In our continuing series on coastal county history, the county named for the first English child born in the New World still draws people from around the world.
Culture & History
U-boat artifacts, divers reveal history of Torpedo Junction
Items that divers retrieved from German submarines sunk off the Outer Banks and are now on display at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum help tell the story of Torpedo Junction, where fiery World War II battles were fought off the East Coast.
NC Maritime Museums open doors to coastal history in July
North Carolina Maritime Museums in Hatteras, Beaufort and Southport are offering hands-on crafts, educational programs and activities for all ages this month.
Tyrrell County history shaped by its coastal environment
Tyrrell County has long been defined by its natural environment, and outdoor exploration and wildlife continue to be among this coastal county’s biggest draws.
Core Sound Museum to show thanks to frontline workers
Active military, veterans, health care workers, first responders, teachers and school staff can contact the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center now to reserve their complimentary dinner of a half-pound of fresh local shrimp with all the trimmings, dessert and drink.
Symposium highlights enslaved people’s escape by water
A recent symposium at Tryon Palace explored the role of water travel in the escapes of countless enslaved North Carolinians.
From farms to niche tourism, Bertie ‘Seedbed of the Colony’
Bertie County, an agricultural hub on the inner banks of northeastern North Carolina, turns 300 this year.
Portsmouth Village welcomes descendants for homecoming
More than 400 recently made their way to Portsmouth Island to remember their ancestors while celebrating community.
Quiet Washington County rich in coastal NC history
Washington County’s story is one of isolation, success, and an eventual renewal on the banks of the Roanoke River.
Our coast’s history: From Aguascogoc’s ashes
In 1585, English explorers twice visited a Native American village called Aguascogoc, destroying it on their second stop. Historian David Cecelski traces North Carolina’s coastal tribal legacy.
Historians at OBX event reveal enigmatic Thomas Harriot
He was chosen to be a part of Sir Walter Raleigh’s first expedition, and although little is known about scientist and mathematician Thomas Harriot, his written depictions of the New World say much about the author.
Small, rural Hertford County has an identity all its own
Hertford County is a vibrant, successful county in the otherwise economically challenged region of northeastern North Carolina, writes historian Eric Medlin.
Rural character has defined Gates County for centuries
Its rural character, plantation history and natural beauty make it similar to other northeastern counties such as Chowan, Pasquotank and Camden but has famous residents, plantation homes and a state park.
For some, Pamlico River was part of underground railroad
“Freedom seekers used this river,” says Leesa Jones, executive director of the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum.
‘They have got hold of the Bible’: Beaufort and the Civil War
The letters between an anti-slavery pastor and his daughter give a glimpse of Beaufort during the Civil War era, where escaped and liberated enslaved people could “come out of the shadow of slavery,” David Cecelski writes.
Lost photographs: Remembering NC’s fishing communities
Historian David Cecelski illustrates with a series of photographs life in the 1930s and 1940s fishing communities as well as the man who took the photos, Charles Farrell.
