Including Roanoke Island Historic Sites
Many renowned pieces of the Outer Banks fascinating history can be found within the things to do in Manteo, NC. See where early colonial explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh, first poked around the Outer Banks. Check out where the Lost Colony’s settlers attempted establishing themselves before they vanished. Markers of runaway slaves and the first freed slaves who settled on the Outer Banks dot the island. Through Roanoke Island things to do, you can learn about Native Americans, early English exploration and settlement, the lives of 19th-century islanders and so much more.
Featured for Your Visit
Historic Sites in Manteo, NC
1411 National Park Drive (off U.S. Highway 64) next to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo
Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English colonists, The Elizabethan Gardens is a rare treasure and a beloved Outer Banks attraction. It’s a haven of verdant, flourishing growth and natural prosperity. The gardens are in bloom year-round with azaleas, hydrangeas, roses, camellias, flowering trees, a variety of annuals and herbs and much more. Adding exquisite touches are imported Italian Renaissance fountains, garden ornaments, a waterfront gazebo, benches, statues, an expansive lawn and some of the most amazing live oaks you’ll ever see. The large shade canopy overhead provides a cool oasis even on the sunniest summer day. The Garden Gift Shoppe sells books, gifts, herbs and plants. This is a trusted plant source for many locals, as the garden staff nurtures their plants with great care.
New at The Elizabethan Gardens is the John White Butterfly Center. Guests are welcome to walk through the indoor greenhouse, which houses butterflies from May through September. The Elizabethan Gardens also has many new family-friendly aspects, including The Discovery Cottage, an indoor/outdoor educational play area and a location for summer programs. The play area offers a large play ship reminiscent of the ship that carried the colonists to the New World, swings, slides, Elizabethan-style playhouses, educational signage, a koi pond, sandpits, a fossil pit, outdoor picnic tables and room to run.
The Elizabethan Gardens holds outstanding events such as horticulture education workshops and summer programs for kids. Seasonal events throughout the year include Easter Eggstravaganza (day before Easter); Butterfly Festival (month of April), Virginia Dare’s Birthday Celebration (August), Peace, Love and Dogs (September), Harvest Hayday (October) and WinterLights (December and January).
The gardens open at 9 a.m. seven days a week throughout most of the year and at 10 a.m. in December and January. They are closed to the public in February for maintenance. Closing time varies according to the season. Admission (pre-tax) is $10 for adults, $7 for youth ages 6 to 17, $3 for children ages 2 to 5 and free for children younger than 2. Dogs are admitted for $3, but service dogs get in free. Organized tour groups can apply for reduced admission rates in advance. Tickets are for timed entry admission and are purchased online at elizabethangardens.org.
The gardens make a beautiful setting for photographs, bridal luncheons, weddings, receptions, retreats or meetings. Choose from a variety of backdrops for an unforgettable day. An on-site Reception Hall, tent and Rose Garden accommodate parties large and small. Rental information is posted online.
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From late June through mid-August, on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Elizabethan Gardens offers these fun, kid-friendly events with paid admission. Events are weather-dependent and limited to 10 participants outdoors at the Discovery Cottage. Tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance of the date.
Backyard Birds: Discover more about the birds in your own backyard with educational and hands-on activities for inquisitive minds. Participants will explore about birds with a guided art craft and create a bird snack to take to home.
Fun with Frogs: Discover the exciting life cycle of frogs with educational and hands-on activities for inquisitive minds
Butterflies: Discover the exciting life-cycle of butterflies with educational and hands-on activities for inquisitive minds.
Helpful Bugs: Learn about the beneficial insects in the gardens.
Self-Guided Audio Tours: Take a tour at your leisure using your mobile device, anytime during regular hours of operation year-round.
Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English colonists, The Elizabethan Gardens is a rare treasure and a beloved Outer Banks attraction. It’s a haven of verdant, flourishing growth and natural prosperity. The gardens are in bloom year-round with azaleas, hydrangeas, roses, camellias, flowering trees, a variety of annuals and herbs and much more. Adding exquisite touches are imported Italian Renaissance...read more
Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English...read more
Historic Sites in Manteo, NC
1411 National Park Drive (off U.S. Highway 64) next to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo
Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English colonists, The Elizabethan Gardens is a rare treasure and a beloved Outer Banks attraction. It’s a haven of verdant, flourishing growth and natural prosperity. The gardens are in bloom year-round with azaleas, hydrangeas, roses, camellias, flowering trees, a variety of annuals and herbs and much more. Adding exquisite touches are imported Italian Renaissance fountains, garden ornaments, a waterfront gazebo, benches, statues, an expansive lawn and some of the most amazing live oaks you’ll ever see. The large shade canopy overhead provides a cool oasis even on the sunniest summer day. The Garden Gift Shoppe sells books, gifts, herbs and plants. This is a trusted plant source for many locals, as the garden staff nurtures their plants with great care.
New at The Elizabethan Gardens is the John White Butterfly Center. Guests are welcome to walk through the indoor greenhouse, which houses butterflies from May through September. The Elizabethan Gardens also has many new family-friendly aspects, including The Discovery Cottage, an indoor/outdoor educational play area and a location for summer programs. The play area offers a large play ship reminiscent of the ship that carried the colonists to the New World, swings, slides, Elizabethan-style playhouses, educational signage, a koi pond, sandpits, a fossil pit, outdoor picnic tables and room to run.
The Elizabethan Gardens holds outstanding events such as horticulture education workshops and summer programs for kids. Seasonal events throughout the year include Easter Eggstravaganza (day before Easter); Butterfly Festival (month of April), Virginia Dare’s Birthday Celebration (August), Peace, Love and Dogs (September), Harvest Hayday (October) and WinterLights (December and January).
The gardens open at 9 a.m. seven days a week throughout most of the year and at 10 a.m. in December and January. They are closed to the public in February for maintenance. Closing time varies according to the season. Admission (pre-tax) is $10 for adults, $7 for youth ages 6 to 17, $3 for children ages 2 to 5 and free for children younger than 2. Dogs are admitted for $3, but service dogs get in free. Organized tour groups can apply for reduced admission rates in advance. Tickets are for timed entry admission and are purchased online at elizabethangardens.org.
The gardens make a beautiful setting for photographs, bridal luncheons, weddings, receptions, retreats or meetings. Choose from a variety of backdrops for an unforgettable day. An on-site Reception Hall, tent and Rose Garden accommodate parties large and small. Rental information is posted online.
f
From late June through mid-August, on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Elizabethan Gardens offers these fun, kid-friendly events with paid admission. Events are weather-dependent and limited to 10 participants outdoors at the Discovery Cottage. Tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance of the date.
Backyard Birds: Discover more about the birds in your own backyard with educational and hands-on activities for inquisitive minds. Participants will explore about birds with a guided art craft and create a bird snack to take to home.
Fun with Frogs: Discover the exciting life cycle of frogs with educational and hands-on activities for inquisitive minds
Butterflies: Discover the exciting life-cycle of butterflies with educational and hands-on activities for inquisitive minds.
Helpful Bugs: Learn about the beneficial insects in the gardens.
Self-Guided Audio Tours: Take a tour at your leisure using your mobile device, anytime during regular hours of operation year-round.
Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English colonists, The Elizabethan Gardens is a rare treasure and a beloved Outer Banks attraction. It’s a haven of verdant, flourishing growth and natural prosperity. The gardens are in bloom year-round with azaleas, hydrangeas, roses, camellias, flowering trees, a variety of annuals and herbs and much more. Adding exquisite touches are imported Italian Renaissance...read more
Designed by two of America’s foremost landscape architects to pay tribute to America’s first English...read more
Historic Sites in Manteo, NC
1409 National Park Drive (off U.S. Highway 64), Waterside Theatre, inside Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo
In July of 1587, 117 English men, women and children came ashore on Roanoke Island with the commission from Queen Elizabeth I to establish a permanent English settlement in the New World. They vanished just three years later. The only clues were “CROATOAN" carved into the surface of an abandoned structure and the letters "CRO" carved into a nearby tree. After nearly 450 years, the mystery of what happened to the colonists remains unsolved. The Lost Colony outdoor drama is their story.
