The Outer Banks is rich in history and likes to wear its heritage on its sleeve. Between Native American tribes, colonial settlements, pirates, the Civil War and the first airplane, today’s Outer Banks historic sites line the area. Make your way from one end of the Outer Banks to the other, visiting lifesaving stations that used to assist those in peril out at sea, lighthouses that brought ships safely to shore, farms that give you a taste of Outer Banks life in the 1800s, educational museums, piers and settlement sites that hold mysteries. No matter where you go on the Outer Banks, there’s relevant historical information to be found. If you enjoy the great outdoors, hike through nature preserves, Pea Island or Portsmouth Island. If you’d prefer sites that are more indoor oriented, climb up some lighthouses or visit the beautiful old Whalehead estate in Corolla. Check out the below listings to see what Outer Banks historic sites capture your interest, hop in your time machine and take a step back in time.
Outer Banks Attractions by Area
Corolla | Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head
Roanoke Island & Manteo | Hatteras Island | Ocracoke Island
Outer Banks Things To Do by Category
This national historic site commemorates and preserves the first English attempts at colonization in the New World (1585 to 1587) and helps visitors gain a...read more
The Native American history of Hatteras Island and the Native American culture of our nation are preserved at this must-see museum in Frisco. The building,...read more
The Hatteras Island Park Store is located on the grounds of Cape Hatteras Light Station. No visit to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is complete without a stop...read more
This marker is a little hard to find, but it’s worth seeking out. It’s on a grassy patch behind the National Park Service Visitor Center and next to the...read more
Located on Roanoke Island, just five minutes from Manteo, Island Farm is a living history farm centered on the original Etheridge family property, once part...read more
A monument at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras honors Hotel De Afrique, the first safe haven for African Americans during the Civil War. The...read more
The second-oldest lighthouse in North Carolina, Ocracoke Lighthouse is celebrating its 200th birthday in 2023! The 75-foot, whitewashed tower and its...read more
There are many theories about how ponies found their way to Ocracoke Island. Some say they arrived on English ships during 16th-century exploration, others...read more
Ocracoke is one of the few remaining working maritime communities. Round out your Ocracoke cultural education and learn about the life and history of the...read more
In the roundabout at the intersection of Sir Walter Raleigh and Bideford streets, a part of the community's African-American heritage is being preserved and...read more
Portsmouth Island, just across the inlet from Ocracoke Island, is an enchanting place to visit. This uninhabited island is rugged and remote, one of the...read more
