Points of Interest

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

Where Hatteras Island tells the story of the shipwrecks that gave this stretch of coast its name

(2,200)

Hatteras, NC

About

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum sits in Hatteras village, steps from the harbor where the ferry to Ocracoke departs, and it exists because of the waters just offshore. Diamond Shoals, the Gulf Stream colliding with the Labrador Current, and centuries of shifting sandbars have wrecked thousands of ships off this stretch of Cape Hatteras National Seashore — enough that sailors nicknamed it the Graveyard of the Atlantic long before the museum took the name. Run by the state of North Carolina, it's free to enter and open Tuesday through Saturday.

What's inside

Exhibits on shipwrecks recovered from the waters around Hatteras and Diamond Shoals
Displays on the U.S. Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard crews who worked these beaches before modern rescue equipment existed
Coverage of "Torpedo Junction," the World War II stretch of coast where German U-boats sank Allied merchant ships within sight of the beach

Planning a visit

The museum keeps shorter hours than a lot of Hatteras Island's outdoor attractions — 10am to 5pm, closed Sunday and Monday — so it pairs well with a rainy-day itinerary or a stop before or after the Ocracoke ferry. Give it an hour or so; it's compact but dense with real maritime history, a natural complement to a stop at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse a few miles up the road.

Reviews (2,200)

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4.6

2,200 reviews

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Michelle with Lieb Photographic

3 months ago

This is one of those smaller museums that is packed with interesting facts you wish you knew earlier if you've been visiting the Outer Banks for decades! It's an aesthetic beauty...the engineers, artists and architects behind this museum must have spent many thoughtful hours designing the structure both inside and out. The stories told of lost lives, those saved and tales of the deep are often sad and tragic but also some were surprising and encouraging. I found it so engaging that I ended up reading more on my own about them even after we left the museum. There are lots of hidden gems in this museum and my entire family enjoyed it.

Archangelx2x09

5 months ago

Very nice museum! It was clean and very informative. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. There was a neat scavenger hunt for the kids as well. Definitely recommend! Oh and it was free to get in as well when we went!

Daniel Payne

2 months ago

We stayed in kdh but made the drive. Its free and has alot of exhibits. Not big in size easy to get around.

Jeanne Caldwell

3 months ago

No tickets are necessary for this museum. Donations are welcomed and needed. If you want to learn about our East coast maritime history, shipwrecks, World War II history, Lifesaving Service history and SO much more, The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is where you need to be! It is a yearly visit for us and it's always amazing! Plenty of activities for kids!

Heather Hale

a month ago

Free to get in, donations are accepted! They gave my kids a scavenger hunt to find various items throughout the museum and upon completion they got a bracelet and sticker. This was awesome for them as they get bored very quickly. This place has a lot of history and is cool to checkout if you’re in the area!