Manteo, North Carolina

Although the town of Manteo, North Carolina, was founded in 1899, it has a rich history that extends well beyond its hundred-year- old birth certificate.

Manteo is home to Roanoke Island—a strip of land nestled between North Carolina’s mainland and the Outer Banks with an important role in the nation’s history. This tiny island was England’s first (albeit unsuccessful) attempt at colonizing America. In the late 1500s, Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh established a small settlement of 117 men, women and children, who disappeared and quickly became known as the Lost Colony.

“ In the late 1500s, Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh established a small settlement of 117 men, women and children, who disappeared and quickly became known as the Lost Colony. ”

The Lost Colony, however, has not been forgotten. A visit to Roanoke Island vibrantly illustrates the community’s commitment to the isle’s first settlers with a play at the Waterside Theater, titled, The Lost Colony. Performed during summer nights, The Lost Colony recreates the events of the ill-fated founders. Since it premiered in 1937, the play has continued to delight audiences of all ages and is the longest-running outdoor drama in the United States.

For people wanting to see the original settlement, they don’t need to flip through history books or scour the Internet for grainy photographs and artistic recreations, but instead visit the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, where remains of the Lost Colony can be toured.

Further embracing its rich heritage, Manteo is home to Elizabeth II, a 69-foot replica of the 16th century ship of the same name that sailed across the Atlantic when Sir Walter Raleigh brought a fleet of seven ships to Roanoke Island in 1587.

Manteo is also home to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge has over 150,000 acres of wetland habitat and a wide variety of animals ranging from wood ducks and alligators to black bears and red wolves. The area contains numerous hiking trails, fishing areas, guided canoe tours and streams ideal for kayaking. With its abundance of maritime creatures, Manteo has built both a museum and an aquarium dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of the state’s aquatic culture. The North Carolina Aquarium is the state’s largest saltwater facility, housing a 285,000-gallon aquarium.

In addition to preserving its history and the environment, Manteo is also concerned with art. Since the mid 1970s, the town has hosted the New World Festival of the Arts. This two-day outdoor art show attracts over 80 artists each year, from Vermont to Florida, exhibiting and selling their works on the Manteo waterfront.