History is an interesting phenomenon. Not only does it tend to be told by the victors, but I’m also realizing it tends to be pretty regional.
As any detective can tell you, no two stories are the same. Everyone sees things from their own perspective. So, I guess it makes sense that the retelling of historic events is pretty similar.
I grew up outside of Boston, and we learned about the Pilgrims every year in school. To us northerners, the Pilgrims were the first inhabitants of the “new world.”
Clearly the idea of the “new world” is a farce considering the long history of Native Americans, but putting that aside for this discussion, once I moved south, I started to realize that my schooling on the Pilgrims was pretty questionable. Ah, the joys of public schooling, and history written by those with an agenda.
So, where is this rambling taking us? Well, August celebrates the birthday of the first English born child in the “new world”…at least that’s what the OBX historians tell me. So, for this month’s Outer Banks history lesson, we’re going to wish Ms. Virginia Dare a happy 425th birthday!
Happy 425 Virginia!
Born to Ananias and Eleanor Dare on August 18th, 1587, Virginia Dare was the first child born to English parents in the New World. Since 1937, her birthday has been remembered and celebrated annually on Roanoke Island.
Virginia Dare is tightly connected to the famed Lost Colony. She was born into the short-lived Roanoke Colony in what is now North Carolina - i.e. Manteo/OBX.
What became of Virginia and the other colonists remains a mystery – the mystery of the Lost Colony. The fact of her birth is known because the governor of the settlement, Virginia Dare’s grandfather, John White, returned to England in 1587 to seek fresh supplies. When White eventually returned three years later, Virginia and the other colonists were gone.
In the 425 years since her birth, Virginia Dare has become a prominent figure in American myth and folklore, representing different things to different people. A 2000 article in the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina News and Record noted that, for many Americans, particularly Southerners, she symbolizes innocence and purity, “new beginnings, promise, and hope” as well as “adventure and bravery” in a new land. She also symbolizes mystery because of her mysterious fate.
It’s funny how history works. The “victors” definitely write the stories offering their side of the events. Sure, in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue, but 10,000 years prior to this, the land he “discovered” was already well inhabited. And this goes for the Outer Banks as well.
When the first English colonists started to wash up on the shores of of the OBX, they were met by friendly, organized, and giving people. Native Americans that were willing to embrace and help the new arrivals.
In fact, in 1584 it was estimated that over 17,000 Native Americans lived along the Carolina coast! Wow. With only a loose understanding of American history, we all know the fate that came to most of these Native Americans from coast to coast.
Luckily, some of their history survives and pieces of their story have yet to be forgotten…thanks in large part to places like the Frisco Native American Museum.
In the 16th century, when Sir Walter Raleigh made three unsuccessful attempts to settle the Roanoke area, he was met by the Algonquians who had settled a large area between Virginia and Dare County.
The tribes were very well organized and had a well-established way of life. The Algonquians cultivated large fields of corn, grew tobacco (and introduced the English to tobacco), and gathered on the coast to harvest shellfish – leaving large mounds of shells at their favorite meeting spots (I have one of these mounds in my back yard…it’s giant!).
The tribes were very accepting of the English arrivals, and it is believed by many that the third failed attempt to settle Roanoke Island – i.e the Lost Colony – may have taken refuge with the Native Americans and become part of their culture on Hatteras Island.
While much of the OBX Native American heritage has slipped away, we need to make every effort to hold on to what is left, and it’s nice to have constant reminders of the original OBX locals from names all along the Outer Banks – Hatteras comes from the Algonquian word “Hatorask” that meant “there is less vegetation, “Kinnakeet” meant “that which is mixed;” and “Chicamacomico” meant “place of sinking down sand.”
In addition, we have some amazing illustrations from the original English settlers thanks to John White, an illustrator and map maker that was part of the second expedition and spent 13 months with the Algonquians.
These amazing illustrations and the limited historical records are all we have left of an amazing part of Outer Banks history.
It is easy to forget, and it’s not often talked about, but we owe a huge debt of gratitude the people that came before us. Much love and thanks to the Algonquians who blazed the trails on the narrow strip of land that we enjoy today.
A gorgeous Friday afternoon with a great OBX weekend on tap – the perfect time for our weekly Outer Banks Link Love ritual.
The links are overflowing this week, so let’s get down to business.
Charter Boat Runs Aground
The Coast Guard came to the aid of a charter boat that ran aground in Hatteras Inlet. Luckily, no major injuries.
OBX Headed for a Tourist -Horse Showdown?
