On September 17, 1976, the state opened three North Carolina Marine Resources Centers – one at Fort Fisher, one at Pine Knoll Shores, and one on Roanoke Island. The centers were launched as research and education facilities, which also offered small exhibits that were open to the public. The centers quickly became popular, and in 1986, they were renamed the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. That same year, a group of dedicated citizens incorporated a membership-based support group, the North Carolina Aquarium Society. The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is situated in the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area, which is mostly maritime forest. Descendants of President Theodore Roosevelt donated 298 acres of maritime forest to the state in 1971. They stipulated the acreage be maintained as a nature preserve and used for nature and wildlife education and estuarine studies. The Aquarium's mission is to inspire the appreciation and conservation of North Carolina's aquatic environments and animals. Visit our website for more information and events and tickets www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores