New Exhibit at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Posted on October 13, 2011

Great news for history buffs. The National Park Service, First Colony Foundation and Friends of the Outer Banks History Center have teamed up to present a new exhibit at Fort Raleigh National Historic site here in the Outer Banks. The exhibit is called Beneath the Sands: Past and Present Archaeology at Fort Raleigh and explores how archaeology can help unravel the story of what happened to the “First Colony” or Lost Colony.

The exhibition is presented as part of Roanoke Colonies Archaeology and History Week and is made possible by support from the Percy W. and Elizabeth G. Meekins Charitable Trust. Many of the artifacts will be on display for the first time and aim to show how scientific analysis when combined with historical context can provide clues to what may be America’s greatest historical mystery.

Roanoke Colonies Archaeology and History Week includes a week-long professional archaeological search for evidence of Sir Walter Raleigh’s colonies and Algonkian Indian habitation on Roanoke Island, with an interactive educational classroom without walls, and a public symposium focused on new discoveries. Other activities of the week will include a weeklong series of events with theatre, symposium, and archaeological research at Roanoke Island Festival Park.

Among the planned activities:

* Two of the nation’s pre-eminent historical archaeologists, Dr. Eric Klingelhofer and Nicholas Luccketti, will direct and train selected Dare County high school students and adult volunteers in field excavations.

* The original play, Shepherd of the Ocean, will be presented on Monday evening, October 10, by Elizabeth R & Company at Roanoke Island Festival Park and begins at 7 p.m.

* Tuesday-Friday, noted archaeologists and historians will present free public programs on the latest research on the Algonkian Indians of North Carolina, theories on the disappearance of Sir Walter Raleigh’s “Lost Colonists,” the settlement of Roanoke Island after the disappearance of the “Lost Colony,” and the scientific search for the Archaeological remains of the Roanoke colonies.

How cool would it be to see real life archaeological search right here in the OBX? Its amazing to take a step back and think about all the history that lies right in your backyard. The Lost Colony is such an amazing story which still has so many unanswered questions surrounding its disappearance. This would be a great event to take the kids to if you are in town this week. Nothing like tying some education into a vacation…kids dig it

The Lost Colony is Back! Opening Next Friday May 27th

Posted on May 18, 2011

You know it is summer when The Lost Colony is back in action! If you have never been it is a must do for you next Outer Banks trip! It is a fun way to learn some history behind this beautiful place we call home and how it came to be. The cast returns next Friday night for its 74th anniversary season with ticket prices starting at $20. The show runs from May 27th to August 20th so you have plenty of time to plan and work it in your vacation.

The Lost Colony is the “grandfather” of all outdoor dramas and is produced by the Roanoke Island Historical Association, a non-profit whose mission is to celebrate the history of the first English colonies on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, and to honor the founders of The Lost Colony symphonic drama through drama, education, and literature.

Join this terrific cast for a show you will never forget. Check out what our fans have to say about it!

For more information on The Lost Colony or for ticket information, check out their website or facebook page.

Outer Banks Named in List of Best Islands Close to Home

Posted on April 1, 2010

Islands.com recently named the Outer Banks the best island close to home for history. In addition to gorgeous beaches, great food, and an abundance of nature, the Outer Banks is extremely rich in history; brave settlers in the Lost Colony, the swashbuckling pirates that pillaged the Atlantic coast, or the Wright Brothers first flight, the OBX has a wealth of historical relevance.

One of the great aspects of the OBX is it’s accessibility. The islands are remote enough to offer that “removed from civilization” feeling, but in reality, the Outer Banks is less than a half a days drive from most of the eastern seaboard.

Even to this day, historical discoveries are being made on the Outer Banks. Within the past few weeks, the oldest shipwreck along North Carolina was discovered on the northern beaches of the Outer Banks. Below is the commentary from Islands.com:

Best for History
Outer Banks, North Carolina
Kitty Hawk at the north end of the Outer Banks is just 79 miles south of the airport in Norfolk, Virginia. Cape Hatteras to the south was declared the United States’ first national seashore in 1953, and the Outer Banks calls itself “America’s Beach.” www.outerbanks.org

Outer Banks - Best Island Close to Home

The Outer Banks’ Lost Colony Showcased on PBS

Posted on July 23, 2009

PBS is airing a new television series called Time Team America. Time Team America is about a team of archeologists that travel to sites all over America and allow themselves only three days to complete a certain objective.