Due to beach driving restrictions on Hatteras and a global advertising campaign promoting the OBX wild horses, some are predicting crowded beaches in Corolla that could put a significant strain on the wild horses. My take: we love the visitors; we love the wild horses. Let’s worry about if/when there’s an issue. My guess is there’s enough room for everyone.
Titanic Message on Display on the Outer Banks
A couple weeks ago, one of the links we shared with love was about the OBX/Titanic connection. Turns out the Outer Banks received the first Titanic “Have struck iceberg” message. Wild, I know. And now the message is going on display at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. The OBX is such a cool place…full of great surprises.
Outer Banks Golf Sweepstakes
The OBX has a lot to offer, and great aspect that is often overlooked is the awesome golf. There are some amazing golf courses on the Outer Banks. If you’re a golfer, you’ll find a course to fall in love with. And here’s a chance to win a golf getaway – tough to beat free golf!
OBX Winery Documentary
Here’s a cool documentary about Sanctuary Vineyards in Currituck. A very cool student project. It’s a quick watch, and it’s very cool to see the behind-the-scenes and get to know the winemakers.
Outer Banks Windsurfing
Windsurfing on the OBX tends to get overshadowed by kiteboarding and surfing, but make no mistake, OBX windsurfing is top-notch. And here’s a video from the 2012 OBX Challenge to prove it.
New Clue for the Outer Banks Lost Colony?!
This story is starting to get some big press. Seems that a map from the 1500′s had a patch on it that may have been covering the location of where the colony moved. Crazy! One of the discovering historians went as far as saying “This is really the best new clue in 150 years.” Wild. Here’s some of the media coverage.
TravelZoo.com picked the Outer Banks as the destination of the week.
Outer Banks Surf
TheInertia.com ran a great set of pictures from the awesome OBX surf we had a couple weeks ago. Great pictures snapped by local OBX legend Mickey “2M” McCarthy. Sweet shots Mickey.
As I’ve mentioned, we’re spreading the Outer Banks Infographic love with a mix of originals and groovy infographics we stumble across while hunting online.
Sure, you may know “Have you ever?” as an amusing way to kill a few hours with friends and a couple brewskies on your oceanfront deck, but let’s broaden our perspective. Let’s drop the brews and open our eyes to the Outer Banks. After all, maybe you haven’t caught a 300 pound Marlin…but wouldn’t you WANT to?!
We offer you 9 “have you ever?” great OBX ideas that are well within your reach on your next Outer Banks Vacation.
Hope you enjoy…and as always, please give us your feedback!
I have a small confession to make. My name is Adam, and I’m addicted to blogging.
Oh, this isn’t Bloggers Anonymous? My bad.
Anywho, I love everything about blogs; writing, reading, learning, feeling connected to the authors. It is amazing how much information is shared outside of the mainstream media these days, and it is due in large part to the efforts of bloggers all over the world. Very empowering.
Blogs are such a great platform for communication online, and there’s a blog out there for almost any special interest these days. If you can’t find one for something you love, my recommendation is start one; it’s super easy with platforms like WordPresss.com.
If you can’t tell, the focus of this particular blog is the Outer Banks. Focused, but still a bit general. I want to keep it loose so we can discuss anything that is groovy about the OBX.
I post multiple times per day, and my posts have become one of my favorite parts of the day. The blog gives me motivation to get out and experience the OBX everyday – make videos, take pictures, dig around for all the secrets.
There’s a lot more OBX greatness to come in 2012, but even with a loose focus and daily posts, it is still very difficult for me to share all of the news from the Outer Banks. So, I’m going to start a new weekly blog series where I can collect all of the great news I haven’t discussed already (in the form of links to stories) and share them all in one spot.
I’m going use the ever-so-clever title of ”Outer Banks Link Love,” so keep an eye out for my weekly OBX link love on Fridays.
Here’s the first edition of some love I want to share with you. Enjoy…
Is there a better way to ring in the New Year than with a teeny tiny baby?! I didn’t think so. Zackary Lamb is the first baby born on the Outer Banks in 2012. Congrats Zack…and Mom & Dad.
Here’s a shout out to the Outer Banks Voice for providing great local news on the OBX. Without the great coverage from the Voice, a lot of meaningful local OBX news would be lost. As a barometer for the biggest Outer Banks news of 2011, the Voice says that Hurricane Irene and the record-setting 805 pound tuna caught out of Oregon Inlet drove the most traffic to their site. Keep up the great work in 2012 Voicers.
