Hatteras Lighthouse is housed here. Beware, though- despite being in a tourist town, the hours are only 10 am-4pm!

Nathaniel Swartz

2022-05

I really like the area they picked, but the museum consists of a good deal of written descriptions, photos, and some artifacts. The artifacts themselves are very interesting (they have several damaged enigma machines) but they lack much in the way of description or context.

Ann Bridgers

2019-05

Even though you were closed when we went for a visit, we still enjoyed the grounds outside and walked out on the pier. Thanks for a lovely time and hopefully we can get back one of these Days to see the inside of this museum. Please consider opening on Mondays!!!

Ralph Moxley

2019-05

I had the strangest experience when we got out of the vehicle in the parking lot. The photo where you see one person's lower half actually was two people the other one was me. For some strange reason I did not appear in the photograph. Go figure! After that I did my best to take some photographs and be done with that place. Enjoy!

Tom Chan

2019-05

A free museum that has quite a collection of historical ship wrecks. We spent less than an hour there. The parking area is also a good spot where you could access the beach in a short walk.

Brian Merzbach

2022-05

Free museum that is well worth a visit if you are visiting Hatteras. Lots of interesting artifacts and information on shipwrecks off the NC coast. There's also a scavenger hunt available for kids.

Edmund Iverson

2019-05

A great collection of coastal artifacts, but was hoping for more information on shipwrecks through the years. I apparently just missed the Blackbeard /Queen Anne's Revenge display by three days, and really wanted to see more of that aspect of the Outer Banks history. But the recovered fresnel lens from the old Hatteras light is a treasure indeed.

Elieen Emblidge

2022-05

This is a beautiful free museum (they do take donations)We learned so much! From Pirates, to who fought where and how it shaped the coast!Bring the kids and have fun.

Marsha TravelMastersNWA

2022-05

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Ken S.

2023-05

For a museum called the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" there is surprisingly little to see. What there was is informative and entertaining, however.

Stan Arnold

2022-05

Not as large as expected, but very informative. Interesting to find out about the German U-boats off the OBX coast during WWI. Displays were easy to read, nicely done, and there was a natural flow to the exhibits. Great half-day trip in the Outer Banks!

Henry Lanouette

2022-05

Great place to learn the history of the shipwrecks in the area. Lots of excellent exhibits and explanations of maritime disasters. Definitely a must see.

DJ/Don Heinz

2021-05

We were blown away by the Blackbeard relics, as well as the History of Scuba exhibit. We are divers, so this was interesting and brought back some fond memories of the equipment I used when first certified in the 1970s.

Derek Cladek

2022-05

We came here to experience the long drive down to the ferry. Took a break to see the ocean. Tropical Storm Claudette just past by so it was cool to see the big waves. The sky cleared up quickly and the sun came out. Was still very windy and the ferry was still running. Worth the experience of just driving down here.

Linda Dickman

2023-05

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Jim Nestle

2023-05

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