Capital Campaign

The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum is a true community-based project that to date has raised more than $2 million dollars in construction and programming support. The museum's vision to provide this community with an educational facility and preservation program for documenting and supporting local history, traditional craftsmanship and environmental projects has already become reality. All the communities of Down East are now involved in researching and developing their own community histories and documentation projects. Our educational staff (funded by Z. Smith Reynolds) has served more than 9,000 school children, special needs citizens and visitors during the past year.

The potential this museum holds is limitless. The capital campaign of this organization have been highly successful with $2 million in construction funds raised since 1996. This has been done with only a small percentage coming from public funds ($150,000 initial funding from the General Assembly, a $75,000 Department of Cultural Resources grant in 1998 and in 2001 a USDA Community Matching Grant of $200,000 to be released upon raising an additional $400,000.) The balance of funds raised has been a true community effort, with donations ranging from $5 to $200,000.

Construction Status Report: December 31, 2001

How YOU Can Help!

"The porch" has always been an important part of our temporary location for visiting, carving demonstrations, events and a welcome rest spot for visitors. We expect "the porch" to become even more important in our new home.

As you might already know, we are "selling" those porch planks to all who want their name or the names of loved ones permanently included in the list of friends who share in welcoming all who come to the Museum. Work is already underway on a true Core Sound porch swing and rocking chairs are being planned. It will be a great place to be!

Porch planks are $100 each and will include the information as outlined on the form. We plan to have the plaques in place before this year's Waterfowl Weekend for all to see. We hope you and yours will be included. Also, as members we want each of you to know that planks will be designated as they are received beginning at the front door so the sooner you make your reservation, the closer to the main entrances your plank will be. We already have quite a few, so we encourage you to let us know if you want to be included in this project asap.

Please feel free to copy this form if you would like to order more than one. We have several parents and grandparents who have ordered planks for all their children and grandchildren. What a great birthday idea! We also have many, many memorials included as well. All are an important part of the community support that has made the CSWM the success it is.

Hope to see YOU on the porch soon! Thanks.

Alan Cheek
"Core Sound by Firelight"

My rendering of artifacts of Core Sound, North Carolina -hand carved decoys from its storied carvers, boat models representing its well respected boat builders, simple cords used by its fishing industry, and an 1837 chart of Core Sound -reveals a simpler time when the “highway” was Core Sound and it took the better part of a day to go from Harkers Island to Hunting Quarters. These handmades are cast in the light of antiquity by the “firelight” which was used for hunting its abundant waterfowl.

I hope 'Core Sound by Firelight' will evoke some memories from its older generation and will spark the imagination and interest of all the folks sharing its shores. 'Firelight' represents a time past, a history that will not return, yet all my effort to preserve that past as well as the sound's natural and cultural resources, and lastly, it undeniable beauty.

Alan Cheek owns Down East Gallery in Beaufort. Alan is recognized as one of the State's premiere watercolor artists. His work is featured in galleries across the state, as well as publications such as Carolina Country, NC Wildlife, The State and others.

Reprint rights for this painting were donated by Alan to help celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Core Sound Decoy Festival. Prints are available in limited edition prints (250, signed and numbered) with all proceeds going directly to the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum Building Fund, or in poster marking the 10th Anniversary of the festival. For information on the availability of these limited publications, please contact the museum office.

Gifts & Pledges of $500 or more receive this CSWM
collectors license tag featuring Mitchell Fulcher's Pintail.

Named Gift Program

Capital Campaign giving at the $15,000 (and over) level will be assigned rooms, areas, exhibits and/or features of the museum facility upon request.

These areas are still available:

Members of Harkers Island EMC and Carteret-Craven EMC boards join with state officials to present $37,500 to Touchstone Energy's ongoing support of the CSWM.

These areas have been reserved:

Core Sound Hunting Clubs

Support the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum Capital Campaign through your membership in one of Core Sound's historic Hunting Clubs.

We invite you to include your Capital Campaign gift through "membership" in one of these Core Sound Hunting Clubs. Names will be permanently displayed in the new museum facility in the context of these clubs, including a sketch of the club building on the plaque with the members' names, possibly a small exhibit / diorama with artifacts and photos from each club (when available), a listing of original members, decoys from that club, etc.

These gifts will not only recognize the importance of these clubs and their original members to the waterfowl history of Core Sound, but will allow you and/or your family or organization to become a part of sharing and preserving that heritage for generations to come.

* Gift totals can be cumulative with your new pledge or gift.

Contribution form