Do you have a favorite OBX local business? Long-time visitors to the Outer Banks have most likely noticed a lot of businesses come and go, but there are a core group that have weathered the metaphorical storms to hang around over the years. Here’s a great story about Birthday Suits, a great OBX swimsuit store that has been around for almost 30 years!
An Outer Banks iconic landmark was recently highlighted on VisitSouth.com. No, not the Wright Brother’s Monument. No, not the Hatteras lighthouse. No, not Jockey’s Ridge. The Brew Thru of course! How great is the Brew Thru? Such a great idea. Have you been? Do you have a Brew Thru t-shirt?…ya gotta get ya one…absolute sweetness!
Have you heard that a local OBX restaurant is being sued by a restaurant in Philly?! Over their name no less. That is sooo not the OBX attitude. Crabby Fries, a great little spot on the Beach Road, is being sued over their name by Chickie’s and Pete’s in Philly. Here’s a good story about Facebook fans fighting back.
Last, but certainly not least, here are two stories about the possibility of surfers losing access to one of the Outer Banks’ best surf spots; S Turns. The road repairs after Hurricane Irene are threatening to take away any possible parking in the S Turns area. This would be a big loss to the OBX surfing community. In the articles below, you can find links to a petition trying to find a solution for the parking. If you have strong feelings about it, please take action.
ESPN: Road Issues in Rodanthe
Outer Banks Voice: Surfer fear loss of access to acclaimed break
I hope you dig the link love. Thanks for tuning in, and as always, please leave a comment to let us know what’s on your mind.
The staged performance of “The Lost Colony” will soon open (May 27th) for its 74th year on the Outer Banks – started in 1937! But before the curtain rises for opening night, a new tale is being discovered.
The News & Observer recently reported on another tale of The Lost Colony that is unfolding as a lost film of the famous drama is discovered. The film was found in “The Lost Colony” administrative offices and is thought to be the only surviving copy in good condition.
The film was actually the first movie ever shot in North Carolina, and it told the story of the Lost Colony using local OBX actors and Outer Banks sets.
When the movie was released in 1921, Outer Banks residents mobbed local theaters and its popularity forced the show to be played over and over again. It marked a time in history when the Outer Banks, cut off from the rest of the state, began to share the story of its early English colonists.
North Carolina’s state government spent $3,000 filming the story – whose idea came from Mabel Evans Jones, superintendent of Dare County Schools at the time. The movie’s original title was interesting to say the least: “The Earliest English Expeditions and Attempted Settlements in the Territory of What is Now the United States, 1584-1591.” A mouthful…kind of like the title of this blog post.
Produced with a single cameraman, there was a cast of about 300 people for the movie – pretty much the entire Manteo population. The film was quickly eclipsed by the popular staged, outdoor drama “The Lost Colony.”
A five-minute segment of the film, now digitized, will be shown during a lecture at East Carolina University. Backers hope to revive the entire 46-minute movie.
The Lost Colony is one America’s oldest unsolved mysteries. Archeology sleuths have long been hot on the trail of the aptly named lost colony. Historians have been puzzled for centuries about just what happened to the group of about 117 English men, women and children of the Lost Colony, considered America’s oldest unsolved mystery. There have been many theories speculating that the colonists were killed by Indians, or that they traveled north in an attempt to reach their original destination near the Chesapeake Bay.
Are we any closer today to solving the mystery? According to some, the mystery has been solved, and according to others we’re not there yet…but getting close.
The Virginia Pilot recently wrote an article about Scott Dawson, an Outer Banks native and local historian, who has been researching the Lost Colony along with archeologists for several years. Dawson, whose lineage traces back to the Croatoan Indians, believes that the Lost Colony traveled from Roanoke Island to Hatteras Island sometime after their leader, Gov. John White, sailed back to England for help in 1587. Hoping to prove this theory and learn more about the Croatoan, Dawson spent several years working with archaeologists at the University of Bristol in England.
In November, Dawson’s work finally paid off when the university sent a team to explore an area in Buxton that he believed had once been the site of an Indian village. The team found a mix of Native American and English artifacts dating back as far as the 17th century.
“We didn’t get Virginia Dare’s pinky ring, but I’m not disappointed,” Dawson said.
The history behind Dawson’s theory – parts of which are shared by other historians – is based on the fact that there were two rival tribes in the area. Relations with the Secotan were hostile, largely because of the actions of another Englishman who ordered a Secotan town burned in 1585.
