Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

I've been wanting to visit this place for years and finally had the opportunity this year. Admissions is free, they do have donation boxes and QR codes posted if you would like to donate. The place has a lot of videos and interactive screens/tablets. It's worth stopping in and at least seeing once in your life in my personal opinion.

Neat educational spot that can be explored in an hour. Amazing to see how many shipwrecks took place in the area. The interactive touchscreen map really put the scope into perspective. Admission is free and they do accept donations.

Very limited, not much to see. Beautiful building The beginning movie was interesting. Also like the video showing all the wrecks around Wonderful staff Sad limited gift shop

Absolutely amazing. First time back since the remodel and I love it. The displays were informative and very beautiful.

Went here for a break from the beach. My kids all enjoyed it. They had a scavenger hunt for the kids to complete which engaged them into the exhibits. Place was pretty interesting and it was free. If you’re down that way you should stop in and check it out.

Love the history lesson. Nice place, lots of things to see. The gift shop is amazing.

Overall for as big as the building is, exhibit was smaller than expected however the items that are there are very neat and they all have a nice read to them. Crazy to think where those items came from. Worth a trip from nags head maybe not, but if you’re in the area it’s worth a visit.

This was a very interesting exhibition. Push all the buttons to listen to the stories. Very enjoyable 90 minutes or more.

A MUST!!!!!! Small and free. Took us about an hour and man was it worth it! We learned so much about the sea around us was truly amazing and truly had no idea. The two ladies at the entrance was soooo nice!! Do yourself a favor take out an hour of your time and go you will be amazed

Small but well curated collection with video explanations and exhibits, sound effects, and a collection if items. The remodeled museum was done well done - it is only open on the weekdays which is a bummer for those who only visit during a weekend but otherwise is a worthwhile stop. Free admission too and kind curators!

Admission fees are by donation so just pay what you can. Nice location and very friendly staff. They mentioned the museum was renovated not too long ago. I enjoyed hearing the shipwreck stories and watching the short film. Worth a quick visit if you're in the area.

Consider this museum the graveyard of your ignorance about Hatteras-area shipwrecks! This is a really neat little museum! Great introductory video, good use of interactive technology displays, and lots of interesting artifacts on display. Turns out there are a ton shipwrecks out there! Watch out for uboats during your stay on OBX! I wish there was more content on Blackbeard and his final battle which I believe was nearby, given how about 30% of the gift shop is pirate merch. Maybe they covered it and I missed it. Easy to get in, the price is low, and this museum is small enough for a quick visit (not something you'll be spending hours at) while packing a lot of info punch! I can see how you might not want to drive all the way down to the end of the island unless you are really into fresnel lenses, vials of porpoise oil, brass fittings, scale models of schooners etc. But for my 13 yo daughter and me it was totally worth it! Just go there by car, not by boat!

My mom and I drove all the way to the end of the line and went to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. The museum is adjacent to the ferry to Ocracoke Island. There is ample parking and the museum is free, but donations are welcome. There is also a gift shop. There was a lot to read here. This museum, I feel, missed the mark. They could be doing some really awesome exhibits, or exhibiting what they have in a better, interactive way. Or at least in a more interesting way. I didn't feel like reading the long descriptions. I thought there would be more shipwreck items on display. I was expecting more and my expectations weren't even halfway met, so I was disappointed. I would say skip this, if you won't be in the area, and even if you need more things to do, I'd say skip it. I wasn't impressed. The one thing I did love, was the research area. I wish there were researchers there, or a little more going on. That was interesting.

Went to this place as part of my family's North Carolina Vacation, we visited on 6/8/2022. This musuem is free, and very interesting. This is a musuem about shipwrecks, so you'll learn about the bombing of a World War I ship, the various U-boat attacks, plus more on fishing, blackbeard the pirate, scuba diving, The very famous shipwreck: which is the titanic, and it's amazing connection to Cape Harateras. that was my favorite part of the whole trip. They also had a movie in which what the musuem is about. There is also a gift shop inside the musuem: however they should add more stuff-- like maybe carry the titanic movie? or a couple of documentaries would be cool too. overall liked this musuem!

Being interested in maritime history, particularly the North Carolina coast and Outer Banks, I finally made the long drive AND arrived before the museum closed. Plenty of interesting artifacts telling the story and history of The Graveyard of the Atlantic. I could have stayed longer checking all the notes and markers Next time I will make sure of the museum hours before I make the trip. I would suggest you do the same.

This is a beautifully taken care of museum. So. Much more than I ever expected to see. It is amazing to see how many wrecks there are just off the coast here...

