The Outer Banks: A Home to Aviation, Natural History, Native American Culture and More
The islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina are home to an abundance of history. The Outer Banks are home to the first English colony in the Americas, Roanoke, located on Roanoke Island. Ocracoke Island was the home base of pirate Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. Ocracoke Island, as well as Corolla, is also home to colonies of wild horses, sometimes called "banker ponies". According to local legend, the banker ponies are descended from Spanish Mustangs that were washed ashore centuries ago in shipwrecks.
The large numbers of shipwrecks that have occurred off the shores of the Outer Banks have given this part of the Atlantic Ocean the nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic” and there is a museum of the same name. With the wealth of culture and history in the Outer Banks, it’s no surprise that it is home to several museums:
The Dare County Airport Museum
The Outer Banks are the birthplace of aviation, and the Dare County Regional Airport Museum is housed in the west end of the airport terminal building. Models of aircraft that played a part in the history of Dare County aviation are displayed in the lobby. The museum’s hours are from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM seven days a week. You can find out more about the Airport Museum by visiting them online or by calling 252.475-5570.
Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station
The Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station is the most complete Lifesaving Station site in the nation. The original station was constructed in 1874 and a second station built in 1911. The station consists of five outbuildings, including the 1911 Cook House and the 1907 Midgett House. The station offers several family-oriented programs offered during the summer months, including the Beach Apparatus Drill reenactment. Station exhibits include artifacts, apparatus, documents, uniforms, and photographs, including displays of the Outer Banks Lifesaving Station. The station is open from mid-April through November. You can call for a schedule at 252.987.1552.
The Frisco Native American Museum and Natural History Center
The museum contains a nationally recognized collection of Native American artifacts, exhibits, and natural history displays. The Frisco’s galleries are filled with native art and also include extensive information on Native Americans across the United States. The museum also contains artifacts from the first inhabitants of Hatteras Island. As the museum is also designated as a North Carolina Environmental Education Center and a Historic Albemarle Tour site, it includes a newly opened bird observation room and several acres of nature trails winding through a lush maritime forest. For more information on hours, services, and facilities, call the Frisco Native American Museum at 252.995.4440.
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
This is a unique museum whose mission is preserving the rich maritime history of the Outer Banks and the more than 2,000 known shipwrecks that rest off the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Artifacts in the museum include the "Lost Lens" from the first Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the Enigma machine from the U-85 (the first U-boat sunk by the Allies), Billy Mitchell's historic bombing achievements off the Cape Hatteras coast, the Union gunboat Huron, the famous “ghost ship” Carroll A. Deering, and many other exhibits. Call 252.986.2995 or 252.986.2996 for information on museum times and directions.
The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
The North Carolina Aquarium educates visitors and locals on the aquatic environments of coastal Carolina through the "Water of The Outer Banks" theme. From exhibits where visitors can explore coastal freshwaters to see river otters, turtles, and American alligators, to saltwater habitats, grass flats, and Gulf Stream waters, the aquarium offers a learning experience for all. The aquarium is a Member Site of the Historic Albemarle Tour. For information on admission and hours, please contact the aquarium at 252.473.3494.
North Carolina Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island
The museum is home to the George Washington Creef working boathouse. The boathouse offers a look at local and regional maritime heritage through its displays of watercraft, various exhibits, ongoing restoration projects, and traditional skills workshops. Also featured at the museum is a North Carolina Shad boat as well as an early commercial fishing exhibit featuring the 1883 Shad boat Ella View, and exhibits on regional boat building. For information on the museum as well as the museum's educational programs, please call them at 252.475.1750.
Roanoke Island Festival Park
The Roanoke Island Festival Park is an interactive family attraction which celebrates the first English settlement in America. At the heart of the 25-acre island park is the Elizabeth II, a representation of one of the seven English ships from the Roanoke Voyage of 1585. The park is also home to the Settlement site, the Roanoke Adventure Museum and the American Indian Town and Cultural Education Center. The town offers a wide variety of activities and also features an on-site art gallery, fossil pit, museum store, and marsh-side boardwalks. As its hours vary seasonally, be sure to call the park at 252.475.1500 to check on times and admission.
Labels: Graveyard of the Atlantic, museums, North Carolina, Outer Banks Activities, Roanoke Island
October Fun in the Outer Banks
There is quite a lot to look forward to this October in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Events abound from Corolla to Roanoke Island to Kill Devil Hills and more. Here are just some of the festivities coming your way in the Outer Banks.
October 3rd
Enjoy the continuing tradition of “First Friday” at the downtown Manteo Waterfront. So named for being held on the first Friday of every month, the First Friday event is a fun-filled, family oriented street festival. First Friday takes place from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. For more information, visit First Friday online.