The Croatoan’s however, had welcomed white people since the first English expedition landed on the Outer Banks in 1584. Abandoned by their leader and surrounded by enemies, the colony may have sought refuge with the Croatoan on Hatteras Island, Dawson theorizes.
Research will continue in late March and early April in the Buxton and Frisco areas.
Dawson recently spoke for the first time about last year’s dig, and his presentation included a slideshow of pictures from the dig, along with several artifacts.
To learn more about the Lost Colony make sure to visit the 74th season of the symphonic drama opening May 28th at Manteo’s Waterside Theater.
It’s never too early to start thinking about summer…especially considering the OBX is going to get hit with snow tonight!
The town of Duck, NC puts together an awesome schedule of free, fun, and family-friendly events every summer, and 2011 is no exception. Music, magic, story-telling…there’s something for everyone and it’s all freelicious!
Here’s the 2011 highlights:
ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY DAY PARADE – JULY 4, 2011 at 9:00 A.M.
Duck’s seventh annual Fourth of July Parade will be held on Monday, July 4, 2011 at 9:00 a.m., with an after-event following at the Duck Town Park featuring music by Ruth Wyand & Friends, refreshments, and the awarding of parade trophies. The one-mile parade route is the same annually and begins at the crest of the hill on Scarborough Lane going eastward, continues down Ocean Way, and then turns onto Christopher Drive. No part of the parade is on Duck Road (SR 12). Please plan to come early to get the best parade viewing spot. For more information or to register an entry for the parade, visit www.townofduck.com/4thofjuly.htm.
SPECIAL SATURDAY CONCERT WITH THE LANGLEY WINDS
The United States Air Force Heritage of America’s Langley Winds Woodwind Quintet will be in Duck for a special free performance on Saturday, June 11, 2011 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Amphitheater. This is the band’s second appearance in Duck and we are thrilled to have them back on our stage. For over 10 years, The Langley Winds have been inspiring audiences with a musical repertoire which includes a wide variety of popular, patriotic, and chamber music selections. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for this very special concert.
“DUCK UNPLUGGED” SINGER/SONGWRITER SERIES – TUESDAY EVENINGS
New to the schedule for 2011 is “Duck Unplugged”, our four-week long singer/songwriter series. The concerts will be on Tuesdays from July 5, 2011 through July 26, 2011 beginning at 6:00 p.m., and will be held in the Town Amphitheater. The current schedule of performances is (subject to change):
Tuesday, July 26 – Coyote: Marcy Brenner & Lou Castro
SUMMER MUSIC SERIES – THURSDAY EVENINGS
This popular evening concert series returns for its fifth season. For eight weeks, local musical groups will take the stage at the Duck Town Park Gazebo. The concerts begin at 6:00 p.m., and are on Thursday evenings from June 23, 2011 through August 11, 2011. The current schedule of performances is (subject to change):
Thursday, June 23 – The Rajun Cajuns (New Orleans Style Dance/Rock)
Thursday, June 30 – Aquarium (Jam Rock & Blues)
Thursday, July 7 – The Fuzz Band (Jazz, Funk, Blues, Hip Hop)
Thursday, August 11 – The Little Kings (Dance Rock & Soul)
MORNING THEATER AND MUSIC SERIES – TUESDAY MORNINGS
The cast from The Lost Colony Musical Theater will be in Duck on Tuesdays from July 5, 2011 through August 9, 2011 presenting a musical song and dance preview of The Lost Colony production. All shows are at 10:00 a.m. and will be held in the Duck Amphitheater. Each week will be a little different so plan to join us for one, or all, of the shows!
FAMILY MAGIC SHOW – WEDNESDAY MORNINGS
Witness incredible illusions, mind-bending magic, comedy, and audience participation the entire family will love — live on stage! OBXtreme Magic features some of the most incredible magic and illusions performed by world-renowned illusionists Clive Allen & Tracy.
This six-week long series of shows will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Town Amphitheater on Wednesdays from July 6, 2011 through August 10, 2011, and is underwritten by Kellogg’s Supply and The Cottage Shop.
Although this event is free, tickets will be required for entry as the event is fully underwritten and seating in the amphitheater is limited. All attendees (of any age) must possess a ticket to gain entry to the performance.
Tickets will be available beginning the Monday the week of the show at Kellogg’s Supply/The Cottage Shop, 1201 Duck Road (directly across from the Town Park). There is a six ticket maximum for this event. Tickets will NOT be available at the Town Office or at the Town Park.
