Shannon Walker has spent her life surrounded by history, art, and the stories that make North Carolina unique. Today, she serves as the Curator of Programming and Education at the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport, where she brings history to life in ways that surprise and inspire visitors.
A native of southeastern North Carolina, Shannon’s roots run deep into the swamps and pine savannas of Bladen, Brunswick, and Columbus counties, where her family has lived since the 1720s. With dual undergraduate degrees in history and studio art from Meredith College and graduate studies in public history at UNC Wilmington, she blends creativity with scholarship in her work. Shannon first joined the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources in 2010 at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site, where she spent thirteen years before moving to Southport in late 2022.
In her submitted interview, Shannon shared that her interest in history began early.
“I was that nerdy child who begged my parents to take me to as many historic sites as possible,” she explained. It was Dr. William S. Price, former Head of Archives and History and one of her professors at Meredith, who introduced her to the idea of public history as a career. “It had never dawned on me before that I could teach and work with history outside of a classroom. And I could make a career out of it? Where do I start?”
Her role today is anything but predictable. “One minute you are completing fiscal year-end inventories, the next you are firing a Civil War era cannon, and then you run off to give a lecture on the history of the Venus Flytrap,” she said. “It is never a dull moment.” Shannon is quick to note that as rewarding as public history is, it can also be demanding. “When you love something this much, it is tough to convince yourself to take a break.”
One of Shannon’s proudest professional moments came during the program Plunging Shot and Screaming Shell: The 155th Anniversary of the Burning of Fort Anderson. She envisioned a program that would break away from the standard reenactment format and instead immerse visitors in the emotions of the past. By using cannon fire, the darkness of night, and even real flames, Shannon and her team recreated the eerie atmosphere of a Civil War bombardment. “It was an amazing and inventive program, and I was so proud to have a hand in it.”
She has also had her fair share of unexpected discoveries. While working at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, Shannon came across what looked like a shoe stuck in the mud along the riverbank. That “lost shoe” turned out to be more than 250 years old. Today, that artifact and other textiles excavated nearby are conserved and on exhibit at the site.
For Shannon, working in public history in her home state is both personal and meaningful.
“North Carolina is my home, and I am fully convinced there is longleaf pine sap running through my veins,” she said. “I love this state, its people, and its natural environment, and I want to do what I can to give back to it.”
At Southport, Shannon continues to do just that. Whether she is curating an exhibit, planning a hands-on program, or leading a lecture, her dedication ensures that history remains vibrant, relevant, and rooted in the community she calls home.
Plan Your Visit
Discover the stories of the sea at the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport. Explore exhibits, artifacts, and hands-on activities that connect generations of coastal life.
204 E. Moore Street, Southport, NC
Open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free admission, donations welcome
Come see history brought to life and experience the coast in a whole new way.