Civil War on the Outer Banks

Posted on April 12, 2011

The Outer Banks is known for many things – gorgeous beaches, world-class surfing, outstanding fishing, Blackbeard the Pirate, the Wright Brothers first flight – but the Civil War?

Yep, add the Civil War to the long list of OBX attractions.

Today marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, so it seems like a fitting occasion to mention the storied history the OBX played in War Between States.

Are you aware that the beaches of the Outer Banks set the scene for the very first Union victory of the Civil War? How ’bout them apples?!

In August 1861, Federal troops captured Fort Hatteras & Clark along the Outer Banks sending a huge morale boost to the North. Up to that point in War, the South had been victorious in every engagement. In addition to the first Union victory, the OBX battle signified a few firsts in the war, including the first combined Army and Navy operation, the first amphibious assault and the first African American gun crew to fire on the Confederates.

There will be a lot of events in the upcoming months to commemorate the anniversary, and the OBX will have our share. The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum plans to commemorate the Outer Banks involvement in the Civil War with their upcoming Flags Over Hatteras event.

The event will include exhibits and lectures that will highlight the importance of these battles and increase awareness the historical significance.

The commemoration at the museum will run from Aug. 22-28, and feature keynote speakers: authors James McPherson and Craig Symonds, and former National Park Service Chief Historian Ed Bearss. Additionally, the event offers:

Blue-Gray Descendants Reunion – Aug. 22-24 – Hatteras Village Civic Center
Flags over Hatteras Conference – Aug. 25-27 – Hatteras Village Civic Center
Exhibits and living history demonstrations – Aug. 27-28 – Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Space is limited for the conference and registration is required. Tickets are $175 per person, with 30 spaces being reserved for students at $75 per student. The fee includes: light refreshments, daily speakers, three evening events, three dinners and all exhibits. For more information or to register, go here.

For more Civil War stories, timelines and documents, visit the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources website on “Freedom, Sacrifice and Memory” and the 150th commemoration.

More Secrets of Blackbeard’s Shipwreck Revealed

Posted on March 2, 2011

Queen Anne's Revenge - Blackbeard

Yo ho ho a pirates life for me!

After 14 years of digging, archaeologists are certain they’ve discovered the famous Blackbeard flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, just off Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks. After discovering Blackbeard’s sword off the North Carolina Coast, researchers believe they have found more clues about what happened to Blackbeard, his crew, and his ship.

Archaeologists say there is no doubt that what they have been diving on since 1997 is the Queen Anne’s Revenge, officially identified as shipwreck 31 CR 314.

“Absolutely” is what the QAR Project Director and Archaeologist Dr. Mark Wilde-Ramsing says. “There is no question that this could be any other ship.”

But how it got there is still a mystery. Some believe the pirates may have ran the ship aground on purpose. The debris field encompasses an area approximately 90 x 200 feet with a north-south orientation. Finding bits and pieces of the wreckage, coins, navigational instruments, pewter ware, intact bottles, lead shots of many sizes, small arms and gold dust, to name a few, there is still something missing…bodies.

“Everybody got off,” said Sr. Wilde-Ramsing. “We are not finding any human remains and actually there is very good evidence that they got off because we are not finding any clothing.”

With over half of the artifacts discovered, divers set a goal to find the rest by 2013. Weather conditions determine the dive schedule. It can be calm underwater, yet storms can cause limited visibility. Future dives will undoubtedly answer many questions surrounding Blackbeard and his ships, and confirm the Outer Banks truly is the Graveyard of the Atlantic

Experts Race to Save Outer Banks Shipwreck

Posted on February 10, 2011

Outer Banks Shipwreck - Oldest in North Carolina

In late 2009 and early 2010, we wrote a couple posts about a 400 year old shipwreck that was discovered along the Outer Banks, Corolla to be specific. The wreck was partially unearthed by storms, and a beachcomber stumbled upon it to their amazement. The wreck was then excavated and transported down Rt. 12 to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum on Hatteras Island.

With the aid of computer models, it has been calculated that the ship was 110 feet long by 20 to 30 feet wide. It was broad and slower-moving and most likely used for hauling merchandise, and its 12-inch by 12-inch beams were made from European white oak.

