Housed in the historic Palmgren-O'Quinn cottage (c. 1946), the Coastal Education Center offers visitors a uniquely coastal learning experience for adults and children. This facility doubles as the southeastern regional office for the North Carolina Coastal Federation, a nonprofit committed to preserving and enhancing water quality in coastal North Carolina. Activities for visitors include touch tank presentations, Coastal Living Speaker Series and "Around the Scenes" tours highlighting rain gardens, salt marshes and native plants. Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm. Contact staff for info on tours and special events.