Roanoke Island Attractions, Performances & Events
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Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
- Milltail Road, off U.S. Highway 64
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a 154,000-acre refuge on the mainland portions of Dare and Hyde counties. It was established in 1984 to preserve and protect the pocosin, a unique wetland habitat type, and its associated wildlife species. Pocosin is a Native American word meaning ‘‘swamp-on-a-hill’’ and is characterized by poorly drained soils high in organic material. Its diversity of habitat types includes high and low pocosin, bogs, fresh and brackish water marshes, hardwood swamps and Atlantic white cedar swamps. Plant species include pitcher plants and sun dews, low bush cranberries, bays, Atlantic white cedar, pond pine, gums, red maple and a wide variety of herbaceous and shrub species common to the East Coast.
The refuge is one of the last remaining strongholds for black bear on the Eastern Seaboard, and it is the only place in the world where endangered red wolves still exist in the wild. It is home to concentrations of ducks, geese and swans, and its wildlife diversity also includes wading birds, shorebirds, American woodcock, raptors, American alligators, white-tailed deer, raccoons, rabbits, quail, river otters, red-cockaded woodpeckers and neotropical migrants.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge has great paddling trails, a wildlife drive, two wildlife trails and all types of wildlife and habitat for you to learn about. The staff offers several programs throughout the year, including Tram Tours, Canoe Tours, Red Wolf Howling Safaris and the Bear Necessities program about black bears. See the separate listings for each of these programs in our Recreation section.
The refuge is open year round during daylight hours.
Next spring, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is opening a Visitors Center offering information on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and 10 other refuges in the northeastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia. This Visitors Center will be located on the north end of Roanoke Island. For now, if you want more information about the refuge, it’s best to call (252) 473-1131 or visit their website at www.fws.gov/alligatorriver.gov. The staff that manages the Alligator River refuge also manages Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island; see our Hatteras site’s Recreation chapter for more information.
Elizabethan Gardens
- 1411 National Park Drive (off U.S. Highway 64) next to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 473-3234
- map
Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English colonists, The Elizabethan Gardens is a rare treasure on the Outer Banks. It’s a haven of verdant, flourishing growth and natural prosperity. The gardens are in bloom year round with azaleas, dogwoods, roses, camellias, daphne, a variety of annuals and herbs and much more. Adding exquisite touches are ancient stone fountains, garden ornaments, a waterfront gazebo, benches, statues, an expansive lawn and some of the most amazing live oaks you’ll ever see. The Garden Gift Shoppe sells books, gifts, herbs and plants.
Nestled in the gardens is the Amazing Fossil Dig, a maze of gravel where children can play and sort to look for fossils and shark’s teeth. The gravel was imported from PCS Phosphate Mine in Aurora, North Carolina, a place known for its abundant fossils that can date back 20 million years!
Elizabethan Gardens offers outstanding workshops, classes and day camps almost all year round. Art classes, plant sales, gardening workshops, kids’ outdoor-oriented classes and much more are listed on the website. The Gardens’ Easter Eggstravaganza, Harvest Hayday (near Halloween), Harvest Hoedown fund-raiser and WinterLights festivities are great fun.
The Gardens open at 9 a.m. seven days a week throughout most of the year and at 10 a.m. December through February. Closing time varies according to the season. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for youth ages 6 to 17 and free for children age 5 and younger. Reduced rates are available for group tours.
The Gardens make a beautiful setting for bridal luncheons, weddings and receptions. Choose from a variety of backdrops for an unforgettable day. The Gardens are also perfect for organizational retreats or group meetings. An on-site Reception Hall, tent and Tea Garden accommodate parties large and small. Call for more information.
Gallery 101
- 101 B Budleigh Street
- Manteo
Gallery 101 displays fine art and craft from local, regional and out-of-state artists. The focus is on ceramics, both functional designs and fine art pieces, but there are also paintings, blown glass, stained glass, turned wood, jewelry and photography, including works by local photographers.
