Harry Gittings
in the last week
Great place you can hear the ghosts
Gallery photos coming soon
Points of Interest
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
The site of England's first colony attempt, and a disappearance historians still can't fully explain
(2,794)
About
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site marks the ground where the 1580s Roanoke Colony attempted the first permanent English settlement in the New World — and where its residents disappeared without a confirmed explanation, one of American history's genuine unresolved mysteries. Administered by the National Park Service on the north end of Roanoke Island, the site centers on a visitor center and a reconstructed earthen fort that lay out the colony's story.
An open question, not a solved one
What became of the colonists after 1587 has never been settled. Theories point toward relocation, absorption into nearby Native communities, or conflict, but none is confirmed, and the park's exhibits present the evidence and the competing theories rather than declaring a winner — the historically honest way to tell it.
The Freedom Trail
A short trail on the grounds commemorates the Freedmen's Colony, a self-governing community of formerly enslaved people established here during the Civil War and one of the earliest of its kind in the South — a quieter, less-visited layer of the same historic ground.
Fort Raleigh is open daily, 9am to 5pm. It sits in the same historic area as the Elizabethan Gardens, The Lost Colony outdoor drama, and Roanoke Island Festival Park, but it's a distinct NPS site with its own visitor center and grounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Fort Raleigh National Historic Site's hours?
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is open daily, 9am to 5pm, according to the National Park Service.
Is there an admission fee to visit Fort Raleigh National Historic Site?
National Park Service entrance fees can vary by site and change over time. Check the official Fort Raleigh National Historic Site NPS page for current fee information before your visit.
Where is Fort Raleigh National Historic Site located?
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site sits on the north end of Roanoke Island, North Carolina, in the same historic area as the Elizabethan Gardens, The Lost Colony outdoor drama, and Roanoke Island Festival Park.
Is Fort Raleigh National Historic Site the same as The Lost Colony or the Elizabethan Gardens?
No, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is a separate National Park Service site with its own visitor center and grounds. It sits in the same historic area on Roanoke Island as the Elizabethan Gardens, The Lost Colony outdoor drama, and Roanoke Island Festival Park, but each is a distinct attraction.
What is there to see at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site?
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site's visitor center and reconstructed earthen fort tell the story of the 1580s Roanoke Colony, England's first attempted permanent New World settlement. A short Freedom Trail on the grounds also commemorates the Freedmen's Colony, a self-governing community of formerly enslaved people established at Fort Raleigh during the Civil War.
What actually happened to the Roanoke colonists?
What happened to the Roanoke colonists after 1587 has never been settled, and it remains one of American history's genuine unsolved mysteries. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site's exhibits lay out the leading theories, including relocation, absorption into nearby Native communities, or conflict, without declaring any one of them the confirmed answer.
Reviews (2,794)
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2,794 reviews
Google Reviews
Tina Shaw
in the last week
Very nice and informative with beautiful gardens.
Tommy Harris
in the last week
This was cool. The giant dirt hill where the original place was gave great reference to the imitation houses that are there
Crystal White
in the last week
Sveta Prosko
in the last week
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