The Outer Banks we know and love today was formed and characterized by its vast history. To assist you in gaining a better appreciation of this history, numerous Outer Banks history centers populate the area. You can visit and climb up lighthouses to learn how these stately structures saved the lives of sailors who navigated through treacherous shoals. Hike through the state park, Jockey’s Ridge, to interact with the world’s largest living sand dune and absorb the beautiful world around you. Stop by visitors’ centers to pick up some maps and brochures that might explain historical significance of the area you’re traveling to. And, of course, you won’t want to miss the museums on the Outer Banks, which can give you a taste of what life was like on the beach in the past few centuries. Then, there is the Outer Banks History Center in Manteo that is the local repository of pictures, books, magazines and more that tell the story of our shores. Browse through the below listing of Outer Banks history centers and get ready to embrace your inner scholar!
Outer Banks Attractions by Area
Corolla | Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head
Roanoke Island & Manteo | Hatteras Island | Ocracoke Island
Outer Banks Attractions by Category
Nags Head is home to the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast. Jockey’s Ridge, currently a series of five dunes, is a natural wonder that’s...read more
Outer Banks History Center (OBHC) is a regional archival facility administered by the State Archives of North Carolina. The mission of OBHC is to...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
Experience a new adventure in an old world at Roanoke Island Festival Park. This 25-acre historic site allows guests of all...read more
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, weather observations gathered near Cape Hatteras were important for forecasters all along the East Coast. The...read more
Whalehead is an historic house museum on the northern Outer Banks. The grand residence, dressed in bold yellow and striking copper, stands on a vast green...read more
Wright Brothers National Memorial commemorates two ingenious brothers from Dayton, Ohio, who, in 1900, chose the sparsely populated area known as the Outer...read more
