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Welcome to the audio-described version of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site's official print brochure. Through text and audio descriptions of photos, illustrations, and two maps, this version interprets the two-sided color brochure that Fort Raleigh National Historic Site visitors receive. The brochure explores the history of the park, some of its highlights, and information for planning your visit. This audio version lasts about 54 minutes which we have divided into 35 sections, as a way to improve the listening experience.
Sections 1 and 2 provide a welcome and introduction.
Sections 3 through 18 cover the front of the brochure and include information regarding the history of the park and the natural environment.
Sections 19 through 32 cover the back side of the brochure and continue the history of the park and describe two maps, highlighting places to visit and recreational opportunities.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is a unit of the U.S. National Park Service located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Outer Banks are a collection of barrier islands along the Atlantic coast of eastern North Carolina and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is located on Roanoke Island. Fort Raleigh is located at the northernmost tip of Roanoke Island, three miles from the downtown of Manteo, North Carolina. The park is approximately 355 acres of maritime forest full of chirping squirrels and sandy coastlines with gentle waves of the Roanoke Sound lapping against the beaches.
Fort Raleigh is more well-known as a history park, however. The park was first home to Algonquian Native people, including the Roanoke Tribe, for thousands of years before becoming the first attempted English colony in North America from 1584 to 1590. This English Colony, now called the Lost Colony, disappeared from the island, never to be found again. Today, you can walk through the Reconstructed Earthen Fort and feel the grass covered walls they created to try and build a new life on Roanoke Island.
Another main story of the park is a second colony story, called the Freedmen’s Colony. After being captured by the U.S. Army in the Civil War, Roanoke Island became a haven of refuge for thousands of enslaved people. They broke free of their bondage and came to the island to seek opportunity outside of Slavery. You can walk the Freedom Trail, a 1.25 mile, one-way, forested trail where you can hear the crunch of pine needles where the Freedmen’s Colony was once located.
On a visit to the park, stop in at the Fort Raleigh Visitor Center, the main hub for the park. There you can receive maps, brochures, including braille brochures, and audio-description is available for all the visitor center exhibits, including the 17 minute park movie. There is also an audio tour of the surrounding park grounds available through the NPS App.
To find out more about what resources might be available or to contact the park directly, visit the Accessibility and More Information sections at the end of this audio-described brochure.
The front side of the Fort Raleigh Brochure has the standard NPS black banner across the top with the park name and NPS Arrowhead logo. Below the banner, this side is broken into two sections. One section is a large landscape photograph of the coastline and Roanoke Sound and a block of text explaining the park’s many stories.
The bottom section delves into the history of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. There are several images on the bottom half related to the Lost Colony mystery. Below the images are three smaller sections which delve into the events of these voyages and how they lead to the Lost Colony’s disappearance.
Describing. A black decorative banner across the top front side of the brochure with location information and an NPS arrowhead.
Synopsis. Across the entire top of the brochure is an all-black rectangular banner with location description for the park. On the far left of the banner is large white text reading “Fort Raleigh”. On the right side of the banner are two collections of small text as well as an NPS arrowhead. The small text reads “Fort Raleigh National Historic Site North Carolina” and then “National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior”. The arrowhead is on the far right of the banner.
Description. Across the entire top of the brochure is an all-black rectangular banner with location information for the park. On the far left of the banner is large white text reading “Fort Raleigh”. On the right half of the banner are two collections of small text as well as an NPS arrowhead. The first collection of small white text reads “Fort Raleigh National Historic Site” on one line and then “North Carolina” on the second line. Then to the right the second collection of text is “National Park Service” on the first line and “U.S. Department of the Interior” on the second line. The NPS arrowhead logo is on the far right. The logo is a brown textured arrowhead logo, pointed down. At top right, white text, “National Park Service”. At left, a tall tree. At bottom, a white bison stands on a green field ending in a distant tree line, a white lake at right. A snow-capped mountain towers behind.
Roanoke Island has been the scene of historical dramas spanning over three centuries. Algonquians, European settlers, Civil War soldiers, and African Americans have played their parts. Between 1584 and 1587 England took its first steps toward colonizing North America, making three voyages of exploration and settlement to the island. During the Civil War, Union troops occupied Roanoke Island, which hosted a colony where the formerly enslaved prepared for life after the war. Radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden transmitted the human voice using wireless technology on Roanoke Island in 1902. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site preserves sites and commemorates the stories connected with these events.
Describing.
A horizontally oriented modern day color landscape photograph of a body of water, coastline, and shore area.
Synopsis.
The image is a horizontal landscape photograph of a body of water, beach and forested shore areas. The body of water is on the bottom right of the image and is a mixture of deep and shallow waters. The shoreline in the foreground is a sandy beach area with a driftwood tree with large exposed roots. The shoreline curves in a U shape around the left side of the image to the background. The shoreline becomes a forested area with a steep drop off of eroded sandy soil. Tall deciduous trees cover the distant shoreline but thin towards the water’s edge.
In-Depth Description.
The image is a horizontal photograph of a body of water, coastline beach, and maritime forested area near the shoreline. The large body of water, the Roanoke Sound, meets the horizon in the middle of the photograph and takes up the bottom two-thirds of the photo with the shore being the other one third. The blue water has intermittent areas of shallow sections with bands of sandbars seen underneath the water. On the surface of the water are shallow soft undulating waves. The short waves crest just inches from the shoreline forming a very small white crest only inches high. In the bottom left of the image is a sandy beach shoreline with a large driftwood tree. The driftwood tree is a mangled collection of multiple tree trunks on its side hanging over the water’s edge and a mass of driftwood roots on the shoreline. The tree is free of any leaves or small branches and shows signs of being lightened from the sun.
Behind the driftwood tree and sandy beach the shoreline curves forming a U shape bowl along the shoreline from the foreground sandy beach to the middle horizon. of the image eventually jutting out in the middle of the image at the horizon line. The shoreline’s large green deciduous trees stretch upwards leaving just a sliver of blue sky visible above them on the left side of the image. The shoreline where the trees are is a steep drop off of eroded sandy cliffs that meet the water’s edge. As the shoreline curves further away, the treetops appear to grow shorter, though they are just further away showing more of the pale blue sky above them. As the tree line approaches the far point where it meets the horizon, the trees thin out and show that each tree is a singular trunk with branches and leaves only at the very top and large, short green bushes form the ground cover of the maritime forest. Where the trees thin, the shoreline also transforms from the steep cliffs to a shallow rocky shoreline, designed to protect the shoreline from erosion. Barely visible along the horizon where the water meets the shoreline is another shoreline of trees. This distant shoreline is dark and shaded and details are faint because of the distance.
Describing. A historical oval color portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh
Synopsis.
Oval upper body portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh dressed in opulent attire against a solid black background.
Description.
This formal oval shaped painted portrait features Sir Walter Raleigh from the waist up, set against a black backdrop. His body faces slightly to the left, with his dark eyes turned toward the viewer under well defined eyebrows. A prominent, pale forehead contrasts with the hint of dark brown hair at his receding hairline. His cheeks are ruddy, framing a narrow nose, his mouth is closed, his dark brown moustache and beard taper to a point.
Raleigh is dressed in a sky blue coat made of textured fabric that catches the light, revealing angular patterns. The left sleeve features a decorative band just below the shoulder. The coat has ruby colored lapels and is buttoned up to the throat with matching blue buttons. His tapered beard mirrors the angular lines of the high lapel. A blue pearl earring glints as it dangles near his collar on the right. A black fur drapes over the right shoulder, and blue and black vertical stripes extend down the arm.
CAPTION: Soldier, explorer, poet, courtier, Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 to 1618) was the force behind the Roanoke Island voyages, although he never set foot in North America himself. He won over investors and staked his own fortune on the venture.
CREDIT: Copyright The Granger Collection, New York
Describing. A close up photo of two historical ceramic fragments and a led seal.
Synopsis. Two Elizabethan era ceramic fragments with painted lines in bright colors and a lead seal arranged on a white background.
Description. From the left, a heart shaped ceramic fragment features a tan background adorned with decorative markings. Brown painted lines radiate from the lower left in a starburst pattern. A yellow diagonal line extends from the center of the heart to the lower right. The upper right edge is marked by horizontal orange lines, intersected by two blue streaks. Fine lines spider across the surface, and the edges are rough and worn, revealing the underlying clay. To the right lies an oblong ceramic fragment. Despite material loss around its edges, it displays a striped pattern of horizontal yellow and white lines, transitioning to red, white, and blue lines below. Blue vertical lines intersect the yellow and white lines. The upper portion shows signs of cracking. Below the second fragment, a round, gray lead seal with an irregular edge has a carved design on its surface. Each object casts a faint shadow to the right, and the background is white.
CAPTION: Elizabethan era ceramic fragments and led seal from the park collection.
CREDIT: NPS
Describing. A vertical historical watercolor painting of an Algonquian woman and child.
Synopsis. This vertical watercolor image, painted by John White in 1585, shows an Algonquian woman and child. On the left, a woman wears a cloth around her waist and patterned tattoos on her arms. She holds a gourd in her left hand. On the right, a child wears minimal clothing and has a doll in their hands.
Description. This image is a 1585 watercolor painting by John White. In the painting are an Algonquian woman and child. On the left, the Algonquian woman stands with her feet apart. Her body faces to the left while her head is turned to the right. She has dark hair bunched into a low bun, with some loose pieces. She has rosy cheeks, dark eyes, light brown skin and her lips are slightly parted. Around her neck are several types of necklaces. One is tight around her neck like a choker, and the other hangs down her chest. Her right wrist rests in a dark decorative strap around her neck. Her left arm hangs at her side and in her hand she holds an orange hollow gourd by the opening in its narrow neck which expands into a rounded vessel. Her arms have identical tattoos that appear to circle the biceps. The tattoos have a band and elongated triangles pointing up or down on each side of the band. A gray cloth covers her waist and hangs down to her mid-thighs with a fringe along the edge.
The Algonquian child is on the right and is about half the height of the woman. The child is looking up at the woman, with their body angled towards her. The child has wiry hair down to their shoulders with 2 minimal pieces of clothing on. A red object that appears to be a necklace with a medallion hangs to the middle of their chest. The child’s right hand is tucked underneath the medallion. The other piece of clothing is a string tied in a bow around the torso beneath the chest. From the bow in the middle the string proceeds down the stomach to the crotch, where it is secured. The child holds a purplish blue doll in their left hand as if showing it to the woman. The background behind the two figures is off-white.
CAPTION: John White’s watercolors are considered the most informative illustrations of Algonquian culture. The fishing methods he illustrated are still used on Roanoke Sound today.
CREDIT: First Colony Foundation, by David M. Doody
Describing. A vertical watercolor painting by John White depicting Algonquian fishermen in a sound.
Synopsis. This historical painting shows Algonquian men fishing in a sound. Four of them are in a canoe, and two stand in the water and use spears to catch fish. Various fish are depicted in the water and birds fly in the sky.
Description.
This painting shows six Algonquian men who are fishing in the Roanoke Sound. The men are wearing brown loincloths. Four of them are in a canoe, which stretches horizontally across the middle of the painting. On the left side of the canoe, a man stands and paddles.Two men are sitting in the middle of the canoe facing one another, with a fire in between. Gray smoke rises from the fire. From research, it is known that the fire was used as a technique to attract fish to the light. There are many silverish fish in the bottom of the canoe. A man stands on the right side of the canoe and uses a net to catch fish. Behind the canoe, deeper in the water, two men are standing in the water catching fish with spears. Further away, near the horizon, is another canoe.
The blue water is transparent, so a variety of fish can be seen swimming in the water.
On the left side of the image, stretching far into the sound, is a type of fishing trap called a weir with fish trapped inside.
Beyond the horizon of the sound is land with a few trees.
On the left side of the sky, two birds fly toward the left. On the right side of the sky, there is a flock of eight birds flying.
