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
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