Historical Attractions in Outer Banks

In July 1587, 117 people from England landed on Roanoke Island. Queen Elizabeth I had given them a commission to establish a permanent colony in the New World. When supply ships arrived three years later, they found the colony had been deserted. To this day, nobody knows what happened to the colonists. "The Lost Colony," which was first staged in 1937, is the oldest outdoor drama in the United States. The play, which is performed at 1409 National Park Drive, tells the story of the Roanoke colonists, including Virginia Dare, the first person of European ancestry to be born in the New World. For more information, visit http://thelostcolony.org/.

The Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills commemorates the first successful airplane flights ever made. In 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright, after four years of experimenting and tinkering, successfully flew an airplane at Kitty Hawk. Five years later, they took along a mechanic, Charles Furnas, who became the first person to be a passenger in an airplane. The memorial boasts a monument commemorating the brothers and reproductions of their planes. The museum includes pictures of the brothers and other early aviators. To learn more about the Wright Brothers Memorial, visit http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton stands 208 feet tall, which makes it the tallest lighthouse in the United States. It is the second lighthouse to be built in that location. In 1794, Congress authorized the first lighthouse, which was completed 10 years later. It was damaged during the Civil War, and the current lighthouse was built in 1869-1870. A museum and visitor's center were added later. The museum includes exhibits pertaining to the history and wildlife of the Outer Banks. The lighthouse itself can be visited. It boasts 257 steps, and climbing them is comparable to climbing a 12-story building. For more information, visit http://www.outerbeaches.com/OuterBanks/Attractions/HistoricSites/ or http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/lighthouseclimbs.htm.

The United States Life-Saving Service was an ancestor of the US Coast Guard. For two centuries, its members rescued people from wrecked ships. The Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station was one of seven stations that operated in North Carolina. All seven were commissioned by the federal government in 1871. Construction of the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station was completed in 1874, and it remained in service until 1954. As it was the largest and most complete Life-Saving Service complex still standing, it eventually became a museum. To learn more, visit http://www.outerbanks.com/chicamacomico-lifesaving-station.html or call (252) 987-1552.

 About the Author: Sydney is a guest contributor from Shoreline OBX Vacation Rentals that features quality Kitty Hawk vacation rentals.