I really enjoyed the museum ... I love all things concerning water , beach, ocean etc.. But unlike my better half I cannot set day after day four hours on the beach.. I have to be in, on or under the water.... So while she was enjoying the sun and sand I went exploring and stopped into the museum.... I was disappointed that I could not take pictures of the displays, but I do understand. Being a big scuba diver , I enjoyed the history of diving.... Except I did find one mistake in the displays....They had a Scuba Pro Regulator labeled as a U.S. Diver... now for the casual museum patron no big deal... but it was wrong.... I mentioned it to the lady up front .. she was just a receptionist and a volunteer so I did not push the point... Otherwise a good little museum to spend an hour or so in....

Very cool and small museum. A lot of reading. No photography of exhibits allowed. Genuine artifacts from shipwrecks and a lot of Civil War era stuff. Free admission. The building looks like a ship. Not so much about the plethora of shipwrecks off the coast as you would think. It talks about specific wrecks and a lot about wars, Civil War in particular, and the ships used. Talks about diving and SCUBA. Has a section on Titanic which ppl think is irrelevant but the relevance is rlly about using SOS signals and the Titanic's SOS was intercepted at Hatteras (the original documentation of such is in the museum).

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is a rather small museum. You can see everything in less than an hour. Unlike most museums, it's not open on Sundays. A really good thing about this museum Salty Dawgs Lecture Series which covers everything from cooking local fish to underwater archeology, and a whole lot in between. The museum is operated upon a donation basis. Its displays are nicely arranged but to my mind not many items of significance or interest. There's a ship's bell, a life boat, a silver tea service, a display on the evolution of diving, antique navigational lights, a fishing section, some things on the Titanic which of course has nothing to do with the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" area, not all that much on Blackbeard, the age of piracy or matters pertaining to Blackbeard's last stand off Ocracoke Island before being killed by those aboard a ship captained my Robert Maynard. But there are plenty of gifts, tee shirts and souvenirs for sale.

Modern museum with some pretty cool artifacts. Located right next to the ferry terminal, it is the only museum to my knowledge that has a dedicated section to the Battle of the Atlantic which occurred right off of Cape Hatteras. The only issue I had with this place was the hours of operation. The hours for this museum should be adjusted for the summer hours when tourism is at its peak.

A very nice historical museum that is a must see if you are in the Hatteras area. So much history in a remote area. Love it!!

I LOVE THIS PLACE! Iconic; "shipwrecked" styled building. Spent the day at a underwater seminar. The museum is five themed in many respects; full of the passion for the graveyard. Dive and ecology enthusiasts clearly have embraced the spirit of this place. So thankful to have attended this event. 4 hours was an easy drive...

this place is great. I am interested in pirates, and they have a lot of pirate things on display. they even have pirate treasure. they have things related to ships. they have ship bells on display and many interesting things. I found it very interesting when I visited.

Lots of history here! Quality exhibits and lots to read. Probably not as interesting for little ones. I'm glad we came here as we disembarked the ferry from Ocracoke.

This place had some interesting and neat-to-see artifacts; the highlight being the practically hidden and completely underplayed Enigma Machine. The Enigma Machine was definitely the most enticing factor about going to the museum, and then it was just sitting quietly in the corner of the lobby. I think a lot of people would be interested in seeing this artifact and if a person wasn't paying attention, they could easily blow right by it. The rest of the museum had some interesting relics and noteworthy reading material - our favorite being the large wall-mounted flag in the front of the main room. Be sure to look up or you may miss it. They also had a neat station to learn how to tie nautical knots. This museum was a fun FREE thing to do on the island and if you have some extra time to spare on a weekday during your visit, we'd recommend you stop by!

I love museums, I love shipwrecks and I love nautical history, but this museum just doesn't really cut it. To those that say it's free...no, that's now how this works, that's now how any of this works. They have a suggested donation, which means throw a few bucks in at least. You'll still be able to buy a sixer of bud heavy afterwards don't worry. The museum itself looks big on the outside but really has nothing. While there are a handful of artifacts it is really just one big room that doesn't really focus on the Graveyard of the Atlantic. They had an exhibit on the Monitor and some cool Civil War stuff (which I love), a few things about a U-Boat with a few artifacts. I guess the cooler artifacts were those taken from the Queen Anne's Revenge, but they are few and far between. I think this needs to reinvent itself as a Hatteras Maritime Museum. We were in and out in 30 minutes, and I am the type of guy who reads everything. Overall, I can say I went but I likely wouldn't come back.

This museum is small and only took me about an hour to do a thorough walk through. They have a suggested donation box for entry and it's well worth it in my opinion. I love history though and especially maritime history. They have a scavenger hunt through the museum which would probably keep children engaged while walking through. I loved the display of the different types of knots, shipwreck history, boat history, model ships and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse lens. If you are expecting a high level museum this really isn't the place for that but, it was well laid out and speaks to the local history well. I noticed that they also offer programs, most of which are free and they range from cultural talks to seafood cooking presentations. It's a good place to pass the time or browse during a rainy day in OBX.

