This marker points out the history of a local who was born here and then went on to travel the…read moreworld doing great things. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Edward Warren. Born in Tyrrell County, 1828, Surgeon General of N.C., 1862-65, Professor of Surgery in Maryland, Chief Surgeon of Egypt, Died in Paris." It is marker number B-20 and it was erected in 1941 by the North Carolina State Historical Commission. Edward Warren was the son of Edenton physician Dr. William C. Warren and Harriet J. Alexander Warren. Influenced by his father's profession, Warren pursued a rigorous education, attending boarding schools in Virginia and North Carolina. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 1850 and completed his medical training at Jefferson Medical College in 1851. Warren later became North Carolina's surgeon general and served as senior medical officer to the Egyptian khedive. Edward Warren's life was defined by a remarkable blend of medical expertise, international service, and literary accomplishment. After early practice with his father, he pursued advanced studies in Paris and contributed to medical journalism. His return to North Carolina led to editorial work and a professorship in Maryland, where he focused on malaria following his wife's illness. During the Civil War, Warren served the Confederacy in prominent medical roles, including surgeon general. Postwar, he helped found a medical college in Maryland before accepting a distinguished appointment in Egypt as chief of medicine to the khedive. His successful surgery on a high-ranking official earned him the honorary title "bey," but illness forced him to relocate to Paris, where he continued his practice. Despite personal tragedy with the loss of his wife, Warren remained in France until his death in 1893. He was honored by multiple nations and institutions, and his writings--spanning poetry, medical theory, and autobiography--cemented his legacy as a physician of global influence and intellectual depth. [Review 851 of 2025 - 4281 in North Carolina - 24408 overall] [9/20]

This marker is along Plymouth's Main Street and points out the history that happened not far away…read more As a port city along the river, it was hotly contested by both sides during the Civil War and this is one of those encounters. It reads, "Naval Action. The Confederate ironclad ram "Albemarle" sank the Union gunboat "Southfield", April 19, 1864, one mile northeast in the Roanoke River." Union General Henry W. Wessells and about 3,000 troops occupied Plymouth in December 1862, fortifying the town against land and sea attacks. In April 1864, Confederate General Robert F. Hoke launched a coordinated assault with over 5,000 men, supported by the ironclad Albemarle, which played a decisive role by sinking Union ships and bombarding defenses. After intense fighting, Fort Wessells fell on April 18, and the Albemarle continued its offensive through the night. On April 20, a final Confederate assault overwhelmed the remaining Union positions, leading to the surrender of Fort Williams and the town by midmorning. It is marker number BBB-8 and it was erected in 1961 by the Archives and Highway Departments and the Confederate Centennial Commission. [Review 821 of 2025 - 4251 in North Carolina - 24380 overall]

Easily accessible with marking in the Camden County High School,. this marker points out one of the…read moreColonial era citizens of the era who went on to serve in the American Revolution and later in the US Congress. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Dempsey Burgess. Member of provincial congresses, 1775-1776; lieutenant colonel of militia in Revolution; Congressman, 1795-99. Grave is 7 miles S.E." Burgess, born in 1751 in Pasquotank County, was a Revolutionary War-era political and military leader whose early life likely centered on farming. He entered politics in 1773 and served in the provincial congresses of 1775-1776 alongside Isaac Gregory. When Camden County was established in 1777, Burgess helped plan its courthouse and jail. During the war, he held militia ranks of major and lieutenant colonel. Afterward, he resumed farming and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1795, serving two terms before retiring in 1799. He died at his plantation in 1800, survived by his wife and four children. There is more detail online. [Review 1041 of 2025 - 4368 in North Carolina - 24595 overall]

This marker is located along the waterfront in Elizabeth City and points out this important…read moreindustry that was launched right here. The marker reads, "Soybean Processing. In 1915 W.T. Culpepper launched the soybean oil industry in the United States at Elizabeth City Oil & Fertilizer Co., 1 mile northeast." After the boll weevil crippled North Carolina's cotton industry, the Elizabeth City Oil and Fertilizer Company made history in 1915 by producing the first commercial domestic soybean oil--without altering its cottonseed equipment. Led by William Thomas Culpepper, the plant's success sparked statewide adoption, transforming soybeans from livestock forage into a vital crop thanks to George Washington Carver's earlier research on their nutritional and soil-replenishing benefits. Thriving in the region's climate, soybeans soon became a cornerstone of North Carolina agriculture, with the now-vanished Elizabeth City plant marking a pivotal shift in farming and industry. There is more information online. [Review 983 of 2025 - 4353 in North Carolina - 24537 overall]