The wreck dates from the early to mid-1600s, making it the oldest among the hundreds of shipwrecks found on the North Carolina coast.

Now let’s fast forward to the present day.

The Pilot is reporting that the wreck, believed to be the oldest shipwreck found in North Carolina, is now sitting on concrete exposed to the harsh Outer Banks elements. The wreck lasted 400 years beneath the ocean surface, but the elements above water are quickly drying and cracking the aged ship, and experts are scrambling to determine the best way to save it; regular baths, soak it for years in a preserving agent, coat in sugar water, saturate it in expensive silicon oil, freeze dry it, some or all of the above?

Preserving 12-tons of shipwreck is no easy task, especially when funding is limited. There are no right or wrong approaches. Every shipwreck is different and a wide variety of variables must be considered. The simple question of whether the wreck should be inside or out, is not very simple. And if the wrong approaches are chosen, the detrimental effects are irreversible.

The experts understand their time is short, but they also know that they only get one shot at preserving the artifact, so the plan of action must be timely, but it must also be correct.

The wreck was lost for 400 years, and now that it’s been discovered, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is doing everything in their power to make sure it isn’t lost for good.

2010 Halloween on the Outer Banks

Posted on October 28, 2010

Outer Banks Halloween

All Hallows’ Eve is fast approaching. The yearly celebration of ghosts, goblins, and all things ghoulish is a short three days away.

The Outer Banks is full of surprises. So much more than just a beach. History, fishing, surfing, nature, wild horses. The list of unique OBX qualities seems endless. But Halloween? Is the Outer Banks really a great Halloween destination?

Considering one of the nicknames for the OBX is “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” it probably shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, but yeah, the Outer Banks is full of great spooks and fun Halloween activities.

Here’s a smorgasbord of Halloween OBX style…

For starts, did you know the Outer Banks has a Ghost Tour?! For real. A tour dedicated to nothing but ghostly goodness on the OBX.
- http://www.GhostToursOfTheOBX.com/
Here’s a link to a recent article in the Charlotte Observer that discusses a creepy road in Manteo that the OBX Ghost Tour frequents. Here’s what the article has to say…
- “Mother Vineyard Road, in Manteo. I’ve experienced a temperature change there, almost like going into another world. There are numerous stories from the area, of Civil War soldiers parading and the presence of a ghostly sea captain. It’s also where hoo-doos have been spotted; they’re 3-foot-tall creatures that wear black hoods. The houses along the road are beautiful. In one of them, a hoo-doo ran across the room and disappeared into the fireplace. There’s tremendous orb activity on Mother Vineyard Road – indicating the presence of paranormal activity – and the orbs are almost the size of full moons. … It’s that intense.”
In an earlier post, I spun the tale of the Outer Banks Witch, Cora. Super creepy! Well worth the read.

Now on to some great Halloween activities:

About a month ago, I had a post about a haunted house on Roanoke Island that is supposed to be off-the-chain scary, Quarantine Island. Rather than reposting all of the details, I’ll let you head over to that link, but what I will say is that from everything I’ve heard about this haunted house, it is not for the faint of heart or children. It is legit scary. You’ve been warned.
Always a blast for kids and parents alike, Trick or Treat Under the Sea at the Outer Banks Aquarium is a Halloween staple on the OBX. A little late notice on this one considering it is tonight, but I did post it at the beginning of October…hint, hint, subscribe in the top right corner, and you’ll get all my posts emailed to you. :)
Black Pelican’s Haunted House is tonight through Saturday. Hours are 6 to 8:30 p.m. and their fee is $5 for adults and $2 for children (to benefit Relay for Life.)
On Saturday, the Elizabethan Gardens has its Harvest Hay Day with hayrides, a hay bale maze, music, crafts, games, a bake sale and more. It’s from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids younger than 12 get in free with a paying adult. Call (252) 473-3234.
The Red Wolf Coalition is holding a special free Howl-O-Ween Wolf Howling on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Alligator River NWR. Call (252) 796-5600 to register.
On Sunday, Nags Head Church has its huge Trunk or Treat event from 6 to 8 p.m. It’s a one-stop Trick or Treating event with free candy, hot dogs, drinks, games and more, and up to 3,000 people are expected. Call (252) 441-7548.
“Nightmares in Rodanthe” – clever name, don’t ya think? A fun, and delicious, Halloween masquerade dinner at Good Winds restaurant in Rodanthe.