In the foreground, at the bottom of the image, is the shore. There are green plants in the sand, some of them with red flowers.
CAPTION: John White’s watercolors are considered the most informative illustrations of Algonquian culture. The fishing methods he illustrated are still used on Roanoke Sound today.
CREDIT: First Colony Foundation, by David M. Doody
Describing. A watercolor painting of a map from 1585 showing Roanoke Island, the Outer Banks, and mainland North Carolina.
Synopsis. The historic map is oriented with North at the top of the image. Roanoke Island is painted in red. The island is situated between mainland North Carolina and the barrier islands that are now known as Outer Banks. Two ships are sailing in the water. Various words are written on the map to identify place names.
Description.
This watercolor map was painted by John White in 1585.
At the left side of the map is mainland North Carolina, painted in a sand color. To the east of the mainland is a light blue body of water that separates the mainland from the barrier islands that make up the right side of the map. The barrier islands are painted in a sand color and stretch from the top to the bottom of the image. Between the mainland and the barrier islands is Roanoke Island, painted in red and labeled “Roanoac.” The island is a rough oval shape. At the north shore of Roanoke Island is the location of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.
In the southeast corner of the map is Croatoan Island, painted in red.
In the top right, a wooden ship with three masts is depicted sailing toward the northeast. South of Roanoke Island, another smaller ship is illustrated navigating the waters between the mainland and the Outer Banks.
Multiple inscriptions span the map, labeling various locations and Indigenous groups.
CAPTION: White painted a remarkably accurate map of the Outer Banks in 1585.
CREDIT: First Colony Foundation, by David M. Doody
Describing. A modern archaeological photograph of copper plates aged to a turquoise color lying on a sandy area with a large cream-colored shell behind.
Synopsis. Rectangular, horizontal photo of Algonquian artifacts from the late 1500s. Thirteen square copper plates aged to a turquoise color with rounded edges, some with small holes, lying on a sandy area with a large cream-colored shell behind.
Description. Algonquian artifacts from the late 1500s. The background is sand, covering most of the photo. The photo has 13 square copper plates, some with small holes, turquoise in color spread out in the sand in the center ranging from the bottom right-hand corner to the middle-left hand side. Beside the copper plates is a cream-colored shell protruding from the sand. It ranges from the center of the rectangle to the upper right-hand corner of the photo.
CAPTION: Copper plates were among some 200 English and American Indian artifacts of the late 1500s unearthed in a 2008 archeological dig. They may have formed a necklace worn by an Algonquian.
CREDIT: First Colony Foundation, by David M. Doody
1584: Reconnaissance
Armed with a charter from Queen Elizabeth, Sir Walter Raleigh sponsored England’s first sustained exploration and settlement of the coast of North America. His venture was to find a suitable place for settlement and to counter Spanish domination in the New World. In July, Raleigh’s two vessels arrived off the North Carolina coast, where captains Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe soon established relations with the Algonquians on Roanoke Island. The natives made the English feel welcome, trading and dining with them and teaching them much about these lands and other tribes in the area. After several weeks the English departed, taking with them two Algonquians, Manteo and Wanchese.
Barlowe’s report to Raleigh portrayed the New World in the best light. While there was indeed much to praise, he wrote glowingly of “kind and loving” natives and their benign environment, creating false expectations about the virtues of the land and the readiness of its natives to accommodate newcomers.
Describing. Vertical color painting of a Marsh Pink Sabatia plant painted by John White in the center with 3 flowers burgundy in color at the top.
Synopsis. Vertical color painting of a Marsh Pink Sabatia plant painted by John White. The plant is in the middle, with leaves at the bottom of the stem and 3 burgundy blooms at the top. One bud is almost ready to bloom.
Description. Marsh Pink Sabatia Plant painted by John White. Rectangular vertical painting in color with a plant in the middle. The background color is cream with a golden brown color splotched around the plant. The plant extends from the very bottom of the photo to the top. From the bottom to halfway up the stem are three sets of leaves left to the right of the stem. The top half of the plant has 4 off-shoot wispy stems, 1 with a bud ready to bloom and 3 with blooms. The bottom of the bud is a golden-brown color with the tip of the burgundy bloom showing at the top. The burgundy blooms are 5 splotchy burgundy petals with a darker burgundy edge around each one with a cream color in the center.
CAPTION: Marsh pink (Sabatia) by John White
1585: Military Outpost
In the spring, Raleigh dispatched seven ships carrying some 600 people to Roanoke Island, the land he had named “Virginia.” This company, commanded by Sir Richard Grenville, hoped to occupy land for England, find precious metals, and establish a base from which to raid Spanish ships. After his soldiers helped build an earthen fort, Grenville departed for England, leaving Ralph Lane in command of 107 soldiers and colonists. The expedition’s highlights included exploration of the region’s lands and waters and the work of artist John White and scientist ethnographer Thomas Hariot. Their documentation of the Algonquians provided Europe its first view of this native culture. Otherwise, things did not go well. The colonists increasingly depended on the Indians for food. Indians began to die from European diseases. Suspecting a conspiracy to rid the island of the English, Lane killed Chief Wingina.
So, when Grenville failed to return with supplies by the expected time and Sir Francis Drake’s raiding fleet stopped near Roanoke Island, the colonists accepted Drake’s offer to take them home. When Grenville later arrived to find the colonists gone, he left 15 men to maintain England’s tenuous foothold in America.
Describing. A horizontal watercolor illustration of a diamondback terrapin painted by John White in 1585.
Synopsis. The watercolor captures a diamondback terrapin with emphasis on its shell and skin.
Description. The diamondback terrapin is positioned in the center of the photograph with its head, legs, feet with claws, and tail fully extended beneath its bronze colored shell. The terrapin, which is often mistaken for a turtle or tortoise, faces the right edge of the illustration. Its skin is slate gray adorned with beige highlights that accentuate its form. The shell features a complex pattern of three distinct rings of shapes. From the outer edge inward, the first ring consists of rectangular shapes, the second ring displays trapezoids, pentagons, and hexagons, while the innermost ring has three polygons, showcasing many sides, some up to 13. A thin ridge runs along the center of the shell, from near its head to its tail.
