Located in Manteo within the Roanoke Island Festival Park complex is the Outer Banks History Center, a true gem for anyone who reserves a special place in their heart for the Outer Banks. The center came to fruition in 1986 when local writer and historian, David Stick, author of Graveyard of the Atlantic: Shipwrecks of the North Carolina Coast and several other works, donated his personal library and research materials to the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.

The History Center is home to many collections including manuscripts, maps, photographs, books, personal and organizational papers, natural history, environmental sciences and so much more. Spend a day in the reading and reference room of the center where you have access to several worktables, an online catalog, audio-visual equipment, a microfilm reader-printer, and a photocopier. Each year the center responds to thousands of research requests from the general public to national media outlets, such as the History Channel, so contact them today!

During your upcoming vacation, make plans to attend the exhibit, “Dare County in the 1930s: Decade of Determination,” starting March 1st and running through October 14th!

The History Center is open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm (excluding state holidays and weather emergencies) and be sure to visit the Outer Banks History Center Gallery 7 days a week from 9am-5pm. (Check with Roanoke Island Festival Park for up-to-date information and hours concerning the gallery).

Visit the Outer Banks History Center for a true understanding of the Outer Banks culture and its people!