While your main reason for visiting the Outer Banks may be hitting the beach, it’s no secret that this small stretch of sand is woven intricately into our nation’s past, and is home to a lot of truly fascinating history. From the first settlers to the first airplane flight, the Outer Banks has seen a lot of cool stuff over the centuries, and anyone with an interest in history – kid or adult – will find a ton of things learn and explore.
Roanoke Island Festival Park
Visit Festival Park for an interactive experience to learn about Native Americans and the settlers who first landed here. Tour a replica of the Elizabeth II, where kids can swab the deck, test out the captain’s quarters, hoist the anchor and generally act out every pirate fantasy they’ve ever had; walk through the Native American village and hear native stories and legends inside the longhouse; and experience life in the colony’s settlement, where you can watch a blacksmith at work, try on a suit of armor, and learn to play a 16th century dice game. Finish your tour inside the Adventure Museum, a small but very interactive space where you can climb on boats, try duck hunting, learn all about pirates and more. There’s also a gift shop and museum store with plenty of pirate gear and accessories.
Bonus– there is a nice boardwalk path that circles the perimeter of Festival Park that you can stroll for beautiful sound and marsh views, without paying admission for the other features.
Wright Brothers Memorial
We Outer Bankers are pretty proud of our ‘First in Flight’ status, and the Wright Brothers Memorial is definitely worth a visit to learn all about Wilbur and Orville and their accomplishments! Visit the small museum where you can see a replica of their aircraft; check out the exact spot where the first powered flight happened; and make the climb to the top for a stellar view and impressive monument of the Wright Brothers’ achievements. If you have an airplane-lover, there is a small airstrip just behind the memorial grounds, and you often see planes taking off overhead.
Currituck maritime Museum
This small museum is a free attraction located in the historic Corolla Park, adjacent to the Currituck Lighthouse. It’s a great spot to visit if you’re staying in the area or planning a day trip to Corolla! View examples of many types of boats, hear stories of the Outer Banks maritime history from locals, and learn about the boat building, fishing and hunting legacies in the area. You won’t spend a ton of time here, but it’s a cool museum with a unique perspective on the history of the area. Check out the lighthouse while you’re there to really get a feel for the isolated lifestyle in the Northern Outer Banks’ not-too-distant-past!
fort raleigh
Probably our most famous piece of historic intrigue, the site of the “Lost Colony of Roanoke” is a cool spot to explore. Shaded in the live oaks, this site has paths to explore, a visitors’ center with some historic exhibits and activities, and Waterside Theater, home to The Lost Colony, an outdoor stage drama that plays nightly during the summer. The play is definitely worth seeing at least once, and changes slightly each year, but is a bit long and complex for young kids. It’s cool just to explore the grounds during the day, see the stage, and imagine the small group of intrepid explorers who braved the new world nearly 500 years ago.
Bonus – there is a lovely sound access with a sandy beach near the Fort Raleigh site. Pack a picnic and bathing suits and let kids splash after a walk through the historic fort. View on Map
Island Farm
A hidden gem in the heart of Manteo, Island Farm is a true ‘Living History’ site. Tracing back to the 1700s, this family farm has been meticulously preserved, and is now an interactive site where visitors can experience a number of hands-on activities, such as wagon rides, doll-making, historic games, weaving, visiting the livestock (or just chasing the chickens like my kids do), touring the homestead, helping in the cookhouse, and more.
Bonus– if you happen to be visiting in October, Island Farm has a fantastic pumpkin patch event every Saturday, with cider, popcorn, music, and beautiful and affordable heirloom pumpkins.
Whether your kids are lovers of history, or you’re just trying to get them excited about the past, there are tons of fantastic opportunities for fun, hands-on learning from one end of the Outer Banks to the other.