CAPTION: Diamondback terrapin by John White
CREDIT: John White artwork, copyright Trustees of the British Museum
1587: Cittie of Ralegh
The goal of the next voyage was a true colony, with women and children among the settlers. This “Cittie of Ralegh,” led by John White, was planned to be on the Chesapeake Bay. In July, after the 117 colonists stopped at Roanoke Island on a futile search for the 15 men left behind, White’s pilot refused to take them any farther. Their only course was to repair the fort and dwellings left by the 1585 colonists. Troubles quickly mounted. Remembering their earlier treatment, some Indians were defensive and killed a colonist while he was crabbing. Colonists then attacked a nearby Indian village, killing a villager before realizing it was a friendly group. With the situation deteriorating and food low, White returned to England for relief. The colonists promised that if they left Roanoke Island while he was away, they would carve their destination in a tree. Thwarted by captains more bent on raiding than rescue, then by the need for every ship to fight the Spanish Armada, White did not return until 1590. The settlement was silent with only the letters CROATOAN carved into a post and CRO carved into a tree. When White tried to reach Croatoan Island, now Hatteras Island (see map), a hurricane forced the ships’ return to England. The fate of the colonists remains a mystery.
“Elenora wife to Ananias Dare was delivered of a daughter in Roanoak and because this childe was the first Christian borne in Virginia, she was named Virginia.”
—From the narratives of Gov. John White, on the birth of his granddaughter, Aug. 18, 1587
The back of the brochure includes text, quotes, photographs, images of artifacts, and two color maps. The photos are a mix of color and black and white.
A black banner runs across the top of the page, framing a series five historical and contemporary photos of Roanoke Islanders. The background of the remaining portions of the page is pale blue.
Below the photos, images of artifacts are grouped in the center, overlapping each other, with text on either side.
The bottom half of the page features two color maps. The map on the left is a bird’s eye view of the area surrounding the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Visitor Center and how to get to the Waterside Theatre. The map on the right zooms out over Roanoke Island and the surrounding barrier islands, featuring bridges, roads, and attractions.
Describing. A horizontal color photograph of a man walking out of a reconstructed 16th century English earthen fort in a wooded area.
Synopsis. A reconstructed 16th century English earthen fort made of a rounded pile of sandy soil covered with grass takes up the majority of the photo. A man walks out of the fort towards the viewer. Behind him is a red and white English flag planted in the middle of the fort. Outside of the fort is a dense forest. The sky is only visible in small patches between leaves.
Description. A reconstructed 16th century English earthen fort covered in grass. The left wall slopes sharply into a ditch with taller grass. Right of center is the entrance to the fort about 6 feet wide. The ground here is bare. The walls on either side of the entrance are rounded, reaching about 4 feet at their highest point. A light-complexioned man walks out of the entrance, his shadow visible on the ground to the left. He wears a sage green baseball hat, brown collared shirt with buttons and a simple pattern in a lighter brown, khaki pants and dark shoes. He has a white beard and a short white ponytail sticking out of the back of his cap. He is looking to his left. To the right directly behind the man is a flagpole in the center of the fort. An unfurled flag at the top of the flagpole waves to the right. It is an English flag with a white background and red cross extending to the edge of each side. The ground inside of the earthen fort is patchy grass from many years of being walked on. On either side of the flagpole there are several small, dark objects on the ground, perhaps lights to illuminate the flag at night. Behind the flagpole is the back wall of the earthen fort. It is curved, turning towards the front of the fort and covered in grass. Behind the back wall of the earthen fort is dense forest. There is a great deal of green foliage obscuring individual trees. The scene is photographed from beneath a tree with overhanging branches that overlap with the forest behind the fort. These branches are covered in leaves and block out most of the sky, making it so only patches of blue are visible.
CAPTION: Reconstructed Earthen Fort
CREDIT: NPS
Describing. Horizontal color photograph of three archeologists at an active archeological dig site.
Synopsis. This color photograph shows an active archaeological dig. Taking up the majority of the image is a rectangle dug into the dirt. Inside the sunken rectangle are three adult figures at work. Around the workers are various tools, flags, and markers. In the background, toward the top, the lower halves of 7 or 8 other people are visible.
Description.
This image shows an active archeology dig. From the bottom left of the photo to the upper center extends a large dug out rectangle. The walls of the rectangular dig site are straight cuts down in the light brown dirt. These dirt walls of the dig are at right angles with the bottom of the dig. Inside this rectangular dig site are three adults working. The first person is on the viewers left and on the far left of the dig site with back to the viewer. The person is crouched down facing the wall of the dig site with one arm on their leg and the other in front of them, invisible to the viewer. The person is wearing jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and a hat. In the center of the dig site, in the foreground, is a second person with their back to the viewer. They have one knee on the dirt of the dig site and the other knee is in their front, out of view for the viewer; this person has one hand resting on the ground, supporting their weight, and the other is extended out in front of them. This person is wearing jeans with a short sleeved t-shirt and a ball cap. The third person in the subterranean dig site is standing in profile closer to the far edge of the dig site than the other two people. This person is an adult, who appears to be a white male with short gray hair wearing khaki pants and a short-sleeved shirt. This figure is holding a shovel full of dirt in front of him, as if he is in the process of digging with the shovel.
Around the three figures in the dig site are various tools and lines of demarcation. In the foreground of the dig site is the top of a round, white bucket, two small white flags stuck into the dirt, a shovel next to the crouched figure, and a shovel that the kneeling person is resting their hand on. Criss-crossing the dig site are perpendicular lines in the dirt making smaller squares and rectangles. These are marked by thin white string, and areas where the soil has been dug down additional inches, making perpendicular dirt walls.
