The End Of Our Road Trip

Manteo was on our schedule for our last full day on the Outer Banks. Manteo is the location of the Elizabethan Gardens and the outdoor drama, The Lost Colony. (OK- it is also the permanent home of Andy Griffith!)

Manteo was a Native American Croatan Indian, the Chief of a local tribe that befriended the English explorers that landed at Roanoke Island in 1584. In 1585 the English returned to Roanoke, arriving too late in the year to plant crops and harvest food, and Manteo helped the colonists to make it through the harsh winter. He traveled to England on two occasions, in 1584 and 1585, and was among those who sailed for the New World in 1587 along with Governor John White and his colonists, who founded the failed settlement later known as "The Lost Colony". On Sunday, August 13 1587 Manteo was christened on Roanoke Island, making him the first Native American to be baptized into the Church of England. He was granted the title of baron, the Lord of Roanoke and Dasamongueponke - the first peer created by the English in North America.

First in view was the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is an exterior recreation from the original plans with some slight alteration of the screw-pile lighthouse that was originally built in 1877 and decommissioned in 1955. It was renovated and reopened on September 25, 2004.



Judy is reading the memorial dedicated to Jule Day Burrus, a Manteo mayor and commissioner.



The Elizabeth II is a sixty-nine foot, square-rigged sailing ship built as the centerpiece of America's 400th Anniversary Celebration to represent one of the vessels used to transport Sir Walter Raleigh's colonists to the New World between 1584 and 1587. The ship is located across from the Manteo waterfront at Roanoke Island Festival Park.


I loved this tourist transport.

We had coffee at the Blue Moon Cafe.

The bookstore was located across the square. Guess who gravitated to that business?

I, on the other hand, went into a neat shell shop. Hark, they had wonderful driftwood that was collected on the Alligator River. I could not pass up these wonderful sculptures created by nature. They were placed in the back of the van and traveled with us back to Gilmer County.


Friends, this is the end of our road trip. we left the next morning from the Outer Banks and headed for home. It was certainly a most wonderful time! Thank you all for allowing us to share our adventure with you.