The show airs on PBS, and episodes can be viewed on the network’s website. The first episode centered around the mysterious disappearance of the first English settlement in America, The Lost Colony. The Team came to the Outer Banks, specifically Roanoke Island, to the site of the Lost Colony dig in hopes of determining what lead to the disappearance.

It is a must see for history buffs as well as Outer Banks enthusiasts.

Much to See and Do on the Outer Banks

Posted on March 30, 2009

A recent article in The Ledger Independent, a local Kentucky newspaper, does a great job of highlighting many of the great attractions the OBX has to offer.

The article highlights…

· The abundance of great local food

· Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets (over the ocean in the a.m. and the Sound in the p.m.)

· Unique collection of lighthouses

· Elizabethan Gardens

· Significant historic relevance

o The Lost Colony

o The Wright Brothers

o Fort Raleigh

· Wide variety of outdoor activities

· Some Outer Banks facts

It is a good read for all OBX enthusiasts, and a great reminder of all there is to see and do on the Outer Banks. For a more extensive list, please view the Seaside Vacations Top 100 Things To Do on Vacation.

Things To Do on the Outer Banks

Posted on March 27, 2009

The Salem Street Gazette recently posted a great article highlighting some of the great attractions on the Outer Banks. The eight attractions listed below are a great start, but there is so much more to see and do on the Outer Banks. Here’s a more extensive list with the Seaside Vacations Top 100 things to do.

THE WHALEHEAD CLUB: Tour the stately 21,000 square foot private retreat. Admire the elegant Art Nouveau details. Learn about the owners and all that it took to run such a home.

VISIT THE LIGHTHOUSES: There are several to choose from. In season you can climb to the top of the Cape Hatteras and the Currituck Beach Lighthouses. You can also visit the lighthouses at Ocracoke and Bodie Island Lighthouses.

JOCKEY’S RIDGE STATE PARK: Hike up the largest active dune system on the East Coast. Experience the beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding area from atop of the dunes. Arguably the best sunset on the beach.

WRIGHT BROTHERS NATIONAL MEMORIAL: See the replica of the famous “Wright Flyer’ that started aviation history. Climb the hill and view the memorial as a tribute to Orville and Wilbur Wright.

CHICAMACOMICO LIFESAVING STATION: Learn the history of the Lifesaving Service in North Carolina. Watch demonstration with a breeches buoy and Lyle gun. This site is the most complete U. S. Lifesaving Service Station in the United States.

THE LOST COLONY: See a live performance with music and drama of this great historical event. Learn the tragic story of the ill-fated colonist of 1587. The Lost Colony is the oldest running outdoor drama in America.

ELIZABETHAN GARDENS: This is a must see in the Spring. All the beautiful blooming flowers and shrubs. The statuary throughout the garden is stunning.

OCRACOKE ISLAND: Take a ferry ride to the beautiful and unique island. It houses the second oldest lighthouse in the United States, built in 1823. The British cemetery holds the remains of four British sailors from the HMS Bedfordshire.

Don’t forget your camera.

The Lost Colony: An Outer Banks Legend

Posted on January 6, 2009

The Lost Colony Years before Jamestown, VA and Plymouth, MA, a group of about 120 brave men and women set out to settle the New World.

In 1587 these brave souls thought that Roanoke Island would be the perfect place to set up a colony. Shortly after the colonists settled on the island, Eleanor Dare gave birth to Virginia Dare, who was the first European child born in America. Life on Roanoke Island was a lot harder than the colonists could have ever imagined.

These brave pioneers faced many hardships during their time on the Island. Difficult weather and hostile Indians were challenging, but the true challenge was the dwindling supplies. When the colonists were dangerously low on supplies, they sent Governor John White back to England to replenish the diminishing rations.

White’s return was delayed due to England’s war with Spain; he returned three years later to discover that all of the colonists had vanished! The only clue that was left behind was the words CROATOAN carved in a tree. To this day, the only clue that remains is the haunted word carved into the tree.

Today, The Lost Colony legend lives on at a waterside theatre on the Outer Banks; the legend is reenacted on Roanoke Island during the summer months by an award-winning theatre group.