No water allowed inside. They have you leave it at the door. An hour is enough time to look through this museum. Some neat history to learn. Gift shop is huge.

Nice little museum! Quite a lot to look at & read. It took us about an hour to complete. Bring a sweater - it was freezing!!

Wonderful museum full of different artifacts from different wars & sunken ships. My boys, husband & father loved it. The people there were very nice too.

Nice little drive along the island of Hatteras in the outer banks of N.C. We came on the Saturday after Thanksgiving & were greeted by a huge screw (or propeller for non-nautical folks) & an anchor to boot! Ample parking located adjacent to the museum. Entrance begins at 10 am (please check FB page as hours subject to change due to seasonal need) & is FREE however donations are welcomed. Stop by the front desk to grab a treasure hunt sheet (prize given at the end if you answer all questions correctly!) to begin your journey into the history of the graveyard of the Atlantic! First you see an original lease from cape Hatteras from the 1800s which is amazing. The detail & craftsmanship is to be admired! There is an educational room to the right when you walk in with books, coloring sheets, etc for kids of all ages. Once through the well appointed foyer you will enter to the back left the gallery of graveyard ships! Please NO flash photography as it affects the preservation of the items located within. You will be amazed at all of the artifacts located within & information on local history. Look for the Doritos mention. Takes about 45-60 minutes to your. Fun facts abound! Don't forget the quaint gift shop with local artisans work featured. Enjoy!

My nephew and I stopped in while traveling through the Outer Banks and found that while small and limited, this museum is well worth the price of admission, which is by donations only. Set in diorama style, the exhibits required about an hour and were an interesting diversion. Recommended.

The perk about this place is its free! Cool nautical Museum! Not really set up for kids younger than 12. I would not make a special trip more than 10 minutes to come see this museum! But i found the place cool and intriguing because I am a merchant marine. Cool stuff just wouldn't suggest coming back here unless really interested in nautical stuff.

I suspect that many people negatively reviewing this place don't have very strong attention spans or are expecting a Michael Bay-esque experience. This place isn't free, it relies on donations. That being said, it's definitely more for adults. Some of the displays were pretty interesting and informative. Some really neat stuff on the history of wrecks of the monitor and the nautical history of the OBX. Also, when you're done, the beach nearby is one of the best that I've ever been to.

We have been here a few times now. Donation request as you enter. Don't forget to sign-in before leaving. More for adults/teens than small children. Highly recommend checking this place out!!

Give them credit: "Graveyard of the Atlantic" is an awesome name for a museum, but the reality is very dull. I was expecting a lot of nautical history, artifacts from sunken ships, etc. this was a couple of rooms with 300-word plaques describing Hattaras' role in the Civil War and WWII. We drove almost two hours from Duck to check it out. Really regret it. If you're staying in Hattaras and have time to kill on a rainy day ... Well, it's free (ask for donations), but under no circumstances should you drive out of your way for it. DEFINITELY not for kids.

Nice place just beside the Ferry going to Ocracoke. YOU copuld spend anywhere from 20 minutes to a little more than an hour here depending on your level of interest in the Subject. If you're just visiting and are at the Ferry anyway, you should go in here for a bit. Definitely got my interests up.

An excellent museum, and the price is right...FREE! Plan on spending at least 2 1/2 hours to see all of the exhibits.

If your in the area it's worth stoping I wouldn't make a special trip. No admission fee but there is a donation box on the way in. I do recommend dropping a few bucks in as they aren't state funded and they are trying to expand.

This is my hands down my favorite attraction along the Outer Banks. If you're looking for a day away from the brutal sun or an escape on a rainy day, this is your place to be!!! First off, there's so much rich history packed into this museum. From the enormous lighthouse parts in the entryway (bell and original LAMP PARTS!) to the football sized gallery of the OBX's finest Civil War treasures, Titanic ORIGINAL ITEMS and spooky pirate treasures, this place is a WIN to me when it comes to a engaging attraction. Contrary to many of the other reviews, this museum was perfect for my family and I. I have a 4 year old and a 10 year old and they both thoroughly enjoyed it, being an interactive museum for all ages. When reading these reviews you gotta consider the average reviewers attention span (some not more than my 4 year olds LOL). Overall I cannot say ENOUGH good things about this place and we will surely be coming back!!!

