Stanback Coastal Education Center

The Stanback Coastal Education Center is one of the newest landmarks in Wrightsville Beach, and is an all-encompassing station for preserving the local history and ecology for future generations. Boating a facility that doubles as an office for the North Carolina Coastal Federation, a nonprofit organization that’s committed to preserving and enhancing water quality in coastal North Carolina, the site offers a nice array of exhibits for visitors, including touch tank presentations, “Around the Scenes” tours, and Coastal Living Speaker Series events.

The Stanback Coastal Education Center is located within the historic 1946 Palmgren-O'Quinn cottage, which was carefully moved to its new “home” just off the Wrightsville Beach Causeway, next to the Wrightsville Beach Museum. The site is a fun stop on an everyday visit, but is ideal for big group tours and school field trips, thanks to an on-site “Living Classroom” which features rain gardens, native plants, storm water reduction demos, and a host of other on-going projects. With special tours given during the summer months, and a host of on-going projects that range from community awareness to scholarships, there’s always something happening to celebrate the coastal area at the diverse center. A wonderfully new and eco-conscious spot for locals and visitors alike, the Stanback Coastal Education Center is enhancing the local environment, one visitor at a time.