Please remember, that ticket holders will be granted entrance to the amphitheater first; and then non-ticket holders will be granted entrance, if space allows, on a first-come, first serve basis. Non-ticket holders are NOT guaranteed entry to this event so please take the time and visit Kellogg’s Supply/The Cottage Shop to pick up your tickets early in the week of the show that you want to attend as these tickets are in high demand.
CHILDREN’S STORY TIME – THURSDAY MORNINGS
Bring the children for story time sponsored by Duck’s two book stores: Duck’s Cottage and Island Book Store. Story time will be held in the Duck Amphitheater at 10:00 a.m. on Thursdays beginning July 7, 2011 and continuing through Thursday, August 11, 2011. Story time is geared to children between the ages of 3 and 7.
5TH ANNUAL DUCK JAZZ FESTIVAL
The Fifth Annual Duck Jazz Festival will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2011 beginning at 11:00 a.m. on the Duck Town Green. Artists for the 2011 show will be announced soon. Plan to join us for this popular event! For more information, please visit duckjazz.com.
All of the events, except for the parade, will take place at the Duck Town Park, 1200 Duck Road, Duck, North Carolina. Please remember to bring a blanket or lawn chair for events being held on the Town Green. Beach umbrellas or tents are NOT permitted within the Town Park. All events will be held outside. In the case of inclement weather or site or performer unavailability, an activity may be cancelled or rescheduled.
For the most up-to-date schedule, please visit townofduck.com, call the Town’s Events hotline at (252) 255-1286, become a fan of the “Town of Duck” on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at “DuckPR.” Updates, changes, and cancellations will be posted on the Town’s website and at the park.
Here’s what they had to say about the land of the mysterious Lost Colony…
Roanoke Island
In 1587, on Roanoke Island, between the Outer Banks and the North Carolina mainland, 120 men, women, and children landed to settle England’s first permanent New World colony. Virginia Dare — granddaughter of their governor, John White — was born that year, the first child of English parents born in America. When White sailed back to England, he intended to return within the year.
But a war with Spain kept White away from Roanoke for three years; what he found on his return in 1590 was a mystery. The rudimentary houses that he had helped build were dismantled, the entire area enclosed by a high fortlike palisade. No trace of the “Lost Colony” was ever found.
The visitor center at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site tells the colony’s baffling story in exhibits and film; outdoors, all that’s left of the fort is a silent mound of dirt, preserving the site’s sense of mystery. You’ll also want to flesh out the story by visiting the more commercial Roanoke Island Festival Park, mid-island in Manteo. A 69-foot-long three-masted bark, the Elizabeth II, lies moored across from the waterfront — a composite 16th-century ship built for the 400th anniversary of Sir Walter Raleigh’s first exploratory voyage to Roanoke in 1584.
I know, it’s hard to believe we’re already talking about Halloween, but we’re getting pretty close to the costume and candy fest, and this OBX haunted house looks pretty cool…and it’s for a good cause.
Uh oh, here’s an Emergency Update about the haunted house…well, not really, but it does build the suspense.
QUARANTINE OF FISHING VILLAGE TO BE TEMPORARILY LIFTED
(Roanoke Island, NC, September, 2010) – A team of super-scientists, mathematicians, and adventurers is now being assembled to investigate the unusual rumors surrounding “Quarantine Island”.
The U.S. Government and the Department of Unexplained Phenomena have lifted the ban on Quarantine Island for groups of adventurers for three nights—and three nights only—Thursday-Saturday, October 28-30 from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Groups will leave under military escort from a staging area that has been set up in Fort Raleigh’s Waterside Theatre in Manteo, NC. If you believe you have what it takes to unlock the mysteries of Quarantine Island, visit www.thelostcolony.org and sign up today.
Exactly why this small island off the coast of North Carolina was cut off from civilization a year ago is still the cause of much debate but there seem to be a few facts:
1) The island’s once overflowing cemeteries are suddenly empty. But why?
2) The local population appears to have vanished…or at least they haven’t called for help in a long, long time.
What really happened on Quarantine Island? Help us answer these questions. Join our daring expedition today! And as they say, what’s a little fun without a little risk?
CONFIDENTIAL FILES – U.S. DEPARTMENT OF UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA
CODENAME: QUARANTINE ISLAND
News reports will be posted at the website below and will provide participants in the October 28-30 Reconnaissance Mission with an overview of the final days of Quarantine Island.
So, for this month’s Outer Banks history lesson, we’re going to wish Ms. Virginia Dare a happy 425th birthday!
