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 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]

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 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]

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 different in that there are two of them. One is located near the courthouse and the…read moreother is across the intersection by the school. They have the same content on them. The same text on both sides of both markers. It reads, "Member provincial congress, 1775; brigadier general of militia in Revolution; member N.C. conventions, 1788-1789. Home is 4 miles southeast." Isaac Gregory, born in 1737 in Pasquotank County rose from county sheriff to Revolutionary War brigadier-general despite having no prior combat experience. A committed public servant, he held various regional posts and led North Carolina militia forces at the Battle of Camden in 1780, where he was severely wounded and briefly captured. Though later accused of treason due to a forged letter, he was exonerated, though suspicions lingered. After the war, Gregory remained active in civic life, serving in the General Assembly, constitutional conventions, and as a trustee and customs official. He died in 1800 at his Fairfax plantation, survived by his wife and six children. [Review 1040 of 2025 - 4367 in North Carolina - 24594 overall]

Perquimans County was originally inhabited by the Algonquian-speaking Yeopim and Weapemeoc peoples…read more The name "Perquimans" itself is derived from a Yeopim word meaning "land of beautiful women." These Indigenous communities thrived along the waterways until English and Welsh settlers began arriving in the mid-1600s, gradually displacing them. By 1701, only a handful of Yeopim warriors remained, most having relocated to a reservation in what is now Camden County. A significant Quaker population settled in the area, influencing both its cultural and political life. Their records, preserved in Virginia and North Carolina archives, offer a rich tapestry of marriages, migrations, and community life that span generations. The county itself was officially established in 1672 as one of the original precincts of Albemarle County in the Province of Carolina. The county courthouse was designed by John Gatling and completed in 1825. It is a textbook example of Georgian design, notable for its symmetry, proportion, and restrained ornamentation. The front façade features a one-story pedimented portico supported by molded brick columns, a detail that adds classical gravitas without overwhelming the building's modest scale. As with most counties in the south, there remains a Confederate Soldier memorial. This one includes a context marker as well, which are increasingly popular to provide the rest of the story. [Review 870 of 2025 - 4298 in North Carolina - 24427 overall]