Now in its 87th season, The Lost Colony, Paul Green's Symphonic Outdoor Drama, is performed on the site where these actual events occurred. Each summer, a company of more than 100 actors, technicians, dancers, designers and volunteers bring The Lost Colony to life. The production is enormous. The stage itself is three times larger than most Broadway stages in New York City. You are seated in an open-air theater, located on the Roanoke Sound, with the stars above and live action happening on three sides. See epic battles and Indian dances. Experience the sorrow and heartbreak of tragedy and loss. Witness the pageantry of the queen and her court and celebrate the birth of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America. You'll enjoy music, laughter, romance, dance and stunning special effects.
The Lost Colony is the “grandfather” of all outdoor dramas and is produced by the Roanoke Island Historical Association (RIHA), a nonprofit organization with the mission to celebrate the history of the first English colonies on Roanoke Island and to honor the founders of The Lost Colony through drama, education and literature. Outer Banks locals and visitors have loved it for more than eight decades. Seeing the play is a quintessential Outer Banks activity.
The 2024 season begins May 30 and runs through August 24. Shows are performed Monday through Saturday nights at 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $25 to $40, are half-price for children ages 6 to 12 and free for kids 5 and younger every night. Senior, military, AAA, group discounts and VIP packages are available. For the best seats, advance reservations are recommended. For tickets call (252) 473-6000 or purchase online anytime. Backstage Tours are also available nightly at 7:30 p.m. with the purchase of an additional ticket.
In July of 1587, 117 English men, women and children came ashore on Roanoke Island with the commission from Queen Elizabeth I to establish a permanent English settlement in the New World. They vanished just three years later. The only clues were “CROATOAN" carved into the surface of an abandoned structure and the letters "CRO" carved into a nearby tree. After nearly 450 years, the...read more
In July of 1587, 117 English men, women and children came ashore on Roanoke Island...read more
Historic Sites in Roanoke Island, NC
This national historic site commemorates and preserves the first English attempts at colonization in the New World (1585 to 1587) and helps visitors gain a better understanding of other Roanoke Island histories including the Carolina Algonquian, the Civil War Battle of Roanoke Island, the Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island and Reginald Fessenden's Roanoke Island experiments with wireless voice radio.
Pay a visit to the visitor...read more
Historic Sites in Manteo, NC
A monument at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site honors the Freedmen's Colony, a lesser known but truly fascinating aspect of Roanoke Island's history. Loosely established in 1862 and formally established on May 14, 1863, the Freedmen's Colony was part of the Underground Railroad and a place of safety for approximately 3,500 former slaves from all over the region, including men, women and children. The slaves...read more
Historic Sites in Manteo, NC
Located on Roanoke Island, just five minutes from Manteo, Island Farm is a living history farm centered on the original Etheridge family property, once part of a 1,500-acre tract. Island Farm is alive with fields in production, animals working and live demonstrations going on throughout the day. In addition to an original farmhouse built in 1847 (one of the oldest on the island), you’ll find an array of...read more
Historic Sites in Manteo, NC
In the roundabout at the intersection of Sir Walter Raleigh and Bideford streets, a part of the community's African-American heritage is being preserved and interpreted with a statue and a museum. A life-sized bronze statue of Richard Etheridge, the first African-American United States Life-Saving Service Keeper at Pea Island Station on the Outer Banks, is in the roundabout's median. Adjacent, the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum...read more
Historic Sites in Manteo, NC
Experience a new adventure in an old world at Roanoke Island Festival Park. This 25-acre historic site allows guests of all ages to experience first-hand what life was like for the first English settlers in 1585. Historic costumed interpreters are featured through Indian Town, the Settlement Site and the Elizabeth II ship to show and tell how the first settlers lived...read more
Historic Sites in Manteo, NC
Perched over the water along Manteo’s waterfront boardwalk, the picturesque Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is perfectly suited to the town’s maritime setting. This Victorian stick-style lighthouse is a reproduction of the third Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, which never stood on the Manteo waterfront but in the Croatan Sound from 1877 to 1955. Out there in the sound, the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse keepers lived on the lonely lighthouse...read more
