Outer Banks History Center

Outer Banks History Center The Outer Banks History Center is a regional archival facility in Manteo, NC. Representatives of North Carolina state government communicate via this Web site.

Consequently any communication via this site (whether by a state employee or the ​general public) may be subject to monitoring and disclosure to third parties.

Did you know that today is ?! To celebrate we are sharing the beard growing rules from the 1956 Pirates Jamboree! In 19...
09/05/2026

Did you know that today is ?! To celebrate we are sharing the beard growing rules from the 1956 Pirates Jamboree!

In 1955 the Dare Coast “Pirate’s Jamboree” was launched to jump-start the tourist season on the Outer Banks. Originally a three-day event that began in late April, popularity soon extended the festivities to a week, and eventually four weeks for the extravagant 1963 “Jamborama”. Events were held down the Dare Coast, which included fishing tournaments, boat races, beach buggy races, kid’s games, lifesaving demonstrations, costume contests, parades, dances, and a mock pirate battle on the sound.

The Pirates Jamboree took beard growing very seriously. The bearded men were considered vital to the authenticity of the festivities, and were an integral part of the event's publicity. The Beard Growing Committee worked to garner interest among Dare County residents to join in on the beard growing contest.

The finale of this contest was at the Grand Pirates Ball where a winner would be declared. After a few Dare County residents were caught letting their beards grow before the official starting date, some rules and regulations had to be put in place.

PC.5001- Pirates Jamboree Beard Growing Rules 1956 - David Stick Papers, OBHC

The Outer Banks is an exceptional case study in biology because it is a diverse and interconnected ecosystem that gives ...
09/04/2026

The Outer Banks is an exceptional case study in biology because it is a diverse and interconnected ecosystem that gives us a lens into how scientific ideas work in nature. Scholars in the field travel to the Outer Banks to study species interactions and ecosystem resilience, along with issues like habitat loss and the effects of human development. This J Foster Scott photograph shows some of these biology scholars - in this case, biology and botany students from Elizabeth City State University - entering the "surf's environment, some for the first time in their life, during a beach walk at Bodie Island." In 1979 and even today, there is so much to discover and learn about on our islands!

ORG.5271 - Biology and Botany Students From Elizabeth City State University Beach Walk Bodie Island Guide Alyse Gardner - 09/20/1979 - OBHC

09/03/2026

Brown v. Board of Education ruled segregation unconstitutional, but it was only the start of the long battle for equal rights. Join us Wednesday, September 16, for a free webinar where we take a closer look at school integration in North Carolina through the lens of correspondence to Gov. Bob Scott from constituents during the landmark court case Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg as well as oral history insights from those who experienced integration firsthand.

You can sign up for the webinar with the link in the comment section.

Image: Students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district board school buses, 1973. AV.5179.056. Image appears courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center, State Archives of North Carolina. Banks History Center

09/02/2026

⏪🕰 It's - we're going back to 1923 in Camden County when this floating road to Elizabeth City was built. The floating road was replaced in the 1940s by the Camden Causeway.

This is view is from Elizabeth City going into Camden (Camden side under water) and this floating bridge is at the same location as the causeway bridge today.

📸: Courtesy Outer Banks History Center

The Outer Banks History Center will be closed on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day. We will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Tue...
09/02/2026

The Outer Banks History Center will be closed on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day. We will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8th and look forward to seeing you then!

PC.5127 - Fishing Pier, Nags Head, 1949-50, Aycock Brown Papers, OBHC

Did you know that today is ?! To celebrate we are sharing a photograph of a stretch of beach in Nags Head during the su...
08/30/2026

Did you know that today is ?! To celebrate we are sharing a photograph of a stretch of beach in Nags Head during the summer of 1965.

PC.5127 Aerial, Gregory's Cottages & Ocean Veranda, July 1965 - Aycock Brown Slides Collection copy

In 2024, tourism statistics estimated that nearly 3 million visitors traveled to the Outer Banks, with family groups and...
08/28/2026

In 2024, tourism statistics estimated that nearly 3 million visitors traveled to the Outer Banks, with family groups and East Coast residents representing the majority of these guests. While our beaches are a popular destination for North Carolinians and our neighbors, international travelers are steadily growing in number. In the late '70s, a Balinese dancing group was on a tour of the U.S. when they decided to drop in for a special performance in Nags Head called "a dance of clean beaches and clean water." The Balinese style of dance is known for its dynamic and expressive movements, where dancers use their entire bodies to tell stories that are often drawn from Hindu epics. This photo from 1979 is a great example of the ways in which travel can encourage us to exchange and share our culture with others.

ORG.5271- Balinese Dancers Teach Visitors At Outer Banks Dance of Clean Beaches - 7/17/1979, OBHC

08/26/2026

Today is , as it marks 105 years since the 19th Amendment became law.

After Congress passed a joint resolution for the 19th Amendment and Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, it went into effect on August 26, 1920. The amendment states that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of s*x." But it did not guarantee the ballot.

Saying the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote leaves out the stories of the women, including many women of color, who fought for this right before and after the amendment went into effect. In 1920, many women were still denied access, including Native American women, African American women, Puerto Rican women, and Asian American women.

📸Courtesy NC Office of Archives and History

The beaches of the Outer Banks have always welcomed furry friends! Did you know several of our sandy shores allow your f...
08/26/2026

The beaches of the Outer Banks have always welcomed furry friends! Did you know several of our sandy shores allow your four-legged family members to join you for a beach walk? Today, dogs do need to be leashed while on the beach - this guy must not have gotten the memo!

AV 5127 - Sea ranch and guests photographs, Aycock Brown Papers 1953, OBHC

08/25/2026

🛠⚒🚣‍♀️Boatbuilding During the American Revolutionary War

Throughout history, shipwrights often held other duties, such as carpenters, farmers, fisherfolk, and positions in government offices, including during the colonial era. Records indicate John Watts and William Barkely were involved in shipbuilding in Perquimans County in the 1690s. Nathaniel Matthias and Abell Miller of Chowan County and Samuel Smith of Hyde County operated as regional shipwrights who also took on apprentices of the trade. Bertie County shipwright William Haly obtained land “for shipyard laying on Salmon Creek.” Robert Russell and John Lewlling were shipwrights in Tyrrell County in 1758 and 1760, respectively.
By: Wanda Lassiter, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
📸Courtesy State Archives of NC

Read the full article here: https://www.museumofthealbemarle.com/blog/2026/08/04/boatbuilding-during-american-revolutionary-war

Address

1 Festival Park Blvd/PO Box 250
Manteo, NC
27954

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 2pm
Tuesday 9am - 2pm
Wednesday 9am - 2pm
Thursday 9am - 2pm
Friday 9am - 2pm

Telephone

+2524235240

Website

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