Island Farm
- U.S. Highway 64
- Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island’s Island Farm is a re-creation of the Etheridge family’s 1850s Roanoke Island working farm. Visitors feel as if they’ve stepped back more than 150 years as they explore the farm and see interpreters dressed in period attire carrying out the daily activities of the time – tending animals, blacksmithing, hoeing corn, doing laundry, making corn cakes. Hands-on activities and demonstrations may include woodworking, textile work, cooking demonstrations, ox-drawn wagon rides, 19th-century toys and games and farm and garden work. Visitors take self-guided tours of the Etheridge House and Farm, interacting with interpreters along the way. Activities vary daily and by season and are weather dependent. Standard admission costs $6 per person, with children 5 and younger admitted for free. After opening day for the season, which is April 4, 2012, hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday until closing day on November 24. Note that they’re closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Lost Colony
- Waterside Theatre, 1409 National Park Drive, Waterside Theatre, off U.S. Highway 64
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 473-3414
- map
More than 400 years ago, 117 men, women and children sailed from Plymouth, England, in an attempt to settle on Roanoke Island. They vanished just two years later. The only clue left behind was the word “CROATOAN” carved in a tree. The Lost Colony is their story.
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, The Lost Colony is performed summer nights by a company of more than 100 actors, dancers, singers and technicians in the historic outdoor Waterside Theatre. Come see epic battles and Indian dances. Experience the sorrow and heartbreak of tragedy and loss. Witness the pageantry of the queen and her court, and celebrate the birth of Virginia Dare. There is music, laughter, romance and dance.
An Outer Banks tradition and cultural treasure, The Lost Colony educates, enriches and entertains — don’t leave the Outer Banks until you see it.
The Lost Colony is performed Monday through Saturday nights from May 27 through August 20, 2011. Show time is 8:30 p.m. Upper Level seating is $20 for adults and $18 for seniors (62 and older). Lower Level seating is $24 for adults and $21 for seniors. Children 12 and younger pay $10 in either level. Groups of 10 or more save up to $4 per person. Advance reservations are recommended. For tickets, call (252) 473-3414 or purchase online at www.thelostcolony.com.
Take a backstage tour for a behind-the-scenes look at how The Lost Colony comes to life, from weaponry and stunt demonstrations to actors putting last-minute touches on makeup. Tours begin at 7:30 p.m. and cost $7 per person.
New in 2011 are Waterside Sunset Picnics. Enjoy a scrumptious gourmet picnic as the sun sets on the Albemarle Sound. Picnics include an appetizer, entree, side dish and dessert. Tables are available or bring a blanket to sit on. Cost is $16 for adults and $8 for children.
Manteo
- General Information
- Manteo
Manteo, the only incorporated town on Roanoke Island and the Dare County seat, is a small island town complete with a picturesque waterfront, a safe harbor and welcoming docks and a charming downtown historic area.
Manteo’s waterfront downtown is an attraction in itself, with shops, art galleries, eateries, a lighthouse, a waterfront boardwalk and park and boats sitting in the harbor of Shallowbag Bay. It’s also the home of Roanoke Island Festival Park, one of the Outer Banks’ most popular attractions.
The Manteo historic district is full of restored homes and bed and breakfast inns that make for great sightseeing or overnight stays. It is perfect for exploring on foot or by bicycle. Park the car and walk around; the town is quite pedestrian friendly.
The main corridor of Manteo is U.S. Highway 64. This road is lined with shops, galleries, restaurants, service businesses and places to stay. A bicycle/multi-use path runs parallel to U.S. Highway 64 for the length of this picturesque island. If you have a bicycle handy, we highly recommend using this path to explore Roanoke Island. The path ends at a beautiful soundfront park. Also on the island are the attractions of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, The Lost Colony’s Waterside Theatre, The Elizabethan Gardens, the North Carolina Aquarium, Island Farm and the fishing village of Wanchese.
