BEAUFORT, N.C. — A devastating fire on Tuesday night reduced the Ward-Hancock House, owned by the North Carolina Maritime Museum, to ashes. Located on the museum’s Gallants Channel property, the house had stood for more than two centuries.
Believed to have been built in the late 1700s by a local carpenter, the Ward-Hancock House had a long history, changing ownership multiple times before officially receiving its name in 1850. In 2010, the Beaufort Women’s Club donated the property to the North Carolina Maritime Museum for preservation.
Only a Chimney Remains: North Carolina Maritime Museum
David Bennett, the museum’s curator, expressed the deep loss felt by the community.
“To me, it’s about the people who lived in these historic homes. It gives us a window into the past. Now, all that’s left is the chimney.”
Cause of Fire Unknown
Authorities have not yet determined what sparked the fire. As investigations continue, museum officials have yet to announce any plans for the site’s future.
The loss of the Ward-Hancock House marks a significant moment in Beaufort’s history, erasing a key piece of the North Carolina Maritime Museum‘s heritage.
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