BEAUFORT-- Blackbeard has returned to the North Carolina Martime Museum in Beaufort, with the Queen Anne's Revenge newly-expanded exhibit. The exhibit opened this weekend and features new artifacts and a conservation lab.
Martitime Museums Public Relations Coordinator, David Cartier said, "People can see how things are actually conserved and worked on. It'll give them an opportunity to see what happens when an artifact comes from the ocean floor up to the museum door. So it's kind of a great opportunity for people."
Some visitors, like Billy Yeargin, came out just to see the new treasures.
"I come here periodically when they get new stuff off the ship and I just love coming down here to Beaufort and just seeing the sites and checking out the museum," said Yeargin.
Some of the new artifacts include a cannon and gold dust. Once they were brought up from the ocean it took about four to seven years to preserve them.
"I think they have to be very careful when they bring it up above the surface because it's been down there for what, 300 years and so if they're not particular with it they can probably do some damage with it real quickly," said Yeargin.
The 300-year-old artifacts give folks a chance to see part of North Carolina's rich history.
The Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum and Beaufort Wine and Food donated the money for the exhibit. The cost of the exhibit was about $40,000.