October 6th – October 29th
The Art Gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park is featuring new illustrations and figurative sculpture from Bill Nelson of Roanoke Island. Bill is a nationally known artist whose work has appeared in numerous national publications including Newsweek, Time and The New Yorker. His highly collectible figurative sculptures can be found in the personal collections of Whoopi Goldberg, Demi Moore and David Copperfield. An opening reception for “Bill Nelson: New Works” will be held on Sunday, October 5th. It’s free and open to the public. The show hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information on the exhibit, please call the Art Gallery at Roanoke Island at 252.475.1500.
October 18th – October 19th
Entertain the daredevil in you at the 22nd Annual Outer Banks Stunt Kite Competition, held at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. The event will take place Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM both days. This Eastern League Sport Kite Association event brings the best kite fliers on the circuit to the Outer Banks. Come see kite flying ballets, team competition, and more. You can find more information online or by calling 1.877.FLY.THIS (359.8447).
October 23rd – October 25th
Catching a red drum can be one of the biggest thrills in fishing. An adult drum can weigh between 30 and 60 pounds. So why not experience the thrill and take part in Frank and Fran's 9th Annual Red Drum Tournament on Hatteras Island? The tournament is a three-day individual surf fishing tournament with up to 300 paid anglers competing to catch and release the largest and most red drum. The prizes total over $12,000.00 for multiple winners. To find out more, visit Hatteras Island online or call 252.995.4171.
October 26th
Join the Chris Norman Ensemble on Sunday, October 26th at 4:00 PM at the Art Gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Hailed as one of the finest flute players of our time, Chris Norman proves over and over again that the simple wooden flute is the original - and still unsurpassed - woodwind of expression, passion, joy and subtlety. Chris’s flute playing can be heard featured in the Oscar® winning soundtrack of Titanic as well as the 1998 Hollywood film, Soldier. The price of admission is included in the general admission ticket price to Roanoke Island Festival Park. For more information, you can call 252.475.1500.
Labels: Outer Banks Activities
Tropical Storm Hanna Skirts by the Outer Banks
As our eyes and thoughts turn to the Texas coastline and Hurricane Ike, residents of the Outer Banks of North Carolina are thankful that Topical Storm Hanna paid little more than a brief visit to the Outer Banks.
Thankfully, the worst of the weather delivered to the coast by Tropical Storm Hanna were some heavy rains and strong winds the morning of Saturday, September 6th. The brunt of the storm left the area by noon; however, later in the afternoon, slight sound side flooding slowed traffic in two areas of the Outer Banks. The minor sound side flooding was been reported near Manteo, Collington, and Pea Island. The coastal flood threat diminished once Hanna’s wind relaxed and low tide approached.
There was some flooding experienced in area marinas as well as the tropical storm’s winds pushed the Pasquotank River inland. Tidal over wash flooded some streets, but no significant flooding or wind damage was reported.
Luckily, Tropical Storm Hanna left only standing water in places along the highway and scattered tree limbs in her wake. Hanna’s winds, though they were strong, fortunately didn’t damage the delicate dunes the Outer Banks is famous for and also left the oceanfront without major beach erosion.
Labels: Hurricane Ike, Hurricane season, Outer Banks, Tropical Storm Hanna
The Outer Banks Brace for Tropical Storm HannaIt is indeed “that time of year” as Tropical Storm Hanna approaches the Carolina coastline. Experts predict that the most likely area of landfall will be along the Carolina coast between Charleston, South Carolina and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The timing of landfall can be anywhere between late evening on Friday, 5 September to the early morning hours of Saturday, 6 September. There is some chance that Tropical Storm Hanna could shift sharply and could just graze the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect from the Altamaha Sound of Georgia northwards along the Atlantic Coast to Chincoteague, Virginia. This area included Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and extends and north into Chesapeake Bay to Smith Point. Hurricane watches remains in effect from north of Edisto Beach, South Carolina to Currituck Beach Light in North Carolina, including the area of Pamlico Sound.It is possible that Tropical Storm Hanna will move inland and then pass over eastern North Carolina early Saturday morning with an increase in forward speed. Rain and wind from the tropical storm could start as early as Friday night. The governor of North Carolina, Mike Easley has declared a State of Emergency, freeing up state resources for storm response. Governor Easley has urged residents to listen to weather forecasts because the path of Tropical Storm Hanna could change. "No, you're not in the clear if you're not in the track we talked about today," the governor said. "You're in the clear after the storm goes through and didn't bother you. Everybody needs to pay attention."
Labels: Hurricane season, Tropical Storm Hanna
