Membership

Become a Friend

Your membership helps preserve coastal heritage, expand maritime education and strengthen the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort for generations to come.

Explore Membership

Why Membership Matters

Your Membership Becomes Museum Impact

Members of the Friends are part of a community that believes North Carolina’s maritime heritage deserves to be preserved, experienced and shared.

Your membership helps provide resources that strengthen educational programs, preservation efforts, exhibits, hands-on maritime experiences and the work that connects the Museum with our community.

Membership at Work

What Your Support Makes Possible

Membership strengthens the programs, places and experiences that bring our maritime heritage to life.

Support Education

Help fund programs that connect students, families and visitors to North Carolina’s maritime story through meaningful learning and hands-on experiences.

Preserve Heritage

Strengthen exhibits, collections, historic watercraft, traditional skills and preservation efforts that celebrate and protect our coastal heritage.

Build Community

Join a network of members, volunteers and supporters who believe the Museum matters—today and for the generations that will follow us.

Choose Your Membership

Membership Levels

Every membership helps support the Museum’s mission. Choose the level that is right for you and build your connection to the Friends and North Carolina’s maritime heritage.

Crew

$50 / year

Your foundation as a Friend includes:

Individual membership
Members-only events
One vote at the Annual Membership Meeting
Monthly e-newsletter
Annual Friends calendar
Volunteer opportunities
Early notice of special events and Museum programs
Friends decal
10% discount on most Museum programs and Museum Store purchases

Select Crew

Helmsman

$150 / year

Everything in Crew, plus:

Family membership
Reciprocal admission benefits at participating maritime museums

Select Helmsman

First Mate

$300 / year

Everything in Helmsman, plus:

Friends hat or North Carolina Maritime Museum burgee
Friends T-shirt

Select First Mate

Captain

$500 / year

Everything in First Mate, plus:

First choice for two children or grandchildren in Junior Sailing during pre-registration

Select Captain

Admiral

$1,000 / year

Everything in Captain, plus:

Limited-edition Mary Faith Warshaw “I’m Home” print
Invitation to the annual Stewardship Event
Priority notification of Museum offerings
Family-wide discounts on fee-based Museum programs

Select Admiral

Lifetime Membership

Lifetime

$2,500 / one-time

Everything in Admiral, for life, plus:

Lifetime membership with no annual renewal
Plaque recognition
Exclusive Lifetime Membership Event

Select Lifetime

Benefits are cumulative. Each membership level includes the benefits of the level before it, along with the additional benefits shown on its card.

Membership is more than a transaction.

It is a way to become part of the community surrounding the Museum and invest directly in the maritime experiences and stories you value.

Become Part of the Story

There’s a Place for You Among the Friends

Whether you have loved the Museum for decades, recently discovered it, grew up on the water or simply believe these stories should be preserved, membership gives you a meaningful way to be part of what comes next.

Choose the membership level that is right for you and join a community helping the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort continue to educate, inspire and connect people to our coast.

Join the Friends

Help Keep Our Maritime Story Alive

Your membership is an investment in education, preservation, maritime traditions and the future of the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

Choose Your Membership