Above ground view of Pine Knoll Shore Aqaurium and surrounding land.
History:
Map of the Aquarium Stops North Carolina Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium was property passed down in Theodore Roosevelt’s family long ago. It all began with Alice G. Hoffman who purchased approximately 8 and a half miles of the island in the year 1917. Hoffman spent her time traveling and was married for a short period of time, but never had any children. Around 1938 she settled down in Bogue Banks on Oakleaf Drive. Her sister had a daughter names Eleanor Alexander who frequently visited Hoffman. Eleanor Alexander married Theodore Roosevelt Jr which was President Roosevelt’s oldest son.
Since Hoffman had no heirs of her own she passed the property down to Eleanor Alexander which was later passed on to their four children. The Roosevelt family then donated 298 acres of Bogue Banks to the state which became the area of the Aquarium. When the Roosevelt Family passed on the land they instated in the deed of gift that the land be used as a nature preserve, as well as, for wildlife education and estuarine studies. Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium was first opened in 1976 known as the Marine Resources Center, and only had a few fish tanks. The Aquarium recently had a 25 million dollar expansion project which started in 2004 and ended in 2006. The initial size of the aquarium was 29,000 sq. ft. and is now 93,000 sq. ft.
Reference: North Carolina Aquarium Society. (2015). Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area & Nature Trails. In North Carolina Aquariums. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from http://www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores/plan-your-visit/helpful-hints/theodore-roosevelt-natural-area-nature-trails