Onslow County, North Carolina has been graced with an extraordinary natural coastal beauty…over 30 miles of wide, unspoiled beaches sprinkled with shells, waters teeming with an abundance of marine life, forests filled with sporting wildlife and farmland rich with harvests.
The county's wide, secluded beaches are favorite nesting sites for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. Hammocks Beach State Park, located just off the mainland near Swansboro, has become nationally acclaimed as a coastal wildlife nature preserve. The 890-acre island, named "Bear Island," is listed in the registry of Natural Heritage areas and is home to maritime forests, broad salt marshes, impressive sand dunes and pristine beaches. Visitors may access the island park by private boat or the passenger ferry operated by the park.
Onslow County was formed in 1734 and named after the Honorable Arthur Onslow from England and is rich in early American history as well as Native American and even pre-historic history. Onslow County Museum is an extension of this diverse heritage, with its mission statement proclaiming a "commitment...to create public awareness and understanding of the history of Onslow County".