NC Maritime Museum & "Friends"

Spritsails and Optimist Prams on Taylor's Creek
in Beaufort, North Carolina

Patrons of the North Carolina Maritime Museum organized the “Friends of the Museum” in 1979 as a way for the entire state to help the North Carolina Maritime Museum grow and prosper. From July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007, the museum welcomed some 260,000 visitors.

Dr. David Nateman, director of the museum, has a Doctorate degree from Ohio State University and was formerly with the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida. David has a daughter who is a 10th grader at East Carteret High School, and a son who is a junior at UNCW. His wife, Judith Schmutz, is a Massage Therapist and owner of Hand and Spirit Therapeutic Massage in Beaufort.

David is seen, in the photo above, accepting a plaque from Ken Ries during the keel-laying ceremony for the Periauger boat-building project. Ken Ries is dressed as Abraham Sanders, builder of the 1730 Newbold-White House in Hertford, NC - now the home port of the Periauger.

Brent Creelman, now Executive Director of the "Friends," has an interesting sailing history. After graduating from Franklin Pierce University, Brent worked summers as an administrator at Maine Waterways, a wilderness tripping camp on Deer Isle, Maine. Winters were spent as captain of a private yacht out of Oriental, NC making trips to the islands.

One winter in the early 1980's, while passing through Beaufort delivering yachts, Brent fell in love with the town. He moved to Beaufort in 1986 and taught sailing and boating.

After becoming involved as a museum volunteer for the Junior Sailing program, in 1999 he was hired as Boat Program Coordinator for the "Friends". He has been Executive Director of the Friends of the Museum since 2003. Brent and his wife Kelli live in Beaufort.

The "Friends" work with the museum by underwriting new projects, purchasing equipment, funding educational and public awareness programs and acquiring land and facilities needed for expansion.

Their combined effort offers programs such as Build a Boat in a Day, Sailing Programs, Beaufort Oars, Junior Sailing Program, Sea Scouts, Summer Science School, and much more. Calendar

The Annual Wooden Boat Show takes place on the first Saturday in May on the Beaufort waterfront.

The "Friends" organization acquired thirty acres of waterfront in Beaufort, and plans to help the museum develop this property. The “Gallants Channel Annex” will provide new and exciting ways for the public and scholars to experience maritime history.

Support this project - Buy a Brick at
Old Beaufort Seaport!

Be sure to visit the newly updated
Friends of the NC Maritime Museum Website
for upcoming events in Beaufort and Southport.

Join the "Friends of the NC Maritime Museum"

Beaufort-The Town and Why It's Unique