By Carol Timblin
History is reason enough to visit the Beaufort/Morehead City, NC area. Incorporated in 1722, Beaufort is one of North Carolina’s oldest towns, its past preserved at the Beaufort Historical Site. The infamous pirate Blackbeard left some of his pillage on the Queen Anne’s Revenge, his sunken ship which lies offshore. Artifacts from the site and other maritime relics are displayed at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, which also houses saltwater aquariums.
Beaufort’s first name was Fish Town and in the Old Burying Ground, the earliest legible marker is 1756. It was declared full in 1825 but still used by townspeople until the early 1900s. Many interesting characters are buried here, including an English sailor buried upright so that he could salute his king. Guided tours of the city’s historic district are available weekdays and Saturday.
In nearby Morehead City, The History Place offers varied exhibits interpreting coastal history from early settlement through World War II, plus a large genealogy library and Civil War collection. “When a relatively small band of citizens known at the Carteret County Historical and Genealogical Society decided that the heritage of Carteret County, with its ties to the sea, John Motley Morehead, and other things, was worth preserving for future generations, they created The History Place,” notes Dr. Joseph T. Barwick, president of Carteret Community College. “The History Place is a vibrant part of community life…. But just as important, it is a window visitors can look through to see life as it once was in our coastal region, and by its example, visitors can see how preserving a community's past can greatly enrich its future.” |
