core sound waterfowl museum

sms74

J and I normally divide the kids so we can each take time to see different parts of the museum. Typically the ones with the kids don't get to see much. But everything was so beautiful and interesting. Even the youngest stayed occupied.The local talent submitting carvings, and boats, and local historical paraphenial was just spectacular. If you go up to the top of the building there is a lookout that gets you above the trees. So pretty. Be sure to go on the nature walks as well. There are some fantastic trails and bird observation decks.

Barbarainnc

Lots to see:decoys,skiffs, boats, nets and anything related to the life Down East. My grandfater was from Atlantic and I still have relatives down there. You know a person from Harkers Island when they speak. Nice place to visit. Margaret at the front desk and Jennifer in the gift shop were very nice and helpful.

JonLugoff_SC

This museum offers a very nice display revolving around the ways of life of the sound and the communities that surround this area. The downstairs area includes several good displays exploring duck hunting, boat building, fishing, and life in general where the water meets the land. On the second floor each community around the area has a table or tables displaying their local history. They suggest a $5 admission fee, but there is no pressure. If you are in Harker's Island this place is certainly worth stopping by for an hour or so.

arzado

The grounds are nice and we enjoyed the time we spent there but the local history on the second floor meant very little to me as an outsider. Some of the items upstairs were interesting but nothing struck me as something I had to see. The view from the top floor was nice. The best part of the place was the library. I sat down and opened a few quilting books. I was struck with a sense of how much community meant to the locals and I realized my own community back at home was seriously lacking community unity and spirit. If the visit here did anything for me and my family it made me realize that my town could do more to document our own history.So I'll be honest if your a local I'd say go for a visit but it your an outsider just visiting the area you might be disappointed as I was since this is very much a local history museum.

gojusensei

A delightful place for adults and children to learn about local culture and ecology. The trails were fun for the kids with the ability to access a Ranger Talk along the way. The museum itself was very clean, had excellent displays, and was rather a surprise at the end of a very nice ocean-view drive. The waterfowl decoys were remarkably created and there are opportunities to see them being made. From there, you could always hitch a ferry to an island for further exploration.

ncnativeazalea

This was extremely well done....filled with local history and fantastic black and white photographs of the boating history of this area. If you like decoys this is the best collection I have ever seen. Incredible detail. There is a nice walk around the pond where you can see whatever water foul happen to be present at the time of your visit. The views from the top of the building are wonderful. Very good displays. We enjoyed our visit! $5.oo donation suggested and it is well worth it. Very friendly staff.

SS4444

The is a local Musuem staffed by volunteers from the community. They are dedicated to documenting the local life and the waterfowl and carvers of the area. The displays are well done. They need some signage around the area to draw more people to the Museum. They request a small 5.00 donation entry for the Museum which is well worth it.

tom4cats

Much local history is being lost today whether due to our transient life style, decrease of the local historians or apathy. We had the opportunity to visit the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum on our recent vacation on Harkers Island. After meeting one of the local waterman/historian/boat wrights he told us of the museum. He is one of a few people who have personal items displayed there to show the history of the island. Their way of life is diminishing as more government regulation, dwindling young people interested in continuing family businesses and large corporations. It was a pleasure and honor to be able to see for ourselves how these islanders made a living and how they lived their lives.

Rhjones69

This place is huge! What a nice building you have and superbly decorated. You could spend a long time in here if you wanted to look at all the details.

sirjohnwhitcomb

I visited this as it was close to the ferry that takes you to Cape Lookout. I do like museums but this one was not so interesting to me. There were not many things on display to see. There were more wooden duck decoys than anything else here. A few boats... Some history if you would like to take some time to read while there. It was free although they ask for a $5.00 donation. If you have specific interest in these type of things you may enjoy.

LoriT2011

I did not plan on spending a lot of time here but there is so much to see. Besides the beautiful location (be sure to take all the trails-views that can't be beat), the wonderful staff and their stories, I learned so much about life and times of no only the decoy makers and their craft but the culture and history of a fishing community preserving a part of our North Carolina history and culture. The stories of each Core Sound community is located on the 2nd floor and is a treasure trove of artifacts. The view from the top floor across to Cape Lookout is beautiful. There is a local ferry that can take you across too! A local effort non profit museum is free but donations are appreciated.

438vanessas

My husband is an avid duck hunter so he enjoyed the decoys and history. The staff was very, very nice. They do ask for donation, but you don't have to pay anything. You can take the stairs to the second and third floor to see other things. The second floor wasnt as interesting to me, I think it needed a little professional help to make it more appealing. The top floor has a balcony to see the lighrhouse from. It was a tad chilly but we still looked and it was a beautiful view. Unique place to stop in and see.

delaneyy

Wonderful museum. A lot to view and listen to in the building.The volunteers are most helpful and are happy to answer your question. The view from the third floor is worth the admission price. There is an elevator to reach the top of the museum.

lvsdlg

These guys do a fabulous job of conveying the local history, which is unique and precious. Don't miss this.

KimE65

This is a great location to hold a wedding. Staff was wonderful to work with. Everyone loved the museum and the opportunity to see the heritage of the folks that live on the coast.