Traditional Boat Building Comes Alive

One of the best places to see Beaufort’s maritime history come to life is at the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center. It’s a working boatbuilding facility that comes alive with the sounds and smells of traditional North Carolina wooden boatbuilding. It truly showcases the art and skill of traditional boat builders. When you walk through the doors and step onto the viewing platform, above the shop floor, you’ll discover it’s a great place to watch the boats take shape, from frame to finished product.

You’ll notice the Watercraft Center also provides a unique opportunity to witness a craft as old as shipbuilding itself taking shape – the construction of wooden model boats. The watercraft center is home to the Carolina Maritime Model Society.