Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is a maritime museum in Hatteras Village that displays objects from hundreds of shipwrecks along North Carolina's rough coastline. The collection includes navigational tools, vessel parts, and other items recovered from the waters offshore.

The museum holds artifacts from ships that sank along this dangerous coastline over many centuries. A major highlight is the Enigma machine from the German submarine U-85, which went down in these waters in 1942.

The exhibits show how local people have lived with the sea, from early settlers to today's fishing communities. These stories reveal the deep connection between the coast and the lives of those who made their home here.

The museum sits at the southern end of Hatteras Island and is easy to reach by car. Admission is free and the exhibits are well organized, so you can explore them in a few hours.

The name Graveyard of the Atlantic comes from the large number of shipwrecks in these waters. The exact count is hard to pin down, but hundreds of vessels have met their end here.

Location: North Carolina

Inception: 2002

GPS coordinates: 35.20630,-75.70400

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:40