Manteo Self-Guided Walking Tour Book
- Manteo
- (252) 473-1111
Manteo is much more than a modern vacation resort. It’s a place with an interesting past. In the downtown and waterfront area, you can see remnants of days gone by — and a great way to experience this history is with One Boat Guides’ Manteo Walking Tour. The book features an easy-to-follow map and format that guides you through Manteo, showing historic photographs, pointing out historical details and landmarks and relating anecdotes along the way.
OneBoat Outer Banks also features walking and driving tours to Corolla, Nags Head, Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Village. The books are available on the Outer Banks in bookstores, gift shops, grocery stores, attractions and specialty shops. Or you can call (252) 473-1111 to order a copy in advance of your visit and have it shipped to you. Look for their distinctive covers with historic photographs. Have fun exploring the history of the Outer Banks!
Roanoke Island Festival Park
- 1 Festival Park, Across from the Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 475-1500
- map
Did you know that the first Roanoke Island settlements predate the Jamestown settlement of 1607? The Roanoke Island settlements took place 20 years earlier, between 1585 and 1587. Though the Roanoke Island colonies didn’t prove successful as far as longevity, they were the foundations of English-speaking life in America and provided much-needed information about the New World that helped the later colonies succeed. Roanoke Island Festival Park is one place to learn about these first English settlements and the impact they had on the Native Americans who were already residing here in the 16th century. The state-run park and cultural center is just across the bridge from the downtown Manteo waterfront on its own 25-acre island. Be prepared for a day of fun, as there is a lot to do and see here.
Elizabeth II—The centerpiece of the park is the 69-foot Elizabeth II, a 16th-century sailing ship. It’s a representation of a particular 16th-century English merchant ship, Elizabeth, one of seven in Sir Walter Raleigh’s 1585 expedition to establish England’s first New World colony. Costumed interpreters speaking Old English greet visitors to the ship with sea tales, legends and historical facts and answer questions about 16th-century seafaring. Kids love walking around on the decks and crawling down below to see what life was like on the ship. The Elizabeth II’s tender, Silver Chalice, is 24 feet long and carries up to 15 crew members.
Settlement Site – The Settlement Site is where guests get to interact with costumed interpreters portraying the colonist men and women as they settled into life in the New World. Visitors can try their hand at blacksmithing, woodworking, colonial games and more. See how the first English settlers lived when they arrived in the New World. Try on some of their armor, learn some 16th-century warfare techniques and some of the arts and crafts needed to make life tolerable on Roanoke Island more than 400 years ago.
American Indian Town – Explore coastal Algonquian culture and history in the American Indian Town, an exhibit that’s new to Roanoke Island Festival Park. The town represents an American Indian community similar to what the English explorers investigated and surveyed during their voyages to Roanoke Island and the surrounding area in the late 16th century. Visitors follow paths that wind through the park. Homes, agricultural areas and work shelters line the paths. Two longhouses represent the historical homes of American Indians from the region. One of the longhouses stretches more than 30 feet long and interprets the home of a leader from the community. A smaller and partially completed longhouse includes an interactive component that invites visitors to help complete the structure. Both areas contain interactive exhibits that focus on the developing relationship between the American Indian and English people during the late 16th century. The ceremonial dance circle is also located here. The exhibit has a planting and harvesting area where visitors can learn the advanced nuances of American Indian farming techniques. Three work shelters include activities like cordage (rope) making, mat and basket weaving, net mending, food preparation, tanning hides, fishing, boat building and gathering.
Fossil Search — Find ancient treasures, including shark’s teeth and coral, from a time long before the colonists arrived.
Roanoke Adventure Museum — The Roanoke Adventure Museum features highly interactive, multi-sensory, hands-on exhibits and experience of 400 years of Outer Banks history. The exhibits invite interaction, especially the dress-up trunk of Elizabethan clothing and the duck-hunting station. Watch as history comes alive for children of all ages in the hands-on exhibits.
Pavilion — The Outdoor Pavilion and surrounding grounds offer a perfect place to enjoy a picnic and concert. Events are scheduled year round and many are free and open to the public.
Art Gallery — Located in the Administration Building, the Art Gallery features a different art exhibit every month, with most of the artwork done by local artists. Sometimes other important works of art are brought to this distinguished gallery.
