News Release

Museums at Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Wright Brothers National Memorial, and visitor center at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site set to reopen

Date: September 4, 2020
Contact: Michael Barber, 252-475-9032

Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and consistent with North Carolina’s “Safer at Home Phase 2.5” executive order, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial are reopening three indoor facilities. The National Park Service is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

On Saturday, September 5, the following facilities will reopen:

• Visitor Center at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

• Museum at Wright Brothers National Memorial

On Monday, September 7, the Museum of the Sea at Cape Hatteras National Seashore will reopen.

Most facilities and services at all three parks continue to be open and available; however, with public health in mind, some facilities remain closed. For a full listing of operations at each park, visit the following operational status pages:

• Cape Hatteras National Seashore, www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/operational-status-report.htm

• Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, www.nps.gov/fora/planyourvisit/operational-status-report.htm

• Wright Brothers National Memorial, www.nps.gov/wrbr/planyourvisit/operational-status-report.htm

The health and safety of visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial, the operational approach continues to be centered on examining each facility function and service to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and are regularly monitored. Parks continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public areas and workspaces are safe and clean.

A safe and enjoyable park experience begins at home. The NPS encourages visitors to plan their visit by checking the park websites and social media for current conditions and travel tips. The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We ask the public to be our partner in recreating responsibly, by following CDC and state and local guidance, social distancing, and wearing a face covering when social distance cannot be maintained.

Go digital at Wright Brothers National Memorial
In addition to paying by credit card at the park’s entrance kiosk, visitors can purchase digital entrance passes for Wright Brothers National Memorial before arriving. Go to https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/2985 to purchase standard entrance passes and annual passes. Both the standard entrance pass and the annual pass are still available at the park’s ticket booth.

Details and updates on operations will continue to be posted at www.nps.gov/caha, www.nps.gov/fora, www.nps.gov/wrbr and social media channels.