Another plug for the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

[OceanCityGirl]

I know alot of folks on here visit the OBX area. I just came back from my annual trip. On the very tip of Cape Hatteras is an excellent museum.
http://www.graveyardoftheatlantic.com/
Right now it's small and free with a donation box. It's being built by a small group of volunteers on a shoestring budget. Much of their funding fell thru due to them being needed for Katrina relief. If you are part of a phan club who does charitable work they would greatly appreciate any donations.
Right now the museum has 2 enigma machines, alot of ship-wreck pieces and my favorite Cape Hatteras original fresnel lense which they are working on restoring and trying to get the missing lenses for. These lenses are in the hands of folks who have taken them over the years. Some people have sent them to the museum since they've heard of the restore. They also have an excellent bookstore. I bought a book on pirate women, one on the search for Hatteras fresnel lense and one on the ghost-ship of diamond shoals.
They are trying hard to preserve an important piece of our maritime heritage in this museum. But everything is being done on an as cash is in hand basis. They have alot of artifacts to put out but their main display room is not finished due to funds. The outside of the building resembles a large wooden ship.
Plug over.

[cocotel]

I've got some friends heading that way the latter part of next week.
I tipped them off and we are working on getting some funds together for them to take with them.
Do you have any contacts that they may want to talk with?

The OBX is an important part of my state and I thank you for this message.

Cocotel

[OceanCityGirl]

no names. But every time I've been there it's been the same gentleman in the store and the same two people working the desk. Anybody they talk to will be very helpful and the few people who are there all of the time are the ones trying to get the museum up and running.
Your friends should know that if they weren't planning on going all the way out to the Hatteras area the musum that the museum isn't fully operational. It's good for a couple hours but not more yet. The folks there are great though and if you ask them about the other things they are working on they might show you around to the back room that's being finished.
I post about this from time to time because our nautical heritage is important to most parrotheads. These people are working hard at it. They have cooperative ventures with several college programs and some marine archeology groups. Several of the people involved in getting it started are former navy people who have a stong interest.
If your friends go please let me know how they like it. Make sure they go thru the outside museum where they have an area of monuments to specific ships and military battles that took place. Also the beach walk up ramp in front of the museum leads to a beautiful beach.