Film Theater — The film The Legend of Two-Path is shown several times a day in the 242-seat Film Theater. It tells the Native Americans’ perspective of how the arrival of the colonists changed their lives. Special performances are also held here year round.
Boardwalks & Grounds — Enjoy wildlife in a natural setting while walking the Boardwalk that runs throughout the park. Along the landscaped walks, native shrubs and flowers thrive in the sound and marsh. The Boardwalk joins the Roanoke Voyages Trail, which bisects Roanoke Island.
Outer Banks History Center — The Outer Banks History Center, (252) 473-2655, is a public research facility with a friendly staff that is willing to help you find historic photographs and documents, research information and more. Their gallery features a history-related show each year, and their reading room offers scores of up-to-date periodicals. See the separate listing for the center for details.
The cost for admission to Roanoke Island Festival Park, which includes all venues, is $8 for adults and $5 for ages 6 to 17. Children 5 and younger get in free. Tickets are good for two consecutive days.
It’s free to tour Festival Park’s Art Gallery, dig in the fossil search, browse the Outer Banks History Center and to walk along the boardwalk that skirts the outer edge of the island that houses the park. Parking is plentiful and free.
Special events are ongoing at Festival Park all year. See www.outerbanksthisweek.com for details.
Roanoke Island Festival Park Performance Series
- 1 Festival Park Road
- Manteo
- (252) 475-1500
- map
Some of North Carolina’s best young talent performs at Roanoke Island Festival Park during the Performance Series. Offering year round music, dance, drama, opera and children’s shows for the community to enjoy, the series invites performing arts departments from all campuses of the University of North Carolina system to participate. All performances are free and open to the public, promising great entertainment for family and friends of all ages. Call for the schedule of performances while you’re here, or check the By Day and By Night listings at www.outerbanksthisweek.com.
The Lost Colony’s Theatre Arts Camp
- Waterside Theatre
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 473-2127
- map
This day camp is designed to teach students voice, dance and acting skills and give them performance experience. All skill levels are welcomed and encouraged to have fun, and there’s a performance at the end of the week for parents and friends. Session I (ages 11 to 15) runs from June 27 to July 1, and Session II (ages 6 to 10) is from July 18 through 22. Cost is $150 per week. Call for registration information.
Dare County Arts Council Gallery
- 300 Queen Elizabeth Avenue
- Manteo
- (252) 473-5558
This great gallery located in the historic Dare County Courthouse showcases the work of Dare County Arts Council members and features at least one special exhibit each month, beginning with a lively reception on the first Friday of each month, coinciding with Manteo’s lively First Friday celebration from April through December. You’ll find paintings, prints, pottery, fiber arts, photography, sculpture and jewelry. Check out the cool Art-o-mat machine, where you can buy cellophane-wrapped packages of original artwork by North Carolina artists. The Dare County Arts Council is the place to get any information you need about visual and cultural arts in Dare County.
Dare County Regional Airport Museum
- Dare County Regional Airport Museum, 410 Airport Road
- Manteo
- (252) 475-5570
The Wright Brothers weren’t the only famous pilots to fly on the Outer Banks. Located inside Roanoke Island’s airport is a small, two-room museum dedicated to the days when a Naval Auxiliary Air Station was based on Roanoke Island. In 1941, the U.S. Navy took over the county’s airfield, making it a training site for World War II aircraft. Check out the museum to learn about local heroes like “Kitty Hawk Kid,” Lt. Sheldon R. “Ray” Beacham. Beacham is credited for shooting down two Japanese Zeros in the South Pacific. Beacham and his VF-17 Squadron were one of the most famous Navy Fighter Squadrons, known for the skull and crossbones painted on the noses of their planes. You can also learn about Dave Driskill, who is credited with bringing aviation to the Outer Banks starting in the 1930s. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is free.
