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Rte 1 Box 675, Manteo, NC 27954
Phone: 252-473-5772
Fax: 252-473-2595
Open All Year
Overview. In spring of 1587, the great English courtier, explorer, and soldier Sir Walter Raleigh sent an expedition to settle territory at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. After a difficult crossing the three ships landed at Roanoke and 116 men, women and children disembarked to settle the land and establish a self-sufficient foothold in the New World. Soon after their arrival the governor of the new colony, John White, returned to England in order to get badly needed supplies. When he returned in 1590, the colony he had left behind, which included his own daughter and infant granddaughter, Virginia Dare, had vanished. All that remained were the mysterious letters "CRO" carved in the trunk of a tree and, on a post, "CROATOAN," the name of a nearby island. After years of searching, no clue about the fate of the 116 settlers could be found. The settlement has since been called the Lost Colony.
What to see and do. The settlers of Roanoke built a fort near the shore of Roanoke Sound. That simple earthen fort, called the "Newe Fort in Verginia," has been reconstructed and can be toured. Historic Site staff also offer live dramatizations of the story behind the "Lost Colony," and you can see exhibits, artifacts, a reconstructed Elizabethan room, and a short film in the Lindsay Warren Visitor Center in summer. The Historical Site also features a nature trail and an outdoor theater where the "Lost Colony" pageant-drama is produced in summer. Call the site for information about tour schedules and other information. Leashed pets are permitted. Handicapped-accessible facilities are available.
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Please call ahead to confirm details. We do our best to give you current information, but facts can change. Please let us know if you find something's changed.
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