I spotted this marker in the Edenton Historic District and had to know more. It provides a very…read morebrief synopsis of the life of a man who did great things for the United States. The marker reads, "A signer of the U.S. Constitution. Scholar, Congressman, and Surgeon General of North Carolina Militia. Home was 4 blocks SE." It is marker number A-34 and it was erected in 1949 by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History. Online, there is more information. Hugh Williamson (1735-1819), born in Pennsylvania and educated at the College of Philadelphia, initially pursued ministry before turning to medicine, earning his degree in Europe. A respected scientist and member of the American Philosophical Society, he gained recognition for his climate and electrical studies and became politically active after witnessing the unrest in Boston in 1773, later warning British officials of impending revolution. After returning to America, Williamson settled in Edenton, North Carolina, where he ran several businesses and served as surgeon general during the Revolutionary War. He entered politics in 1782, representing North Carolina in the Continental Congress and playing a key role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. A committed Federalist, he supported ratification of the Constitution and served in the first two U.S. Congresses, though he opposed federal assumption of state debts. After marrying Maria Apthorpe and losing her shortly after childbirth, Williamson retired to New York, where he devoted himself to writing and philanthropy, including authoring A History of North Carolina and helping found the University of North Carolina. He died in 1819 and was buried in Trinity Cemetery in New York City. There is room to stop here and read the marker. There is also more information online. [Review 857 of 2025 - 4287 in North Carolina - 24414 overall] [15/20]

More than merely a steel and concrete structure, the contemporary Jim "Catfish" Hunter Bridge…read morehonors a local legend and represents Hertford's changing relationship with the Perquimans River. James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter, a native of Perquimans County who became a national celebrity as a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Oakland A's and New York Yankees, is honored by the bridge, which was formally designated in 2015 by the North Carolina Board of Transportation. Hunter, who was well-known for his 1968 perfect game and five World Series victories, had a strong bond with his community until his death from ALS in 1999. The bridge itself avoids Hertford's historic downtown by crossing the Perquimans River with U.S. Highway 17. It was constructed to meet the demands of contemporary traffic, providing a fast path to Elizabeth City and beyond. The Jim "Catfish" Hunter Bridge is a practical structure that is straight, high, and built for efficiency. Its naming was a deliberate act of remembrance. Local officials and residents wanted to ensure that Hunter's legacy wasn't confined to baseball statistics or distant stadiums. By placing his name on a major piece of infrastructure, they embedded his story into the daily rhythm of the region. It's a quiet kind of monument--one that doesn't demand attention but offers it to those who know where to look. [Review 874 of 2025 - 4302 in North Carolina - 24431 overall]

The Pasquotank River Bridge carries US Route 159 over the river in Elizabeth City. The original…read morebridge was constructed in 1931 but over time, the structure aged and reached the end of its design life. Construction of the replacement began in 2011 with the demolition of that older structure and the installation of the new substructure. The project completed in 2015 with the completion of the eastbound bridge and rehabilitation of the westbound span. The bridge spans approximately 146 feet with 430 feet of approach spans. It accommodates two 12-foot traffic lanes, an 8-foot bicycle lane, and a 5-foot-6-inch pedestrian sidewalk. It is a steel double-leaf trunnion bascule bridge, meaning that each leaf of the drawbridge pivots on a fixed axle, allowing it to lift for river traffic. One of the most distinctive architectural elements is the asymmetrical cross-section of the bascule span. This posed a unique challenge for engineers, who had to precisely balance the weight of each leaf while minimizing the overall mass of the counterweights. There is some parking nearby and some benches in Veterans Park. There is no toll to cross the bridge. [Review 889 of 2025 - 4311 in North Carolina - 24446 overall]

This marker near Edenton's Historic District points out how people got around back in the days…read morebefore concrete and steel bridges. The marker reads, "Mackey's Ferry. Established 1735 over Albemarle Sound, succeeding Bells Ferry. Discontinued in 1938. Northern terminus was four blocks south." It is marker number A-27. In the early 1700s, ferries like Mackey's and Street's were vital for transporting people and goods across eastern North Carolina's waterways, especially as settlement in the Albemarle region grew. These ferries were typically flatboats or rope-pulled vessels. One key crossing, established in the 1730s on Kendrick's Creek in present-day Washington County, began as Thomas Bell's Ferry and was later acquired by William Mackey in 1735. Mackey operated the ferry into the 1750s, adjusting fees and responding to growing demand. Though the ferry evolved over time--from rope-pulled to sail, steam, and diesel--it remained in use until 1938, when a steel bridge replaced it near Kendrick's Creek. The marker was erected in 1942 by the North Carolina State Historical Commission. There is room to stop here. Or continue four blocks south to see where it used to land. [Review 855 of 2025 - 4285 in North Carolina - 24412 overall] [13/20]