The ground surrounds the rectangular dig site on three sides in the photograph. The ground has some loose dirt, some patchy green grass, and some small, light-brown leaves littered across the grass and dirt. On the left side of the dig site, on the viewer's left, there is part of a large pile of light-brown dirt; this pile continues off the frame of the image. The bottom of multiple shovels are visible stuck into the dirt pile, though the image cuts off the shovel handles at about their mid-point. Behind the shoves there are some grey, moss-covered tree trunks visible, also cut off by the frame of the image.
At the far top of the photograph the perpendicular wall of dirt marking the short end of the rectangular dig site rises up to the ground level. On the ground level near that wall the lower halves of approximately 5-7 people are visible. These lower halves of people are in a variety of poses. Some appear to be standing still, some are bent, some have legs crossed, and some appear to be poised to move.
CAPTION: 2008 Archeological Dig
CREDIT: NPS
Describing. A 2010s horizontal color photo of a reenactment. It depicts seven white actors and actresses from The Lost Colony play, known by the NPS to be dressing as the Algonquian people.
Synopsis. Seven white reenactment actors, men and women, in Algonquian attire from The Lost Colony play stand in the Roanoke sound for a promotional image. The men wear brown loin cloths, necklaces, white paint and hold staffs. The women wear brown loin cloths and clothes around the bust with necklaces. They stand in the Roanoke sound in fading daylight.
In-depth Description. Seven white actors and actresses from The Lost Colony play, painted to resemble Algonquians, stand in a line for a promotional image, facing the viewer. There are three women and four men. From left to right, there are two men and then they alternate between women and men ending with a woman. They stand in the Eastern Roanoke sound in thigh-deep water.
The men all share similar height and lean, muscular builds. They are dressed in brown loincloths, draped around their waists, covering from the middle of the hips to the upper thighs. All men except the man in the center carry staffs, each reaching head height. Their black hair is pulled back into buns, with pieces of wood sticking out in various directions. The men are adorned with a mix of long and short beaded necklaces, and various white paint patterns are applied to their stomachs and arms. However, most of these patterns are obscured by shadows, leaving their details largely unknown. The only visible design is on the man at the far left, who has a bullseye pattern on his left upper shoulder and a triangle design extending down from his neck.
The women, too, have thin, muscular builds, with the two women on the right sharing a similar height. The woman on the left is notably taller, standing a head above the other two. Like the men, the women wear brown loincloths that cover their waists down to their upper thighs, paired with brown cloth around their busts, secured by straps over their shoulders. All but the woman on the far right have a single beaded necklace that hangs down over their busts. Their long black hair is pulled back from their faces, and pieces of thin wood are placed throughout their hair, pointing in various directions.
In the background, a sunset paints the sky in an ombré effect, transitioning from light blue at the top to light yellow, dusty pink, and dark blue near the horizon. At the horizon are the Outer Bank Barrier islands far in the distance; they appear as just a dark blue band that runs the length of the photo.
CAPTION. Algonquians portrayed in The Lost Colony
CREDIT. Copyright William Ivey Long Studios
Describing. Reconstruction Era (1861 to 1900) sepia toned photo of the Freedmen's Colony in Roanoke, North Carolina with a woman standing near a road. A group of children is visible near the entrance of one of the shacks.
Synopsis. Historical Reconstruction Era (1861 to 1900) sepia toned, landscape oriented photo of a woman with dark complexion photographed from her back and right-side who appears to be walking along a dirt road with three makeshift wooden shacks in the background. The middle shack is fully shown with four small children with dark skin standing in front of its doorway. The two other shacks flank the middle one and are only partially visible, cropped by the photograph's edges. Beyond the wood cabins are a mix of bare trees and trees with foliage in the distance.
Description. Historical sepia toned photo captures the Freedmen's Colony in Roanoke, North Carolina, during the Reconstruction Era (1861 to 1900). In the center left foreground, a woman of dark complexion stands on the road. She wears a floor-length, long sleeved dark dress paired with a light apron or shawl and a white head covering facing the road. Situated behind the woman are three visible wooden shacks with space in between them that appear to be makeshift and in disrepair. The roofs are patched and covered with wooden slats. A stick fence is in front of the wooden shack on the left of the photo. In front of the middle shack’s doorway, four dark skinned children stand clustered together and looking outward. The first three children stand in order of height from left to right. From left to right, the first two children are wearing dresses, the third is dressed in a jacket, pants and possibly a hat. The fourth child is visible, but their attire is indistinguishable. The background consists of an open sky with a mix of sparse trees behind the wooden shacks and trees with foliage further in the distance.
CAPTION. Freedmen's Colony cabin
CREDIT. North Carolina State Archives
Describing. A vertical, historical black and white photo of the Fessenden radio tower on Cape Hatteras, with a white man standing on the shore.
Synopsis. A vertical black-and-white photo of a slender skeletal structure and a white man, Reginald Fessenden, dressed in black on a shore. The tower is in the left background and the man is in the right foreground.
Description. Dressed in dark clothing and dusty looking shoes, Reginald Fessenden, a pioneer in radio technology, stands on a beach with his hands in his pockets. He faces the camera and has a full, dark mustache and a neutral expression. His eyes are shaded by his dark cap and his shadow falls back and to the right. The tower is on the left side half of the photo. It seems to have four sides, but only two are visible. It tapers as it rises and is cropped off at the photo’s top edge. The tower is made of metal and has diagonal cross bars that zigzag up the tower, decreasing in size as the tower narrows. A path of footprints or tire tracks runs between the man and the tower, stretching diagonally from the left foreground to the right background. The ground and sky are similarly pale and create a stark contrast with Fessenden’s dark clothing and the tower.
CAPTION: Fessenden radio tower
CREDIT: Outer Banks History Center
“the fortune of excavation [is] of all pursuits of chance the most baffling and the most absorbing”
Archeologist Talcott Williams, 1895
Most of what we know of the events on Roanoke Island during the late 1500s comes from reports, letters, and journals. A key to learning more is through archeology, the discovery and analysis of physical evidence —objects and structures. For over a century, archeologists have been surveying and excavating the site to shed more light on the Roanoke settlements. Evidence of an Earthen Fort, built by the 1585 expedition, and artifacts found nearby are currently our most tangible evidence of the colony.
