The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center

Learn about the heritage of the "down east" people and explore the cultural and natural resources of the Core Sound region of North Carolina.

Preview your trip on the web: The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center

Learn more

• Local Legacies Find out about the history of North Carolina's State Fair, the outdoor symphonic drama of Roanoke Island's Lost Colony (which has been playing since 1937), the National Hollerin' Contest, the City Park Carrousel, and much more.
• Lesson plan: Postcards of the Past Students will participate in Heritage Day activities that will enhance students' awareness of their heritage. They will take digital pictures of activities to include on a web page, and research and report on information gathered. Students will create a web page to present their information.

Related pages

• North Carolina Maritime Museum: Students will learn about the rich maritime history of the North Carolina coast as well as the coastal environment and barrier island ecology.
• Museum of the Cherokee Indian: Official site of the museum of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.
• The Old Depot Association: The museum provides exhibits that honor the local and mountain heritage and crafts. A photographic exhibit in the Caboose Museum shows the pictures of the history of the depot and has railroad memorabilia and music of the era.

Related topics

• Learn more about Carteret County, Core Sound, North Carolina, Shackleford Banks, culture, fishing, folk arts, history museums, tradition, wild horses, wildfowl, and woodworking.

Legal

The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center was built in an effort to preserve the wildfowl heritage of the Core Sound area. Its exhibits show the importance of protecting the natural resources and traditions that make up this coastal way of life. Located within Cape Lookout National Seashore on Harkers Island, the area includes a 4-acre freshwater waterfowl habitat area, hiking trails and viewing platforms.

The exhibits highlight the cultural and natural resources of the Core Sound region of North Carolina. On the first floor of the museum, the main exhibit depicts the seasonal changes of a year on Core Sound. The second floor mezzanine has "displays of historical events, artifacts and people who have contributed to each community’s story as well as to the collective history of Core Sound. The second floor will also provide an area for traveling exhibits of decoy collections, waterfowl art, historic exhibitions, photography and other appropriate visiting collections. In the Education Hall and Outside Exhibits, visitors will learn about today’s living traditions and the natural resources that sustain them."

Located at the "end of the road" in Harkers Island, the Center is open year-round, seven days a week, closing only for Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Hours are 10:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Saturday; 2:00pm - 5:00pm on Sunday. There is no admission charge and groups are welcome. To arrange a visit to the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, call (252)728-1500.

View Larger Map