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]

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]

This marker is in Elizabeth City along the Pasquotank River and points out the history of one of…read moreits citizens who did great things. It is marker number A-61 and it was erected in 1967 by the North Carolina Archives and Highway Departments. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Negro orator and teacher. A founder and president of Livingstone College. Born in Elizabeth City. House was 2 miles south" Joseph C. Price was born in Elizabeth City to a free mother and enslaved father, and despite a delayed start to formal education, he excelled academically after enrolling in schools in New Bern. He pursued teaching, becoming a principal in Wilson by 1871, and later shifted his focus to ministry, graduating as valedictorian from Lincoln University and completing seminary training in record time. Price emerged as a powerful orator, advocating for prohibition, education, and racial equality, and raised significant funds during a European tour to establish a college for Black students in North Carolina. In 1882, he became president of Zion Wesley College, later renamed Livingstone College, where he gained national recognition and declined prestigious offers to remain committed to the institution. His leadership extended beyond education when he was elected president of the Afro-American League and the National Equal Rights Association in 1890. Tragically, Price died in 1893 from Bright's disease, leaving behind his wife Jennie Smallwood and five children, and was honored with burial on the Livingstone College campus. There is more information online. [Review 995 of 2025 - 4355 in North Carolina - 24549 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]

This marker is located in Mariner's Wharf Park which is across the street from the Museum of the…read moreAlbemarle. There is plenty of room to park here. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Wild's Raid. First major campaign in N.C. conducted by the U.S. Colored Troops, Dec. 1863. Freed thousands of enslaved in the area." There is more information online. In 1863, Brigadier General Edward A. Wild began organizing "Wild's African Brigade," a unit of African American regiments in eastern North Carolina, though the brigade was never fully assembled due to logistical setbacks. Wild later led a significant military expedition into northeastern North Carolina, aiming to suppress Confederate guerrillas near the Dismal Swamp Canal, free enslaved people, and recruit Black soldiers. Over 1,700 troops marched from Virginia, uniting at South Mills and reaching Elizabeth City, where they conducted raids, destroyed guerrilla camps and distilleries, and liberated around 2,500 enslaved individuals. The operation, the largest of its kind in North Carolina, drew national attention for its use of African American troops and yielded valuable intelligence, despite limited success in recruitment. It is marker number A-93 and it was erected in 2021 by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History. [Review 862 of 2025 - 4292 in North Carolina - 24419 overall] [20/20]

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]

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]

This marker is located along the major roadway US-17 and there is room to stop and read it. It is…read moremarker number A-40. It reads, "Stephen B. Weeks. Historian, bibliographer, collector of North Carolina books and manuscripts, professor at Trinity College, 1891-93. Birthplace 3/5 mi. E." Stephen Beauregard Weeks (1865-1918) was North Carolina's pioneering professional historian. Orphaned early, he rose through academic ranks at the University of North Carolina, earning its first Ph.D. in English before pursuing historical studies at Johns Hopkins. He championed rigorous, source-based research and founded the history department at Trinity College. His career spanned roles in education, publishing, and federal service, including two tenures at the Bureau of Education. Despite health setbacks, Weeks remained prolific, authoring nearly 200 works and assembling a vast personal archive of over 9,000 items--later acquired by UNC to form the core of Wilson Library's special collections. His legacy was praised for its dedication to uncovering and preserving North Carolina's history, with the Raleigh News & Observer noting that his contributions were "more to be prized than great riches." There is more information online. [Review 860 of 2025 - 4290 in North Carolina - 24417 overall] [18/20]