A dig in 1895 by Talcott Williams revealed the rough dimensions of the fort’s ditches. Jean C. Harrington excavated the fort site in 1947, confirming its method of construction: Earth removed from the defensive ditches was thrown inward to form the fort’s walls. The excavations also uncovered an iron sickle, part of a Spanish olive jar, and casting counters used in commercial transactions. In 1950, the National Park Service reconstructed the fort, piling earth removed from the defensive ditch into walls based on those of other forts of the period.
A 1991 dig, using remote sensing technology, revealed what archeologists called a “science workshop.” Pieces of crucibles, once molten materials, and charcoal pointed to the metallurgy experiments performed here by Thomas Hariot and Joachim Gans. Gans was a Prague “mineral man” who accompanied the colonists to assess the quality and quantity of discovered ores. Some historians believe that the earthen fort, too small to have been the settlement’s main defensive structure, was built to defend the Hariot Gans Workshop.
A 2006 ground-penetrating radar survey revealed patterns that prompted further examination. Researchers then used radar tomography to get three-dimensional images. Excavations in 2008 turned up over 200 artifacts from the late 1500s, including English and Algonquian potsherds, European glass beads, and an Algonquian clay pipe stem found near the decorative copper squares pictured on the other side of this brochure.
Describing. A horizontal color photograph of an Algonquian tobacco pipe stem.
Synopsis. An earthy red tobacco pipe stem lies lengthwise with a shadow running along its bottom and right edge.
Description. The earthy red pipe stem lies horizontally. The left side angles in slightly from the top and has an even edge. The right end begins to flare but ends abruptly in a jagged edge that reveals the thickness of the red clay material and a hint of a hollow interior. A shadow runs along the pipe’s bottom and right side, indicating that it is three-dimensional and rounded.
CAPTION. Algonquian tobacco pipe stem found in 2008
CREDIT. NPS
Seeking Refuge
During the Civil War, Union forces opened their 1862 campaign to blockade southern ports by taking Roanoke Island, flanked by important waterways. In February 1862, Brig. Gen. Ambrose Burnside landed 13,000 troops on the island, overwhelming its Confederate forts and defenders.
Word spread among runaway enslaved workers that on “Roanoke Island, you will find safe haven.” Hundreds of refugees poured in, and the army established a Freedmen’s Colony headed by Army Chaplain Horace James. To prepare the liberated slaves for life after the war, James laid out one acre lots and recruited missionaries as teachers. By 1865 almost 3,500 people lived in 560 log dwellings they had built, along with a hospital, church, schools, and a sawmill. The army decommissioned the colony in 1867.
Advancing Science
Radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden came to Roanoke Island in 1901 to further his work on a wireless system for transmitting weather information. He erected 50-foot radio towers on Cape Hatteras and the north end of Roanoke Island. At the same time that the Wright brothers were testing their gliders seven miles away across Roanoke Sound, Fessenden lived in Manteo for a year and a half, traveling each morning to Weir Point and working to refine his radio signals.
In April 1902, Fessenden wrote: “The new receiver is a wonder!” He had taken a crucial step toward the regulation of electromagnetic signals, called amplitude modulation (AM), which enables clear voice transmissions over radio waves.
Describing.
Historical Sketch of Freedmen's Colony Union Army Sergeant Bob
Synopsis.
A detailed historical black-and-white sketch of a uniformed African-American man from the historic Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island.
Description.
The historical black and white pencil sketch features an African American man wearing a Union Army military uniform set against a light blue background. A military hat with a short, dark brim adorns his head. His eyes look outward to the left with a neutral expression. He has a smooth, round nose and full lips, with short hair peeking out from above his ear to the nape of his neck. His crisp uniform collar is upturned with three buttons running vertically from the neck to mid-chest. On the middle of his left arm is the insignia of three lightly drawn chevrons stacked vertically, designating his rank as sergeant. “Sergt Bob” is written at the bottom left of the sketch.
CAPTION. The Roanoke Island Freedmen’s Colony provided refuge for families of ex-slaves, many of whom joined the US Army.
CREDIT. Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens
Describing. A staged museum collection color photo of Civil War-era weapon projectiles.
Synopsis. A collection of five Civil War-era projectiles displayed on a flat surface, including a cannonball, three musket balls, and a Minié ball, each showing signs of age and wear.
Description. A group of five Civil War-era weapon projectiles. At 12:00 is a rusty cannon ball, which is the largest of the items. The surface is pitted and flaky. The outer layers are rusty orange, and the flaked-off areas are light brown. At 4:00 are three small musket balls that form a backward 'L'. It would take about 15 musket balls to fill the space the cannon ball takes up. Their surfaces are pitted; the ball in the corner of the ‘L’ is the most damaged. They are beige, with dirty patches darkening them. The ball in the corner of the ‘L’ is the dirtiest. At 8:00 is the Minié ball bullet. It would take about 10 Minié balls to fill the space the cannon ball takes up. The Minié angles toward the upper left. The base is the widest and it tapers down to a point. There are three grooves near the base of the bullet. The Minié ball is cream colored. All the items have a shadow on the lower right.
CAPTION. Civil War-era cannonball, Minié ball, and musket balls found here.
CREDIT. NPS
Describing. An image of a wayfinding map that provides a general overview of the area around the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Visitor Center in North Carolina, including the Waterside Theatre and how to access the Freedom Trail trailhead.
Synopsis. This illustrated color map is for wayfinding at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and is shown in a birds-eye view. It depicts various amenities in the park. The map is oriented with North at the top of the map. The map details the entrance roads, a one-way loop road, and access roads to and through the park. Also detailed are parking lots and how they connect to the access and entrance roads. Extending from the roads and parking lots are a variety of trails that can take people around to different areas of the park. In the northeast of the map is the large Waterside Theater and box office. Near the one-way traffic loop, in the center of the map, is the park visitor center and restrooms. Southwest of these are multiple administration buildings. The Reconstructed Earthen Fort is in between the Visitor Center and the Waterside Theater. The Elizabethan Gardens, an area outside of park boundaries but accessible through the park, is located in the Northwest corner of the map.