Decoys by Nick Sapone
- 292 The Lane
- Wanchese
- (252) 473-3136
Local carver Nick Sapone welcomes visitors to his home/studio to have a look at his hand-crafted decoys. Sapone makes hunting-style decoys, as opposed to decorative decoys, in wood and in the traditional Outer Banks canvas style. Call ahead to make sure he’s there if you’re making a special trip to Wanchese just to see him.
Elizabeth R Productions
- Various Locations
- Manteo
- (252) 473-1061
Elizabeth R Productions presents historically based dramas written by historian lebame houston and performed in part by acclaimed actor Barbara Hird as Queen Elizabeth I. Hird is committed to authenticity in her interpretation of the character of Queen Elizabeth I, and houston is committed to historical accuracy. The dramas have been performed abroad and received international acclaim, but their home base is here on Roanoke Island.
In Elizabeth R, Hird gives a commanding performance as Queen Elizabeth I. It’s a one-woman, hour-long performance in which the Queen spills the intimate details of her life, including her likes and dislikes, the reasons for making her decisions and information about her parents, her lovers and Sir Walter Raleigh’s colonies.
Shepherd of the Ocean is a whimsical comedy about the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh. The play premiered in 2006 at the international Sir Walter Ralegh Festival in Youghal, Ireland, receiving rave reviews during its three-week run. Set primarily in a time warp, the play is a flashback of Raleigh’s most cherished moments with Queen Elizabeth.
Bloody Mary and the Virgin Queen is an outrageous musical farce based on the fact that Queen Elizabeth I and her half-sister Mary Tudor absolutely loathed one another during their lives, yet they were buried in the same tomb at Westminster Abbey. The show, set in present day, begins when the tourists have left the Abbey, allowing the ghosts to start their vocal bantering and arguing. The dialogue is a blend of contemporary issues and political satire about world and Roanoke Island events.
All of these productions are recommended for ages 14 and up. For the schedule of performances, call the number above or check www.outerbanksthisweek.com.
Endless Possibilities
- 105 Budleigh Street
- Manteo
- (252) 475-1575
This shop offers a truly unique concept in creativity and fund-raising. The goods sold here — rugs, purses, pillows, boas and more — are hand-woven and handcrafted out of recycled clothing that was donated to local Outer Banks Hotline thrift shops. The creations are amazing, colorful and original. The shop also offers the work of talented artists on consignment. The knitters, jewelers and sculptors who display their wares here all work with other found or recycled materials. Proceeds of the goods go to Outer Banks Hotline, a local nonprofit organization, to help local women and families on the Outer Banks.
Weavers are at work on the looms right in the store, and they welcome volunteer weavers. (They’ll teach you what to do.) You can also come in and pay a fee to make your own woven items. This is a great activity for young and old alike — just call ahead to check for loom availability.
First Friday
- Downtown Manteo
- Manteo
First Friday is a family-oriented downtown festival held in the evening from 4 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month from April through December. Downtown Manteo’s sidewalks come alive and the streets are festive on these nights. Several shops and restaurants do an individual celebration of some sort, such as live music, special sales and hors d’oeuvres, and the Dare County Arts Council Gallery usually has an opening reception during First Friday. It’s a great time to explore downtown Manteo.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- 1401 National Park Drive (off U.S. Highway 64)
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 473-5772
This national historic site commemorates and preserves the first English attempts at colonization and aims to help visitors gain a better understanding of the known elements of the settlement. Renovation of the park’s visitor center should be completed by mid-June 2011; until then a temporary visitors center is set up on the site.
To understand the story of the colonists, pay a visit to the visitors center and bookstore. Interpretive panels, a short film and park staff will help you understand the history of this area. During the summer months, park staff offers a regular schedule of ranger programs. Outdoor paths through the historic grounds offer visitors a view of the restored earthen fort, originally built during the 1580s. The Thomas Hariot Nature Trail winds through the wooded area between Roanoke Sound and the earthen fort, making about a quarter-mile loop. Hariot’s descriptions of the New World are quoted on signs along the trail. Nearby this site was the location of a Freedmen’s Colony, where escaped slaves found refuge during and after the Civil War. On the grounds, you will find waysides that discuss the Freedmen’s Colony and a Civil War marker that designates the park as part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, a nationwide program of sites that addresses the Underground Railroad story. Visitation to Fort Raleigh is free and allowed during daylight hours. The visitor center is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with hours extended to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Adjacent to the parking lot, a picnic site is available with tables under shady trees and a spacious lawn for kids who love to run and enjoy the great outdoors. The Elizabethan Gardens and The Lost Colony’s Waterside Theatre neighbor the Fort Raleigh site. See www.outerbanksthisweek.com for details on Park programs.
