NORTH CAROLINA

The North Carolina Maritime Museum
This collection of museums houses a variety of maritime artifacts and fascinating educational exhibits in three locations in Beaufort, Hatteras, and Southport. The North Carolina Maritime Museum Summer Science School (offered at the Beaufort museum) is a program offered to first through tenth grade students. Participants are introduced to the natural environments and the maritime history of coastal North Carolina. Topics include Coastal Adventures and Searching for Blackbeard. For more information (including telephone numbers and hours for all three museums), visit their Web site at: http://www.ncmaritimemuseums.com/.

The Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site
The Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site consists of an archaeological site with reconstructed temples and a mortuary. The visitor center offers several programs including an audiovisual presentation that introduces the site and adds realism to the 13th-centry ceremonial center. For more information, visit its Web site at: http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/town/town.htm.

Museum of the Cherokee Indian
This museum features artifacts and exhibits that demonstrate how Native Americans lived, hunted, and survived through prehistoric times. Recent high-tech renovations bring history to life for visitors. Check their website for hours and more information: http://www.cherokeemuseum.org/.

Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill
The Mountain Farm Museum is a collection of preserved buildings from different parts of the Smoky Mountains that have been gathered into one location. A working blacksmith shop, a farmhouse, barn, and apple house are a few of the structures that offer visitors the chance to see what life was like one hundred years ago. Demonstrations and a visitor's center also provide educational opportunities. Visit their website for more information: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/mfm.htm.

The North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences features permanently displayed dinosaur fossils, including "Willo," the world's first dinosaur with a fossilized heart. The museum also offers many programs and special events, including the Junior Curators program for high school students. For younger children there is a discovery room where they can engage in interactive programs. For more information, call 919-733-7450, or visit its Web site at: www.naturalsciences.org.

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