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Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Fort-Raleigh-fort.jpg
Fort Raleigh during reconstruction (1950)
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is located in North Carolina
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Location in North Carolina
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is located in the United States
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Location in the United States
Location Dare County, North Carolina
Nearest city Manteo, North Carolina
Area 14 acres (5.7 ha)
Built 1585
Architect Ralph Lane
Visitation 276,071 (2005)
Website Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
NRHP reference No. 66000102
Added to NRHP October 15, 1966

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is a special place that protects the spot where the first English settlement in America was attempted. This site is important because it's where the Roanoke Colony was started in 1587. An explorer named Sir Walter Raleigh helped set up this colony.

However, the colony disappeared sometime between 1587 and 1590. Supply ships could not reach them on time. When people finally visited again, the settlement was empty. No one was found. The mystery of the "Lost Colony" is still famous today. Most experts think the settlers probably joined local Native American tribes.

This historic site is located on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. It is about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the town of Manteo. The visitor center has a museum. It shows exhibits about the early English trips and colonies. You can also learn about the island's Civil War history. There is also information about the Freedmen's Colony (1863-1867).

History of the Site

During the American Civil War, the Union Army took control of Roanoke Island in 1862. They soon created a camp for enslaved people who had escaped. This camp was called a "contraband camp." In 1863, they started the Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony. The goal was for the free residents to support themselves.

The Army gave land plots to each family. They also paid the residents for their work. Teachers from the North helped educate the children and adults. By 1864, over 2,200 freed people lived there. The colony had a sawmill, places for fishing, and 600 cabins. More than 150 freedmen from this colony joined the United States Colored Troops. About 4,000 freedmen from North Carolina served in these troops. A marble monument was placed at the fort site in 2001. It honors the colony.

Fort Raleigh is also home to an outdoor play called The Lost Colony. This play was written by Paul Green. It tells the story of the first colonists. The play has been performed every summer since 1937. It takes place at the Waterside Theatre. The Roanoke Island Historical Association presents this show.

Managing the Site

Fort-Raleigh-theater
Waterside Theatre

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site was officially created on April 5, 1941. The land was given to the National Park Service. This happened through an agreement with the Roanoke Island Historical Association (RIHA). The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. This list helps protect important historical places.

Fort Raleigh is managed along with two other parks in the Outer Banks. These are Wright Brothers National Memorial and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The main office for these parks is located at Fort Raleigh. The agreement from 1941 allows RIHA to perform The Lost Colony play. The play is staged at the Waterside Theatre, which is also on park land.

Elizabethan Gardens

Elizabethan Gardens - sunken garden 04
The sunken gardens at the Elizabethan Gardens

Inside the historic site, you will find the Elizabethan Gardens. The Garden Club of North Carolina manages these gardens. They were created to remember the first colonists. They also show what a garden from that time period might have looked like.

The gardens cover more than 10 acres (4.0 ha). They include a copy of a Tudor gate house. You need to pay a separate fee to enter the gardens. Over 500 types of plants are carefully grown here. This beautiful place was built in the mid-1900s. It honors Queen Elizabeth I. When you visit, it feels like stepping back in time. You can see Renaissance statues hidden throughout the garden. There are also buildings in the Elizabethan style. The gardens are open every day all year. They have special events too. These include educational tours in the summer and holiday lights in the winter. The gardens are also a popular place for weddings.

  • Official NPS site: Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
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