Ghost Tours of the Outer Banks
- Meet on the corner of Queen Elizabeth Avenue and Budleigh Street
- Manteo
- (252) 573-1450
Experience the legends, lore and ghost stories of the Outer Banks, including stories from the Graveyard of the Atlantic. This 90-minute walking tour is an easy stroll through Manteo. The tour is held Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Reservations are recommended, but walkups are welcome if there’s room on the tour. Cost is $13 for adults and $8 for children ages 10 and younger. Private tours can be held at other times for a minimum of 12 people.
John Silver Gallery
- 105-A Fernando Street
- Manteo
- (252) 475-9764
John Silver Gallery provides an inviting and intimate setting for 12 American painters. The artists, including Roanoke Island resident John Silver, are plein air and studio painters working in oils, acrylics or watercolors. The owners and experienced staff are happy to assist you with a selection, and as art connoisseurs they are glad to share with you their love of painting and the artists they exhibit.
Manteo Farmers Market
- 104 Fernando Street, George Washington Creef Park, Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 473-2133
On Saturday mornings from May 7 through September 10, the Manteo Farmers Market features home-grown, home-baked and homemade goods for sale. Pick up fresh herbs, produce or flowers, buy some local artwork or sweets, all in a beautiful waterfront setting next to the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum. This makes a great family outing as there’s a playground next to the market area. The market is held from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information visit www.townofmanteo.com.
Manteo Waterfront Wine Festival
- Courtyard behind Dare County Arts Council (between Sir Walter Raleigh Street and Budleigh Street)
- Manteo
- (252) 796-4727
Calling all wine enthusiasts! Every Thursday from June 23 to September 29, the Manteo Waterfront Wine Festival is held from 4 to 8 p.m. For $20 per person, you can sample wines from around the world, have a bite to eat and enjoy live music. Held in the courtyard area behind Dare County Arts Council, the event is a nice pre-Lost Colony or pre-dinner event. Lots of folks stay in town for the rest of the evening to shop, dine and take advantage of all the other sights and sounds this great little town has to offer.
Nancyware Pottery
- 402 Queen Elizabeth Avenue
- Manteo
- (252) 473-9400
This is the potter’s studio as well as her exhibit space, so you can often see her at work at the wheel. Nancy’s functional ceramics are made of high-fired stoneware that is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe including pie plates, colanders, dishes, tumblers, vases and spoon rests. She also makes odds-and-ends jars, beaded jewelry, small collectible mirrors and tile murals. Nancy can create personalized special orders, which make great wedding gifts or wedding favors!
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
- 374 Airport Road
- Manteo
- (252) 473-3494, (800) 832-3474, ext. 4
On a beautiful site overlooking the Croatan Sound, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is one of three state-operated aquariums on the North Carolina coast. With a mission of “inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments,” the Aquarium features the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic saltwater tank exhibit, interactive exhibits, two touch tanks, a theater and an exhibit “Oceans Revealed: Power of the Planet,” an interactive way of viewing Earth and its oceans.
Operation: Sea Turtle Rescue is a new featured exhibit for 2011. Learn about sea turtles and the efforts of the Aquarium and Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (NEST) to save these animals from the perils of man and nature. The new exhibit features interactive educational technology and live sea turtles in a 10,000-gallon tank, along with other fishes found in the waters of the Outer Banks.