I think that should cover it. Whew, I’m tired just thinking about all that fun.

Get on out and enjoy!

PS: Got your costume ready? Blackbeard the Pirate would be great!…the deader the better.

Outer Banks Shipwreck Moved to Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

Posted on July 28, 2010

Outer Banks Shipwreck 2010

On Tuesday, July 20, what is believed to be the oldest shipwreck to be discovered in North Carolina slowly meandered its 7.5-ton, 17-foot-wide by 37-foot-long body along the Outer Banks’ Rt. 12 towards its new home at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras Village.

The wreckage was discovered on the beach in Corolla in late 2009, excavated in April 2010, and it has been temporarily stored at on the ground of the Currituck Lighthouse in preparation for its big move. The ship’s remains were loaded onto a flatbed trailer on Monday, and it set out on its journey south just after midnight on Tuesday morning. A full entourage accompanied the ship on its journey – a police escort, museum directors, members of the Park Service.

Despite some stormy weather, the ship completed the 90 mile trip and arrived at its final resting place around 4 AM.

Here’s a great slideshow of the ship and its journey.

To beach combers’ delight, pieces of the shipwreck are still showing up on the Corolla beaches.

Why is the Outer Banks Considered the “Graveyard of the Atlantic?”

Posted on March 26, 2010

Graveyard of the Atlantic

According to legend, America’s first Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, dubbed the water off the coast of the Outer Banks “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.”

The name is now glorified and its heritage celebrated, but the name used to strike fear in the hearts of mariners that navigated the treacherous waters. According to a 1773 publication, Hamilton “passed Cape Hatteras on a summer night in 1773 and thereafter remembering the night’s terror, he spoke of that portion of the sea as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”

Hamilton and George Washington encouraged the construction of Outer Banks lighthouses as a means of guiding mariners around the treacherous seas off the OBX coast. The idea to construct lighthouses first came to Hamilton when was traveling on a boat that caught fire while sailing from the West Indies to Boston.

Kevin Duffus an Outer Banks historian and author defends the OBX waters by saying that “Nowhere in Alexander Hamilton’s personal writings did he ever say that he was in danger of being shipwrecked off the Outer Banks.” It is also a fact that the Outer Banks is not the only place that bears this nickname; the coast of New Jersey or Cape Cod for example. However, the Outer Banks can be most closely aligned with the name due to the fact that over 1,000 ships have been wrecked in the area over the last 400 years.

Film Honors Outer Banks Surfmen

Posted on January 20, 2010

Outer Banks Surfmen

In addition to gorgeous beaches and miles of preserved coastline, the Outer Banks has a very rich history; historic lighthouses, the Wright Brothers, the Lost Colony, wild horses from Spain, and a wide array of shipwrecks. Inevitably, the miles of coastline lead to dangerous coastal conditions, and these coastal conditions become a part of the OBX history.

Violent storms and dangerous surf are an integral part of the OBX lore; lighthouses and shipwrecks are a direct result of dangerous conditions along the coast. In addition to lighthouses dotting the shoreline to act as beacons for seafaring vessels, Lifesaving Stations have long been a part of the local culture and have played a significant role in limiting the effects of the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” A tremendous story of this heroism along the Outer Banks is now coming to the big screen.

Rescue Men: The Story of the Pea Island Surfmen tells the heroic tale of the all black surfmen crew that worked at The Pea Island Lifesaving Station in the late 1800s. Richard Etheridge, a former slave and soldier from Manteo, was appointed as the station’s keeper in 1880 and built an exceptional all-black crew around him.

This crew was known for their unmatched bravery and countless rescues. In a hurricane in October 1896, two of the Pea Island crew tied themselves to each another with a line and, while clutching another line held by surfmen on the beach, plunged into wild surf to bring nine sailors safely to shore.

Allan Smith, the president of Dream Quest Productions, decided to make a movie about these men of valor. After reading the book Fire on the Beach, a chronicle about the station written in 2001 by David Wright and David Zoby, Smith was instantly hooked.

The film is to play on the History Channel and be shown at national and international film festivals. The premiere is scheduled for next month on Roanoke Island.

