The only screw-pile lighthouse still standing in North Carolina is the Roanoke River Lighthouse…read morenear Edenton, a unique and durable piece of maritime history. It was constructed in 1886 and lit in 1887 with the intention of directing ships into the Roanoke River from the Albemarle Sound. An inventive answer to the delicate, changing soils of coastal rivers was its distinctive screw-pile foundation, which consisted of steel pilings that were physically screwed into the riverbed. In contrast to the majority of lighthouses of its type, this one was two floors tall and had a lantern tower with a fourth-order Fresnel lens positioned on a corner of the roof instead of in the middle. The Coast Guard sold the lighthouse to Elijah Tate in 1955 after it was discontinued in 1941 because of dwindling river traffic. The building was severely damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, which led to a preservation effort. With the help of the public and private sectors, the Edenton Historical Commission bought it in 2007, relocated it to Colonial Waterfront Park, and repaired it. It now proudly sits on Edenton's port as a museum and a testament to the tenacity of the local community and historical preservation. The lighthouse is free to tour and the "grounds" are accessible 24 hours. It is well worth a stop. I'm only bummed that I wasn't here to see it at sunrise or at sunset as I am sure it is quite magical. [Round number review 24000 overall - 841 of 2025 - 4271 in North Carolina]

Very cute and quaint lighthouse in an amazing part of North Carolina! The history is fascinating,…read morethe building is well-preserved, and the surrounding waterfront views make it a great stop to explore and take photos.

We arrived too late to take a tour, but still enjoyed a fun photo op. Rafter a long day traveling,…read morethe pine scented air and peaceful atmosphere were a blessing. The birds were chatting, but we still felt utterly relaxed on these pristine grounds. When in the area it's worth visiting!

If you are up this way, you almost have to stop in to the Historic Corolla area and take the climb…read moreup 220 steps to the top of the beautiful brick Currituck lighthouse. Lit on December 1st, 1875, the lighthouse has served as a beacon for safety for 150 years!! The view from the top is spectacular and absolutely worth the price of admission!

We were so happy we stopped here. The walk up to the memorial is steep at times, but there are…read moremultiple paths to take so others may have been more gradual, but it was part of the experience to step up to where these brothers flew their first flight. Do stop in even just to drive around, it was beautiful!

The outdoor memorial is accessible for dog walkers but the museum is not. You can get a beautiful…read moreview of the OBX when walking to the top of the monument. A great learning center for kids.

We stumbled upon this landmark as we were making our way around the Nauticus/USS Wisconsin by the…read morewater to go to the Pagoda & Foundation Park. This is located in Wisconsin Square near the Harbour Place Condos. Fun fact: according to the Downtown Norfolk website, this bell is one of the last remaining pieces of the "Norfolk" destroyer. Some parts of the ships is in a high school in Florida and the rest of the ship was scrapped in 1974. I always appreciate a piece of history being documented and shared with the public for all to enjoy. Stay safe, Friends!

The Barker House in Edenton, North Carolina, is a storied landmark that blends architectural…read moreelegance with deep historical resonance. Built in 1782 for Thomas and Penelope Barker, the home originally stood two blocks north of its current location and began as a modest Federal-style parlor wing and half hall. Penelope Barker is best known for organizing the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, a bold act of protest in which 51 women signed a petition against British taxation--making it one of the earliest political demonstrations by women in America. Unlike the Boston Tea Party, these women signed their names and sent the petition directly to King George III, drawing international attention and criticism from British newspapers. Since relocated (yes, they moved it two blocks), it now serves as Edenton's Welcome Center and the headquarters of the Edenton Historical Commission. Stop in for information about Edenton sights and history. I wasn't staying long here, but I was helped by friendly folks who clearly love their town. [Review 839 of 2025 - 4269 in North Carolina - 24398 overall]

We were greeted by an excellent curator that provided us a very warm Welcome into the Barker House…read more The house is a beautiful step back in time with period antiques and a very nice gift shop. I purchased a Tea House cookbook and was amazed by the recipes along with beautiful historical notes of the area. You must stop in while visiting Edenton!

A bit confused on the check ins and labels--we wanted to see the spot of "The Lost Colony" of…read moreRoanoke so I checked in at both "The Lost Colony" and "Fort Raleigh" as there is signage at both. It appears most people who review "The Lost Colony" are reviewing the play that is enacted every summer on-site here in the outdoor ampitheatre on site. So I'll keep my review here, as I did not see the play. Nor, unfortunatley, did I get to take the walking tour of Fort Raleigh/the Lost Colony. We arrived after the last one had started. We looked at the website multiple times and could only find "stop by the front desk" when we looked for tour times. Not sure if this is always the case or a delay related to COVID. Anyway, if you want a guided tour--come early, as the last ends at 1 or 2 pm. Fort Raleigh-- you get the historic spot of the Lost Colony, a short video about said lost colony in the viewing room, a few small museums, several walking trails (most shaded and ancient looking in a good way), some ocean front sitting straight out of last century, markers celebrating "First Light of Freedom" and other cool historic occurrences, and much more. And the gift shop. Well worth a stop for history loving travelers in the area.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site was a great stop for our family. The visitor center has…read morewell-done exhibits about the Lost Colony and the Freedmen's Colony, and the kids especially loved the Junior Ranger program which made the history fun and interactive. The walking trails are peaceful and easy, and the historic earthworks are neat to see. The park rangers were excellent; friendly, knowledgeable, and great with kids. It's a mix of history and nature that's well worth visiting.

What a beautifully restored piece of history! The docents are extremely knowledgeable and happy to…read morechat! They honored the home with tons of little touches - down to same wall colors. They say it will take 45 mins we spent well over an hour! A definite must for the history buffs!

Such a beautiful building and museum with an interesting history, and in a beautiful location!…read moreInside photos aren't allowed, unfortunately, but expect to see some sophisticated plumbing of 1920's, an elevator and some really narrow hallways. The territory is impressive too and the park that is now there is lovely. It's so great that places like that get preserved and shared. We truly enjoyed our experience! Definitely worth a visit!

The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center has plenty of parking. The center is divided into two…read moresections, one area for restrooms and another area with a gift shop and state travel brochures. They have brochures for places all over the state and some for Virginia as well. There was a note to limit yourself to 7 but I was provided with a bag and encouraged to take more as I gathered ideas for future trips. The staff was very friendly and provided suggestions on other stops to make in the area. You can walk to the boardwalk that is against the canal and read some of the signboards and markers.

Perfect weather to be outdoor? Then head on over to the dismal swap trail. It's not really a hike…read morethrough the trails tail. Great for bike rides with the family. Running a race? Then this is the place for you to practice on asphalt and not worry about cars. Plenty of parking available and restrooms are available in the parking area as well. They do have a boat ramp available as well!