Throughout the Aquarium are exhibit tanks filled with fish of North Carolina coastal habitats, including sharks and rays. You will see the largest collection of sharks and more than 200 fishes in the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit, with a 1/3-scale replica of the USS Monitor. In the Wetlands on the Edge sky-lit atrium, you will see river otters, alligators and turtles lazing on fallen trees in the sun. Each day at the Aquarium there are educational programs, fish feedings and demonstrations.
The gift shop has a great selection of toys and gifts related to sea life and ecology. Snacks are available outside the Aquarium from vending machines, and in the summer months there are food vendors on site.
The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is $8 for ages 13 to 61; $7 for ages 62 and older; $6 for children ages 3 to 12; and free for children age 2 and younger, registered N.C. school groups and Aquarium Society members.
You can rent the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island for special events, conferences and weddings. Located on the Croatan Sound, the Aquarium accentuates any event for up to 1,500 guests. Caterers, DJs, bands, beer, wine and all the usual wedding services are allowed. A self-guided tour of the facility is included for all guests. All weddings must occur after operating hours. Call the Special Events Coordinator at (252) 473-3494 ext. 258 for information.
To inquire about special activities like Breakfast with the Rays, Snack with the Sharks, Aqua Tales for Tots, Behind the Scenes Tours, fish printing, crafts projects, birthday parties and the ever-popular Seafood Series, call (252) 473-3494 ext. 232 or visit the interactive calendar on the website. Special activities require a separate fee and advance registration.
Be sure to visit the N.C. Aquariums’ newest Outer Banks attraction, Jennette’s Pier at Nags Head. You’ll find information about it in our Nags Head Attractions section.
Outer Banks History Center
- Roanoke Island Festival Park, across from the Manteo Waterfront
- Manteo
- (252) 473-2655
The Outer Banks History Center is a regional archives and research library administered by the North Carolina State Archives. Holdings document the cultural and natural history of the North Carolina coast. It’s a great place to find historic photographs of the Outer Banks. The public is welcome to use the center to research geneaology or any other topic related to the Outer Banks or to peruse their extensive reading library of current periodicals. The Outer Banks History Center is open year-round, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The History Center’s gallery features changing exhibits of topics about the Outer Banks. Admission is free, and the gallery is open from March through December, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 2011 show is an exhibit on the history of the Bodie Island Lighthouse.
Pea Island Cookhouse Museum
- Sir Walter Raleigh Street
- Manteo
- (252) 473-2133
In the roundabout at the intersection of Sir Walter Raleigh and Bideford streets, a part of the community’s African-American heritage is being preserved and interpreted with a statue and a museum. A life-sized bronze statue of Richard Etheridge, the first African-American United States Life-Saving Service Keeper at Pea Island Station on the Outer Banks, is in the roundabout’s median. Adjacent, the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum is housed in a the refurbished former cookhouse of the historic Pea Island Station and honors the African-American men who courageously served under Etheridge.
Born into slavery on Roanoke Island, Etheridge was in charge of the U.S. Life-Saving Service Station at Pea Island from January 1880 to May of 1900. The story of Etheridge and the Pea Island surfmen has been immortalized in the riveting book, Fire on the Beach, and recently made into a documentary film, Rescue Men. Despite living during a time of great prejudice — his station was burned to the ground by disgruntled whites and white lifesavers who refused to work for him — Etheridge’s career was one of distinction. Having been a sergeant in the Colored Troops of the Union Army during the Civil War, he ran the station with military precision. This resulted in successful lifesaving missions, including the chilling rescue of the E.S. Newman in October 1896 when two of his crew moved through hurricane-force seas to save lives. While fighting to end slavery during the Civil War, Etheridge also fought for the rights of people on the homefront who were being mistreated in the Freedmen’s Colony. He co-authored a compelling letter to the commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau and signed it “on behalf of humanity.” The statue of Etheridge was crafted by Stephen H. Smith of Marshville, who has also sculpted the likenesses of Martin Luther King Jr. and Wilbur and Orville Wright.
In the museum you’ll see original artifacts from the U.S. Life-Saving Service, the shipboard from the E.S. Newman and a video and learn about the history of Etheridge and his crew.
For now, you may call the number listed here to arrange a tour.
