The allure of this waterfront town lies in its history and mystery, nostalgia and charm. On Roanoke Island, the past is always present.
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A Gift from Above: Presents by Parachute in Manteo
During the Berlin Blockade in 1948, a young pilot launched a mission to drop parachutes of candy to the hungry children of the city. Each December, that same pilot takes to the skies over Manteo to show that one generous gesture is as powerful as ever.
The New Descendants
The spirit of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America, is alive and well on Roanoke Island. Every year, parents bring their babies to audition for the most important (nonspeaking) role in The Lost Colony — and for bragging rights that last a lifetime.
The Characters of Roanoke Island
The backdrop is beautiful, but it’s the people of Manteo and Wanchese who bring this place its charm.
Manteo and Wanchese are Two Places at Once
Even though Manteo and Wanchese share a sliver of land surrounded by North Carolina’s sizable sounds, they couldn’t be further apart.
Roanoke’s Emerald
These formal gardens on the Outer Banks honor our English heritage.
The Backyard Clothesline
Hanging clothes is more than pinning garments on a line. It tells you something about your neighbors, and it tells them something about you. For one of the state’s most beloved artistic families, hanging clothes brings them closer to home.
Maritime Hero
By the time he became the first black keeper of a United States Life-Saving Service station, Richard Etheridge had overcome slavery, war, and racism.
The Town: Manteo
The first settlement was lost. But in the 400 years since a colony vanished, just about everybody who’s moved here has come to stay, giving this small community on Roanoke Island a permanence that is generations deep.
