Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center

Trace the historic roots of Harkers Island and its centuries-long life on the water with a visit to the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center. Located in the heart of Harkers Island along Island Road, (an authentic Crystal Coast community that is a far cry from the bustling beaches), this uniquely surprising museum shines a light on how fascinating and essential this small-town community is to the Southern Outer Banks landscape.

The museum has a wealth of exhibits on display that highlight the region’s main business of boat building and decoy crafting, but which also shed new light on the Cape Carteret’s unique local environment and history. Museum patrons can view the ongoing restoration of the “Jean Dale,” (an ancient wooden vessel that was first built in the mid-1900s), explore a network of interpretive trails that surround the adjacent Willow Pond, or take a tour of “David’s Room” - where a collection of Core Sound decoys can be found, which were crafted by master carver, David Lawrence. With additional rotating exhibits, which can include everything from local baseball teams to the history of Cedar Island and its surrounding towns, everyone can discover an attention-grabbing chapter or two of the area’s vastly rich history.