About The Organization
OUR MISSION:
To inspire curiosity about our coastal environment and the broader natural universe through experiences that are educational, science-based, fun and interactive.
OUR VISION:
An organization valued for its expertise in informal education that encourages an understanding of the environment and astronomy.
OUR VALUES:
To encourage engagement, reflect innovation, provide enjoyment, strive for excellence, and perform with integrity.
History of the Museum and Planetarium
A SIMPLE QUESTION:
“What kind of fish is that, mister?”
Now, imagine a young World War II airman learning to navigate his aircraft by looking at the stars. Years later, he points out different constellations to his family and friends on warm summer nights. Fascination with the night sky lead Stuart Ingram to dream of a planetarium where others can share his knowledge of and fascination with the stars. Ingram Planetarium opened in May, 2002 in Sunset Beach, NC — only four miles away from the Museum of Coastal Carolina which he had opened 11 years earlier.
With the first donation from his mother-in-law, the encouragement of a steering committee, the generosity of numerous friends, and the support of his wife, Louise, the local business community, and the citizens of Brunswick County, Stuart Ingram’s visions of the Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium are a reality today.
The Ocean Isle Museum Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation that supports operations of the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach, NC and Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach, NC through admission fees, private donations, community contributions, grants, memberships, and gift shop sales.
Our Team / Staff
MUSEUM OF COASTAL CAROLINA
21 East Second Street
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Tel.: 910-579-1016
Fax: 910-575-4770
INGRAM PLANETARIUM
7625 High Market Street
Sunset Beach, NC 28468
Tel.: 910-575-0033
Fax: 910-575-0031
STAFF LIST
- Chloe Bessette, Planetarium Assistant
- Lisa Chinn, Guest Service Associate
- Amity Croft, Education Assistant
- Isabella Curtis, Guest Service Associate
- Cristen Eddins, Guest Service and Volunteer Manager
- Terri Frazee, Bookkeeper
- Rebecca Gaskins, Planetarium Manager
- Leslie Godden, Office Support Assistant
- Jim Hoffman, Executive Director
- Michele Johnson, Guest Service Assistant
- Jamie Justice, Director of Programs and Exhibits
- Carrie Kinney, Retail Manager
- Marty Shirah, Planetarium Presenter
- Holly Stabler, Education Assistant
- Alex West, Development and Marketing Manager
Board of Trustees 2026-27
The Board of Trustees of the Ocean Isle Museum Foundation, Inc. is the governing body of Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach, NC and the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach, NC.
- Bob Forrester, Chair
- Ken Krause, Vice Chair
- Jean Kirch, Treasurer
- Tim Eckert, Secretary
- Jerry Rothenberg, Immediate Past President
- Ann Bokelman
- Mike Bowman
- Mike Hargreaves
- George Kemper
- Dick Ludden
- Lisa Mosca
- Rod Meadows
- Jamie Reme
- Allison Smith
- Scott Walters
- Jerry Thrift, Chair Emeritus
Strategic Plan
The Ocean Isle Museum Foundation implemented a three-year Strategic Plan in July 2024. In developing this plan, the board went through a six-month process that included a review of the organization’s mission and vision statements and analyzed its Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities and Threats (SLOT.) Based on the SLOT Analysis and review of the the vision statements, five Critical Success Factors were identified. These are broad categories crucial to the future success of the organization.