National Register of Historic Places listings in Dare County, North Carolina facts for kids

A map showing Dare County in North Carolina.

Dare County, North Carolina, is a special place with a rich history. Many buildings, places, and even shipwrecks here are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important to the history of the United States. These historic spots help us learn about the past and how people lived, worked, and explored this coastal area. From brave lifesavers to famous inventors, Dare County has many stories to tell.

Historic Lighthouses and Lifesaving Stations

The Outer Banks of North Carolina are known for their challenging waters. Because of this, lighthouses and lifesaving stations were very important. They helped guide ships and rescue people in danger.

Bodie Island Light Station

The Bodie Island Light is a tall lighthouse near Nags Head. It was built in 1872 and still works today. This lighthouse helps ships navigate the coast. You can even climb to the top for amazing views!

Cape Hatteras Light Station

The Cape Hatteras Light is one of the most famous lighthouses in the world. It is located in Buxton and is the tallest brick lighthouse in North America. It was built in 1870. This lighthouse has seen many storms and helped countless sailors. It was even moved in 1999 to protect it from the ocean!

The tall and famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

Chicamacomico Life Saving Station

The Chicamacomico Life Saving Station in Rodanthe was built in 1874. It was one of the first lifesaving stations on the Outer Banks. Brave surfmen worked here, risking their lives to save shipwrecked sailors. Today, you can visit it and learn about their heroic efforts.

The historic Chicamacomico Life Saving Station.

Other Lifesaving Stations

• The Bodie Island Lifesaving/Coast Guard Station near Nags Head was built in 1899. It also played a key role in rescuing people from shipwrecks.
• The Caffeys Inlet Lifesaving Station north of Duck was built in 1898.
• The Kitty Hawk Life-Saving Station in Kitty Hawk was built in 1903.
• The Oregon Inlet Station near Rodanthe was built in 1898. These stations were vital for safety along the coast.

Important Homes and Buildings

Many old homes and buildings in Dare County tell us about the people who lived there. They show us how architecture and life changed over time.

Ellsworth and Lovie Ballance House

The Ellsworth and Lovie Ballance House in Hatteras was built around 1900. It is a great example of a traditional Outer Banks home. It shows how families lived in this coastal area long ago.

The Ellsworth and Lovie Ballance House.

George Washington Creef House

The George Washington Creef House in Manteo was built in 1890. George Washington Creef was a famous boat builder. He built the first boat that could be used on the shallow waters of the Outer Banks. His home is a reminder of his important work.

The George Washington Creef House.

John T. Daniels House

The John T. Daniels House in Manteo is linked to a very famous event. John T. Daniels was a member of the lifesaving crew who helped the Wright Brothers with their first flight. He even took the famous photograph of the first flight in 1903! His house was built around 1900.

The John T. Daniels House.

Rasmus Midgett House

The Rasmus Midgett House in Waves was built around 1914. Rasmus Midgett was a true hero. He was a surfman who single-handedly rescued ten sailors from a shipwreck in 1899. He received the Gold Lifesaving Medal for his bravery.

The Rasmus Midgett House.

Other Notable Buildings

• The First Colony Inn in Nags Head was built in 1932. It is one of the oldest hotels on the Outer Banks.
• The Hatteras Weather Bureau Station in Hatteras was built in 1901. It helped predict weather for ships and local communities.
• The Markham-Albertson-Stinson Cottage in Nags Head was built around 1900. Sadly, it was destroyed by Hurricane Irene in 2011.
• The Mattie Midgett Store and House in Nags Head was built around 1900. It shows how local businesses operated in the past.
• The Theodore S. Meekins House in Manteo was built in 1910.
• The Nags Head Beach Cottages Historic District includes many old cottages built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They show the early days of tourism on the Outer Banks.
• The Salvo Post Office in Salvo was built in 1936. It is a small, charming building that served the local community.
• Sam's Diner in Kill Devil Hills was built in 1946. It is a classic American diner.
• The Sea Foam Motel in Nags Head was built in 1953. It represents the growth of tourism after World War II.

Famous Shipwrecks

The waters off Dare County are known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Many ships have sunk here over the centuries due to storms, shallow shoals, and even wars. These shipwrecks are now protected historic sites.

USS Monitor

The USS Monitor was a famous ironclad warship from the American Civil War. It sank in a storm off Cape Hatteras in 1862. Its wreck was discovered in 1973 and is now a protected national marine sanctuary. It is a very important part of naval history.

A drawing of the USS Monitor.

World War II Shipwrecks

During World War II, German submarines (U-boats) attacked many ships off the coast of North Carolina. Several of these shipwrecks are now protected:

• The SS Dixie Arrow was an oil tanker sunk by a U-boat in 1942 near Ocracoke.
• The SS E.M. Clark was another tanker sunk in 1942 near Cape Hatteras.
• The SS Empire Gem was a British cargo ship sunk in 1942 near Cape Hatteras.
• The SS Lancing was a Norwegian tanker sunk in 1942 near Buxton.
• The Light Vessel 71 was a lightship sunk in 1918 near Buxton.
• The German submarine U-576 was sunk in 1942 near Hatteras. It is unique because it lies close to the shipwreck of the cargo ship Bluefields, which it had just attacked.
• The German submarine U-701 was sunk in 1942 near Buxton.
• The German submarine U-85 was sunk in 1942 near Nags Head.
• The USS Huron was a U.S. Navy ship that sank in a storm off Nags Head in 1877.

These shipwrecks remind us of the dangers of the sea and the history of naval warfare.

Other Historic Sites

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site near Manteo is where the first English attempts to settle in North America happened in the late 1500s. This is the site of the "Lost Colony," where a group of English settlers disappeared. It is a very important archaeological site.

The outdoor theater at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.

Wright Brothers National Memorial

The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills marks the spot where the Wright brothers made their first successful airplane flights in 1903. This is a truly historic place where human flight began! You can see a monument and learn all about their amazing invention.

The monument at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Images for kids

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  Bodie Island Lifesaving Station

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  Bodie Island Lighthouse

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  George Washington Creef House

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  The SS Dixie Arrow burning after being torpedoed.

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  First Colony Inn

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  Hatteras Weather Bureau Station

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  Kitty Hawk Life-Saving Station

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  Markham-Albertson-Stinson Cottage

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  Theodore S. Meekins House

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  Mattie Midgett Store and House

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  Nags Head Beach Cottages

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  Oregon Inlet Station

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  Salvo Post Office

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  Sam's Diner

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  Sea Foam Motel

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  Surveying a shipwreck, possibly U-701.

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  The wreck of the USS Huron.

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  Diamond Shoal Light Vessel 71