Fort Macon State Park- Coastal Education Center
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
The exhibits at Fort Macon Coastal Education Center examine the unique cultural and natural history associated with the Fort and the surrounding land along the eastern end of Bogue Banks. With exhibit design by Design Dimension, Inc, and building architecture by Grimsley Hobbs Architect, the Coastal Education Center at Fort Macon State Park provides coastal visitors with a state-of –the-art educational destination.
Setting the Scene for Learning
A series of vignettes tell the story of Dr Elliot Coues, who was stationed at Fort Macon immediately following the Civil War. During his time at the Fort, Coues observed, studied, and collected all species of birds indigenous to the Islands. Next visitors approach a large diorama of the Barrier Island that examines plant and animal species of the beach, dune, maritime forest, and the salt marsh zones. The coming-and-going of the tides are examined with a video and interactive model that document the tidal process. The destruction caused by coastal storms and hurricanes are presented with images and oral histories. The exhibit sequence concludes with an examination of our stewardship of the Islands and documents the pollution and destruction caused by humans.
Fort Macon was named the 2015 State Park of the Year by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation. It was chosen for its “‘exemplary contribution to the North Carolina state parks mission of stewardship, public service and education,’ and specifically recognized for initiatives in expanded recreation opportunities, volunteerism, interpretive programming and sustainability.”
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