Date:    Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time:    7:30 – 9:30 pm
Where: Roanoke Island Festival Park – Indoor Theatre

Outer Banks Recognized by Time Magazine

Posted on July 17, 2009

Time Magazine has named the Outer Banks in their list of 50 Authentic American Experiences.

The Outer Banks is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic due to the large amount of shipwrecks off the coast. Time Magazine recognized the unique experience of diving off the Outer Banks as an “Authentic American Experience.” The graveyard of the Atlantic has claimed many ships throughout the years, wooden vessels from two hundred years ago and even a German U-boat from WWII.

Many of these wrecks require some form of dive certification, but some are open to everyone. Two spots that might be of interests to plan one of these diving adventures would be The Outer Banks Dive Center or Nags Head Diving. Dives from $75, including gear.

New Outer Banks Ghost Tour – “Graveyard of the Atlantic: Pirates, Legends, and Lore”

Posted on May 19, 2009

pirate-skull-crossbones Beginning in June, visitors to the Outer Banks will become privy to the secret life of pirates and the paranormal phenomenon of phantom ships in the new “Graveyard of the Atlantic – Pirates, Legends and Lore” tour presented by Ghost Tours of America, Inc.

The tours are an expansion of last year’s very popular “Ghost Tours of the Outer Banks.” Meeting at the Town Center Kiosk in Manteo, the 90 minute walking tour will be held every Tuesday evening beginning June 9 at 8 p.m. Cost for the tour is $13 for adults and $8 for children 10 and under.

Featured stories include: “Pillow the Life Saving Dog”; “Blackbeard the Pirate’s Pact with the Devil”; the phantom ship, “Carroll A. Deering and many more. According to owner, Andrea Martinshin, “We had so many ghost stories last year that we were unable to cover the nautical ghost stories and pirate lore which is such a big part of the Outer Banks. Individuals that enjoyed our ghost stories last year will find the same quality experience on our new tour. If you enjoy fun facts about pirates – then this is the tour for you!”

On Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m., more paranormal happenings will be presented in the “Ghost Tours of the Outer Banks tour. Using the same format, ghost stories from Kitty Hawk to Cape Hatteras are told as well as segments on “How to Communicate with Ghosts” and “Ghost 101”.

In order to be sure that each visitor has an entertaining and enjoyable experience, reservations are required for both tours. Reservations can be made by calling 252-573-1450.

Outer Banks on T.V.

Posted on February 25, 2009

“Cruising Carolina: The Sounds” to premiere March 1 on UNCTV

The newest program in the acclaimed EMMY nominated series cruises on to UNCTV at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 1.

Cruising Carolina: The Sounds is the fourth program in the multiple EMMY nominated series and introduces viewers to charming coastal towns and villages like Hatteras, Manteo, Plymouth, Columbia, Bath, Belhaven and Washington to name a few. The program explores the rivers and sounds, large and small, that make this part of the North Carolina coastline so unique.

Whether it’s the quiet beauty of the Roanoke River, the wide majesty of the Alligator River, the ancient splendor of Lake Mattamuskeet or the excitement of the Pamlico River you’ll experience it all through the eyes of renowned Cruising Guide author Claiborne Young.

Along the way viewers will experience the unique view from atop the Bodie Island lighthouse, feel the exhilaration of kiteboarding along Hatteras Island, witness the courage of the men of the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station, the maritime history of the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and learn the story of the battle of Plymouth and see what inspires a renowned coastal artist.

The afternoon kicks off at 2:30 with an encore presentation of the triple EMMY nominated program, Cruising Carolina: The Lower Banks, an in-depth exploration of the storied lands and waters from Ocracoke Island to Bogue Inlet. Among the highlights of the program are the story of Ocracoke’s mounted Boy Scout Troop; the haunting tale of the ghost village of Portsmouth Island; a visit to Oriental, the sailing capitol of North Carolina; a nostalgic look at Cape Lookout National Seashore; a visit with a group charged with protecting the wild horses of Shackleford Banks and a look at the traditional craft of wooden decoy carving on Harkers Island.

“Cruising Carolina: The Sounds” and “Cruising Carolina: The Lower Banks” are produced by BlueWater Media, a full service television and video production company with offices in Raleigh and Danbury, North Carolina, and hosted by Cruising Guide author Claiborne Young.