In-Depth Description.
This image is a wayfinding map that provides a general overview of the area around the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Visitor Center, including the Waterside Theatre and how to access the Freedom Trail trailhead. It is one portion of the site and highlights scenic locations within this area and access routes. The landscape is two-tone with darker green representing forests and lighter green representing grassy fields. A coastline curves along the top of the map from northeast to northwest. The waterline extends along the northern shore of the image. The water shown in blue is labelled the Albemarle Sound.
Entering the site
This navigation starts by entering the site near the southwest edge of the map where a key is provided to indicate that a white line represents a paved walkway, a brown line represents a trail, and a white letter “P” inside a black square represents parking areas. To the right of the key at the bottom of the map is text, “To Route 64 and Manteo” with an arrow pointing South West on Fort Raleigh Road. Continuing along the bottom of the map to the right is an arrow pointing up within a circle with “North” written above it to identify cardinal directions. Two main roads, Fort Raleigh Road and National Park Drive provide access to attractions, trails, and parking.
Sites adjacent to Fort Raleigh Road: Parking Areas, Restrooms, Visitors Center, Waterside Theatre, Reconstructed Earthen Fort, Freedmen’s Colony Monument, and the large Administration Building
Fort Raleigh Road runs from south to northeast leading to a one way roundabout with a large parking lot labeled “Theatre Parking” in the extreme east of the map shown in gray. The theatre parking lot can be entered from the southside of the roundabout and exited from the northside of the roundabout. There are two additional smaller parking areas adjacent to the roundabout on the northern and western sides separated from the road by a grassy median for pull-in parking.
Continuing along Fort Raleigh Road, there is a junction with the second main road which is National Park Drive. Turn northwest onto National Park Drive to reach the second parking area that is a one-way loop.
The Freedom Trail Trailhead is also accessed from this loop around the second parking lot.
From the parking areas, there are a series of paved trails criss-crossing the landscape.
From the theatre parking lot, there is a paved walkway at the top of the parking lot leading to the theatre box office on the right. Following the walkway northwest, you arrive at the Waterside Theatre for the Lost Colony Drama, open seasonally.
This is an outdoor theatre surrounded by a fence that includes an entrance to the amphitheater.
Sloped seating faces the waterfront stage. Several buildings surround the seating area. Several buildings are also on the coastline on either side of the theatre complex.
Upon exiting the Theatre, the paved walkway leads in three directions. Return to the parking lot by heading southeast. Travel southwest to connect with the Thomas Hariot Trail or head south to the Reconstructed Earthen Fort.
The Reconstructed Earthen Fort is a four sided square raised area shown in a tan color on the map, surrounded by four earthen walls with an entrance on the northwest corner.
Returning to the paved walkway, heading southwest, the 1896 Monument is on the east side of the path.
Continuing southwest on the paved walkway, the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site visitor Center is on the east side of the path. The visitor center is a square building with an entrance facing west and a window facing southeast.
A wide paved walkway connects The Freedmen’s Colony Monument to the west, the Visitor Center, the restrooms, and the parking areas. This same walkway connects to the parking areas along the roundabout.
The restrooms are opposite the entrance to the visitor’s center to the southwest. A paved walkway behind the restrooms leads to the Administration Buildings which are slightly northwest of the restrooms.
Sites adjacent to National Park Drive: Freedom Trail trailhead, Parking Lot, Elizabethan Gardens, Thomas Hariot Trail loop, and small Administration Building
From the front of the administration buildings, the paved walkway passes a staff parking area marked in gray on the map with some foliage on the west side of it. Heading northwest, the paved walkway leads to the National Park Drive parking lot and one-way loop at the Freedom Trail trailhead. The paved walkway ends at the western boundary of the loop.
Off this trail heading northeast, a short paved walkway leads to the entrance of the 10-acre Elizabethan Gardens. The Elizabethan Gardens is indicated with green lines on the map to delineate the park boundary as this property is operated by the Garden Club of North Carolina. This botanical garden is surrounded by many paths and is depicted in muted tones on the map.
Back to the parking lot area at the one-way loop by the Freedom Trail trailhead, heading south, then east, a second paved walkway leads to a smaller administration building. Continuing east around the small administration building this paved walkway leads to the Reconstructed Earthen Fort.
Heading northeast towards the Waterside Theatre, the Thomas Hariot Trail is a loop through a forest. The first bend of the trail leads north towards the Albemarle Sound. Then the trail curves west towards The Elizabethan Gardens. The trail continues curving southeast to meet up with another main trail that can be taken east to Waterside Theater or west to the small administration building.
There is a trail from the wide paved area near the Freedmen’s Colony Monument leading to the east side of the second parking lot. Behind the small administration building near the second parking lot, there is another trail departing the paved trail that connects to the Thomas Hariot Trail loop.
CAPTION. Getting Around the Park
Describing.
An illustrated, large-scale, color map of Roanoke Island, part of the barrier island Bodie (pronounced “body”) Island, and the surrounding bodies of water. Designed for wayfinding, the map is from an aerial perspective.
Synopsis.
This illustrated color map, oriented with North at the top, is designed to give viewers an overview of Roanoke Island, Bodie (pronounced “body”) Island, the several surrounding bodies of water, historic sites, points of interest, and the main routes to and from this area.
This map employs an aerial perspective, with north oriented at the top of the map. In the northeast corner of the map is the word “North” above of a circle within an arrow inside to indicate north. Directly underneath it is a small scale to measure one kilometer and one mile.
The map depicts two islands: the entirety of Roanoke Island is featured prominently in the center of the map and part of Bodie Island to the east of Roanoke Island. Both islands are oriented in a general north-to-south direction.
Roanoke Island, in the center of the map, is shaped in an uneven boomerang-like shape. It is roughly the shape of a long oval with a slight curve to the west at the northern end of the island. It is approximately 8 miles long from the northern tip to the southern tip of the island.
