Boat Building – An Important Piece of the Outer Banks Economy It’s no secret that the Outer Banks economy is dominated by tourism—and it’s been that way for some time. But even though tourism is the engine that drives the local economy, it is of course not the only important …
The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke A Book Review There is, perhaps, no mystery as enduring as the fate of The Lost Colony. Abandoned in an unfamiliar land, lacking many of the skills needed to survive, the riddle of what happened to …
In the Pirate’s Wake – The Other Tales of Blackbeard Behind every great pirate, there are stories to be told, and that is certainly the case with Blackbeard. Famous, or infamous, as he may have been, he did not reach the pinnacle of piratical legend without the help of others …
Carteret Town – A Planned Community Looking at Manteo today and seeing it as a wonderful, picturesque, small town, it’s difficult to imagine that if not for apparent incompetence and outright corruption, the town might today rival Wilmington as the major port of North Carolina. Pure speculation? Of course, but …
Colington Island – An Early History The names of the towns, villages, and areas of the Outer Banks are an interesting mix of American Indian names—Manteo, Wanchese, Kitty Hawk, and Hatteras. Some places have names from England—Nags Head. And a smattering of random names were created to satisfy the US …
4 Facts about Outer Banks History that Will Surprise You Looking around at the modern version of the Outer Banks, it can be hard to imagine that there was ever anything else here that what we currently see. But there is a history here—a very rich and wonderful history. Of …
As US 64 heads west after passing through Manns Harbor, an apparently impenetrable marsh and swamp seems to creep ever closer to the road. There are a few homes and buildings that mark East Lake, but other than that, there is almost no sign that civilization has ever encroached on …
History is often recorded in books, in the writings of great figures of the past and present and manuscripts in dusty libraries. But it is also told in the artifacts of the people who lived through those times, in the everyday trinkets, machines and constructs that were a part of …
Carroll A. Deering Shipwreck – The Mystery That Endures There is nothing left of the Carroll A. Deering now. After the 5-masted schooner ran aground at Diamond Shoals on January 31, 1921 the Coast Guard, after examine the wreck, towed and dynamited it, concerned about a threat to shipping. But …
The Lost Colony: What We’ve Learned, What We Still Don’t Know As we approach the 81st year of the outdoor drama “The Lost Colony,” it seems like a good time to reflect back on the mystery of Sir Walter Raleigh’s ill-fated attempt at a colony. Written in 1937, Paul Green’s …
