Unsolved Histories of the Outer Banks of North Carolina

Ever since the earliest settlers reached the Outer Banks, this stretch of coast has carried an air of mystery. The story includes the lost colony of Roanoke as well as maritime disasters that still shape local lore.

By Carol Timblin on Dec. 15, 2022

Barrier islands extend along the North Carolina shoreline from Currituck to Bogue Banks. Dare County's official Outer Banks, or OBX, stretches from Duck to Hatteras Village and also takes in Roanoke Island, Wanchese and Dare mainland. These shifting islands have continually influenced both the land and its history. Approximately 2,000 ships have gone down along this dangerous coast, resting in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, while many more vessels have disappeared with their stories unresolved.

Giovanni da Verrazano of Florence became the first European known to reach the Carolina coast in 1524. Several Spanish explorers came afterward, among them Hernando De Soto in 1539. In 1587, 117 men and women arrived with the support of Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh, hoping to establish lives in an unfamiliar land. Within three years, the group had disappeared, and what happened to them remains unknown. One member of the colony was Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America. That enduring mystery is the subject of The Lost Colony, the longest running outdoor drama in the United States.

The Lost Colony and nearby historical sites

Playwright Paul Green created the symphonic drama, which premiered on Roanoke Island in 1937 and drew President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a performance that same year. Across the decades, the production has helped develop hundreds of young actors and stage technicians who went on to notable careers in film and theater.

The Lost Colony is performed at Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island during summer evenings, traditionally from late May or early June through mid-August. The 2023 Season opens June 2nd. In recent years, the company has added 3D projection technology to make the audience experience more immersive. Scenic elements, specialized lighting and sound effects create the impression of forest animals moving across the stage.

Wearing detailed costumes inspired by the late 1500s, cast members share the sweeping story of The Lost Colony through music and dance. Guests can enjoy the performance and may also take a backstage tour before the curtain rises or attend a pre-show focused on Native American culture.

Additional Lost Colony history is available at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo. At the Settlement Site and aboard the Elizabeth II sailing ship, costumed interpreters explain how the first settlers lived, worked and spent their time on Roanoke Island. The park’s American Indian Town and Adventure Museum also offer insight into Native Americans.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island protects what is believed to be the location of the first English voyages to the New World, along with the colonies that followed from 1584 to 1587. It also preserves the cultural heritage of the European Americans, Native Americans, and African Americans connected to this place. National Park historians present special programs and interpretive talks at the remains of the earthen fort and in the visitor center museum.

The Elizabethan Gardens, founded by the Garden Club of North Carolina in 1951, serves as a living memorial to the first English colonists and Queen Elizabeth I. Filled with many kinds of flowers and plants, the gardens create a fitting setting for statues of Virginia Dare and the Queen.

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

Roughly 75 miles south of Roanoke Island, Hatteras Village is home to The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. Centered on the maritime history and shipwrecks of the Outer Banks, the museum presents exhibits spanning multiple eras. In the 1700s, pirates including Edward Teach (Blackbeard), Edward Low, and Anne Bonny threatened the region and sometimes concealed treasure in the dunes. Items from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, which ran aground near Beaufort in 1718, are shown at the museum.

During the height of the Civil War, vessels known as Blockade Runners slipped through Union lines to bring much-need supplies to Southern troops. The museum displays artifacts from the USS Monitor ironclad, which sank near Hatteras in 1864, along with artifacts from the USS Huron, which sank near Nags Head in 1877. Other exhibits cover German U-boats, which sank several ships off the coast during World War II, and General Billy Mitchell’s bombing achievements off Cape Hatteras.

Author

Carol Timblin has traveled to destinations around the world and written about them, while also valuing the distinctive character of the South, where she has spent most of her life. Her work has been published in many regional and national publications, and she has received several awards during her writing career, including a Lowell Thomas Award from SATW, a Discover America Award from Travel Industry of America, and a Charles Kuralt Award from the North Carolina Travel Industry Association.