Welcome to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum!
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras is named in honor of the thousands of shipwrecks that rest in the waters off North Carolina’s coast and is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the state’s coastal and shipwreck history.
The museum is located at 59200 Museum Drive in Hatteras. We are open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are closed Saturdays, Sundays and most state holidays.
Admission is free. Donations are appreciated and directly support museum operations.
There is free parking in a large lot located just past and adjacent to the museum. A paved sidewalk guides visitors from the parking lot to the front door. Please note: The parking lot located directly across from the museum is intended for beach users only. Please park in the museum lot when visiting us.
The museum is ADA-accessible. Wheelchairs are available for visitors who need them. Most audio-visual displays in the museum have closed captioning for the hearing impaired.
Only service animals as defined by ADA standards are permitted.
The museum gallery is self-guided. Scavenger hunts for children are available at the front desk. Check out our Calendar of Events for information about upcoming events, including our Salty Dawg Lectures and Kids Craft Days offered throughout the summer.
Our education center is open daily during museum hours and features several children’s activities including coloring pages, books, a giant Lite Bright and more. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the activities available in the education center on their own.
Shoes and shirts are required to visit the museum.
Food and beverages are strictly prohibited in the gallery.
There are restrooms located to the right upon entering the museum lobby.
Meekins Chandlery, a gift shop run by the Friends of the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is located at the exit of the gallery.
Firearms are strictly prohibited in the museum.
Public Wifi is available.
The museum is one of three sites that comprise the North Carolina Maritime Museum System. The other two are the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort and the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport. All three museums are part of the Division of State History Museums within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Be sure and follow us on social media for any last-minute schedule changes and other programming information.