The other island shown is a portion of Bodie Island which is an extremely thin 72-mile barrier island spanning the entire length of the map in a north-to-south direction.
The map depicts the bodies of water that surround these two islands and denotes the water with a soft blue coloring. Roanoke Island is surrounded by four sounds. To the north is Albemarle Sound. To the east, separating Roanoke Island from Bodie Island is Roanoke Sound. To the south of Roanoke Island is the Pamlico Sound. To the west of Roanoke Island, separating it from Mainland North Carolina, is the Croatan Sound. To the east of Bodie Island is the Atlantic Ocean.
For each island we will describe the following:
Roads and bridges
Towns
Historic points of interest
Other points of interest
The in-depth description below will detail these elements first for Roanoke Island, then for Bodie Island.
In-Depth Description.
Roads and Bridges:
Two bridges from the West connect mainland North Carolina to Roanoke Island. The William B. Umstead Memorial Bridge leads to the northern edge of the island. The Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge leads to the center of Roanoke Island. This bridge is labeled as both bypass 264 and bypass 64. This road continues across the island to become the Washington Baum Bridge that crosses the Roanoke Sound. The Washington Baum Bridge connects Roanoke Island to Bodie Island at Whalebone Junction. At Whalebone Junction the road branches out to the north as Route 158 and to the south as Route 12. Both roads continue off the map. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east of Bodie Island.
Roanoke Island:
On Roanoke Island, there are two main labeled roads with many smaller roads branching off. Most of the smaller roads are concentrated on the northern end of the island. At the very northern tip of Roanoke Island is Fort Raleigh National Historic Site with the boundaries of the park marked in green. The roadway from the William B. Umstead Memorial Bridge becomes Route 264 and Route 64 which follow the subtle curve of the northeastern coast continuing south toward the town of Manteo nestled on the edge of Shallowbag Bay which opens into the Roanoke Sound.
Routes 264 and 64 continue south to the main intersection in the center of the island. From here, to the west is the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge that connects back to the mainland. To the east is the Washington Baum Bridge that connects to Bodie Island. To the south of this intersection is Route 345 that leads to the town of Wanchese and Broad Creek on the southeastern side.
Points of Interest on Roanoke Island
Many points of interest on Roanoke Island are concentrated in the northern section near the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and along the western coast.
Historic Points
There are many important historic sites on the island. Currently, the following are not accessible to the public: Fort Huger, Fort Blanchard, Fort Bartow, and the site of Fessenden’s 1902 Radio Tower.
Roanoke Island Festival Park and the Elizabeth II is on the Shallowbag Bay, right near the downtown area of Manteo.
The Civil War 3-gun battery battlefield marker and Site of 1862 Battle of Roanoke Island are south of the main intersection.
The 1862 landing by Brigadier General Burnside’s Union forces, also known as Ashby’s Harbor is southwest of the main intersection on the edge of the island near Croatan sound.
Other Points
Labeled on the maps as the NWR Gateway Visitor Center is the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center which is right across from Fort Raleigh National Historic Site at the northern part of the island.
The North Carolina Aquarium is on the northwestern coast of the island.
The Manteo Airport is just to the east of the aquarium.
Bodie Island:
On the eastern edge of the map, running in a mostly north-south direction is the thin barrier island of Bodie Island in between Roanoke Sound to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Whalebone Junction is in the center of Bodie Island. To the north of Whalebone Junction is the town of Nags Head. It sits near the top of the map. The map indicates that Wright Brothers National Memorial is to the north. On this brochure, the image of Bodie Island becomes more transparent as it continues north behind written text titled, “Those Who Came Later…” To the south of Whalebone Junction is Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The map indicates that Bodie Island Lighthouse and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse are to the south of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Points of Interest on Bodie Island
The portion of Bodie Island featured in this brochure has a few points of interest that are spread along its length.
Historic Points
Wright Brothers National Memorial is situated north of the town of Nags Head.
Bodie Island Lighthouse and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse sits within the National Seashore and are south of the map
Other Points
Jockey’s Ridge State Park sits near Nags Head on the western side of the island near the Roanoke Sound.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is to the south and marked in green.
The visitor center is open seven days a week, year-round except December 25. The park grounds are open sunup to sundown. In summer the grounds are open in the evening until the performance of The Lost Colony is over.
The Freedmen’s Colony Monument, First Light of Freedom, is in the plaza just outside the visitor center. See an 1896 monument to the 1587 colony and the birth of Virginia Dare as you walk to the Reconstructed Earthen Fort. Walk the Thomas Hariot Trail out to Albemarle Sound, or hike the 2.5-mile roundtrip Freedom Trail to a fine view of Croatan Sound. The trail starts near The Elizabethan Gardens, set on 10 acres next to the park but outside its boundary. Operated by The Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc., these gardens include statuary, quiet paths, and flora.
During summer, the 1587 colonists’ story is dramatized through an outdoor symphonic play, The Lost Colony, at the Waterside Theatre in the park. The Roanoke Island Historical Association manages the performance.
In the nearby Town of Manteo is Roanoke Island Festival Park, a North Carolina Historic Site. This park provides a comprehensive look at Roanoke Island history and displays the reproduction Elizabeth II sailing vessel. Nearby is the North Carolina Aquarium.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. Learn more about the National Park Service at www.nps.gov.
For Your Safety
Every effort is made to ensure your safety, but there are still hazards requiring alertness. Use common sense and caution.
Regulations
Visit the park website or check at the visitor center for full information on firearms and other regulations.
Available at the Fort Raleigh Visitor Center are braille brochures, audio-described exhibits, and an audio-described 17-minute park film. Additional accessibility features include accessible parking, ramps to the visitor center, and accessible restrooms. We strive to make our facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information go to the visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check our Fort Raleigh NHS website or the park's Accessibility page.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs in America's communities, visit www.nps.gov.
Start your journey by getting information at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27954
Or contact:
Phone: 252-473-2111
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Website:
www.nps.gov/fora