Town of Beaufort

The quaint little town of Beaufort was originally established in 1709 for its close proximity to the excellent deep-water inlet now called Beaufort Inlet.  Throughout history, Beaufort has always been an important seaport for whalers, fisherman, merchants and even pirates.  The notorious pirate Blackbeard and his crew spent quite a bit of time in Beaufort, and their legacy still remains in the form of the many legends and ghost stories that are still told.  The Beaufort Ghost Walk takes visitors to The Hammock House, a mysterious 300 year old house once frequented by Blackbeard and reportedly home to the ghosts of some of his victims. 

Beaufort is the perfect place to begin exploring the Cape Lookout National Seashore, home to the 169-foot Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the famous Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks.  Descendants of Horses that were brought here almost 500 years ago, a herd of over 120 Horses still remains on the islands surrounding Beaufort, and they can often be seen right from the Beaufort Waterfront while they graze on the islands of the nearby Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve.

In Beaufort, you and your family will find exciting and fun things to do, beautiful scenery, amazing wildlife, great shopping, excellent restaurants, and a rare chance to step back into history.

Carteret County Chamber of Commerce
801 Arendell St.
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-6350
(252) 726-3505 Fax