First time I went here, I read each exhibit. Second time, I headed right towards the Queen Anne's Revenge artifacts cause that's the part that interests me. I feel like I cheated that time, but how many times am I expected to look at the lighthouse lens and war stuff? Aside from the pirate stuff, my kids were not impressed. I wasn't expecting them to be. This place is more of a visit for the husband and me. Right outside the museum, by the way, is a really nice access point to the beach.

not really what i was expecting. as others said to me, there's "a lot of reading" necessary here. some of it's interesting. some not so much. was lead to believe that this was an actual "graveyard" of shipwrecks but it's really nowhere near big enough and would also have to be located on the water - which it is not quite. still, some of the exhibits were interesting to see and read. it was conveniently located very near our beach house so it wasn't a terrible way to waste an hour or two.

Not bad. It's a small place but you could spend the whole day reading and observing and not see the same thing twice. There's a few fun kid activities but if you're coming solely for the kids, don't plan on staying long.

Was different. Nobody around to ask anything of or get answers to. Some neat stuff in back room, but nothing flows. A lot of reading stuff on walls.

Cute museums with lots of information about pirates and historical events related to the OBX. We got lucky and came on a day when there was a live performance all about Blackbeard. Check out what events are going on when planning your visit. Definitely worth a visit if you like history!

Pretty cool, lots of interesting stuff, runs on donation so please drop something in the jar worth a stop.

I wouldn't make a trip from Nags Head to just see this museum. It simply isn't worth it. However, if you're already in the area I would stop by. The museum is free with a suggested donation. No one is looking at the donation box...it's really just a suggestion. I thought the museum as a whole was good so far but it seems to be a major work in progress. The light from the Hatteras lighthouse is really neat to look at but beyond that, it's a lot of reading and dressed up mannequins. I read a lot of it and it's neat information but I can also read it on the internet. I was hoping to see more about shipwrecks and less about pirate life.

This was a huge financial undertaking for the area and they can't grow w/out visitor contributions. So go and give 'em money..there's lots more planned, and a LOT of history here.

I was underwhelmed. The museum is free (donations encouraged) but even for free, I expected more. I thought maybe there would be information about pirate ships, ancient ships, ships sunk by storms and hurricanes. It is mostly about the USS Monitor from the Civil War and ships sunk by U-boats in WWII. There is a LOT of reading and very little hands-on demonstrations. I think most kids would be bored.

Big fan. If, like most visitors this far south, you plan on a ferry trip to Ocracoke this is a must see before or after the ferry ride. It's free, but they recommended a $5 donation. Well worth your time and the $5 donation.

This is a small museum but they have some neat artifacts. They have the original top from the original Cape Hatteras lighthouse. There are a few small exhibits and artifacts from various shipwrecks including the Queen Ann's revenge. There is also an exhibit on civil war history in the outer banks, some fishing stuff and an assortment of diving breathing gear. It took about 30 minutes to walk through and read half of the displays. Definitely something to check out if you are staying down that way or ob the way to visit Ocracoke.

As with everything in life -- you get what you pay for. Since it's free, you don't get much. We're staying in Corolla so I definitely don't think it's worth an insanely long drive from the opposite end of the Outer Banks. I think we spent more time in the gift shop than in the rest of the museum. The name drags you in...it sounds interesting! But I wouldn't recommend spending a lot of time in a car unless you're staying down on that end anyway.

First, a comment to all those that refer to the museum as free, this museum like so many others relies on donations for operations and exhibits. There IS a recommended donation(different than free), I would suggest that at a minimum, you show your support by donating something, rather than nothing... I enjoyed the museum, it is definitely newer and will require time to grow, but the exhibits were well done with a fair amount of artifacts on display. Though I was surprised about the relatively small amount of objects directly relating to shipwrecks along the OBX. One would think that the natives of the island would have donated more shipwreck artifacts than they currently have on display. Still well worth your time and I feel like this place will only get better over the years.

I had high hopes for this museum but was kinda disappointed. The focus was mostly on WWII and the Civil War. It did have some interesting artifacts but not the compelling storytelling or factual data to answer all of my questions about the graveyard of the atlantic. There's no admission fee but you can make a donation to help them grow and improve the museum.

I was excited to see the exhibits but there was zero rhyme or reason to the layout. No explanation of why this is the 'graveyard of the Atlantic,' no timeline of shipwrecks and what's been done to prevent them, no obvious starting point... I could go on. It is free, so that's good. I'd like to see it after an overhaul to a better format.

Very disappointed nothing really as expected. Very little about shipwrecks. I felt frustrated as to trying to follow any sequence of events that were presented. Poorly done I thought.

It was open to the public when I went, but was still incomplete. There were not many displays available at that time. I assume by now they have completed their museum. I still think it's worth seeing if you're in the Hatteras Village area.