About Us

Keith Rittmaster discusses whale, north carolina maritime museum

Keith aligns and measures sperm whale lower jaws.

About The Cape Lookout Studies Program

Directed by North Carolina Maritime Museum Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster

The Cape Lookout Studies Program (CLSP) is part of the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Baufort under the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. CLSP supports the marine biological research, conservation, and education efforts of Keith Rittmaster through four primary fields:

  • Cetacean Rearticulation (bonehenge.org)
  • Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID
  • North Carolina Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program
  • NC Marine Mammal Stranding Network
All of these projects are dependent on dozens of volunteers, donations, and collaboration with many organizations that deserve a huge thanks!
Keith teaching college students about Sperm Whales, north carolina maritime museum

Examining spermaceti oil with students.

Bonehenge Whale Center

The overarching mission of all our projects is to serve this rare and amazing ecosystem in which we live and to instill in students, residents, and visitors that same passion to serve.

The proposed Bonehenge Whale Center in Beaufort, NC will allow us to continue to meet and exceed our goals and inspire many others. Bonehenge will be a facility for research and preparing exhibits and displays, as well as marine conservation, educational programming, outreach, publications, and stranded specimen collection/maintenance that focus on NC cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), past and present!

The initiative for the Whale Center grew out of the momentum of past volunteer-led projects and reaffirms the importance of our work and the continued support and dedication of our partners, volunteers and donors.

Donate

Give to support the research and conservation efforts of CLSP (any amount is appreciated)

Staff and Volunteers

Learn more about the people behind the efforts supported by the Cape Lookout Studies Program.

About this website

CapeLookoutStudies.org was established by volunteers to be an online resource for volunteers, participants, educators, and researchers who appreciate the work done by Keith Rittmaster supported by the Cape Lookout Studies Program. It is maintained by volunteers to support programs and initiatives focused on environmental research and conservation by many organizations, including the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, NC. The site was created around 2002 by volunteer, Sam Bryan, and kept afloat through the managing and contributions of dedicated volunteers like Nelson Owens, among others. Click here to share your support for Keith Rittmaster and the volunteers dedicated to bottleneose dolphin research, monofilament recycling, cetacean studies and marine mammal stranding response.

  • They have a lot more to teach us.

    We've learned a lot with your help. But there's still so much we need to know to protect our wild dolphin neighbors.

    Give to dolphin research at the Cape Lookout Studies Program.

  • Sea Turtel sick and injured from fishing line

    You can stop this.

    Protecting marine wildlife is within your reach.

    When you give to put monofilament recycling bins within reach of conscientious boaters and anglers.

  • Harbor seal in need

    Save lives, reduce suffering, learn more.

    It's a win, win, win – when you support our Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

    Please give generously to the Cape Lookout Studies Program.

  • Cetacean Studies

    Inspire curiosity.

    What does it take to get students interested in science and conservation? Your help.

    Please give generously to support Cetacean Studies and the Bonehenge rearticulation project.