The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island sits in Manteo on the Outer Banks, just a short drive from Nags Head and overlooking the Croatan Sound. It traces its roots to September 1976, when it opened as one of three North Carolina Marine Resources Centers before being renamed in 1986 as part of the state’s three-site North Carolina Aquariums system, alongside sister facilities at Pine Knoll Shores and Fort Fisher.
Today the 61,000-square-foot building sits on roughly 16 acres and centers on a 285,000-gallon tank nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic, which features a recreation of the sunken Civil War ironclad USS Monitor surrounded by sand tiger sharks. The aquarium reopened in 2000 after a major expansion and later added the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center in 2014, a dedicated hospital for injured and cold-stunned sea turtles.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Manteo, North Carolina (Roanoke Island)
- Opened: 1976 (expanded 2000)
- Size: About 61,000 sq ft on 16 acres
- Tank Volume: 285,000-gallon centerpiece tank; about 410,000 gallons total
- Animal Count: Over 2,200 animals
- Annual Visitors: More than 280,000
- Famous for: USS Monitor shipwreck exhibit and sea turtle rehabilitation
The Visitor Experience
Guests move through exhibits tracing the fresh and saltwater habitats of northeastern North Carolina, from marsh creeks to the open Gulf Stream. The highlight is the Graveyard of the Atlantic tank, where divers feed sand tiger sharks and other fish swimming around the USS Monitor replica, a nod to the many shipwrecks scattered off the Outer Banks coast. Outdoor areas add a shoreline boardwalk, a nature trail, and play spaces for younger visitors.
Sea Turtle Rehabilitation
The aquarium’s STAR Center opened to the public in 2014 as a working hospital for sick and injured sea turtles, including those that wash ashore after cold-stunning in winter waters. Visitors can watch rehabilitation efforts in progress, making the aquarium as much a conservation facility as an exhibit space. The aquarium has held Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation since 1990.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
A field guide that keeps the animal spotting going on the drive home and at home.
Zoo days are long and the shade isn't always where the animals are.
Clips to a stroller, wagon or backpack strap. Quiet enough that it won't wake a napping toddler.
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island FAQs
Where is the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island located?
It’s in Manteo, North Carolina, on Roanoke Island in the Outer Banks, overlooking the Croatan Sound.
What is the aquarium’s signature exhibit?
Its 285,000-gallon tank featuring a recreation of the sunken Civil War ironclad USS Monitor, home to sand tiger sharks and other marine life.
What is the STAR Center?
The Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center is an on-site hospital, opened in 2014, that treats injured and cold-stunned sea turtles.
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Photo: Ken Thomas / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.