An expedition party from England lands in the New World for the first time in 1584. They land in what we call Roanoke Island in North Carolina. Sir Walter Raleigh establishes contact with the Native Americans in the process. (Imagine what they thought when the English arrived.) A year later, Raleigh sends seven ships to set up a permanent colony. The results are, at best, mixed. Most go back before the year end.
Then in 1587, a full group of 117 comes to Roanoke Island, including women and children. One of those women gives birth to a daughter - Virginia Dare, who is the first English child born in the New World. But the problems continue, and leader John White leaves much of the colony to get help. When he finally returns in 1790, the colony is gone without a trace.
And that, in short, is the story of "The Lost Colony."
You'll learn about that during a visit to Roanoke Island, located just inside of the Outer Banks. Visitors can see the monument shown above, which is mainly a tribute to Virginia Dare and was dedicated in 1896. There's an earthen fort that was dug out by archeologists. Interestingly, a theater sits on the waterfront. Every summer the play "The Last Colony" is presented there. It's been a long-running smash; President Roosevelt was even there.
Here's a longer look around at the place:
It's all tied together at the Visitors Center. You'll want to see the film about the Lost Colony while you are there. (It's always a good idea to watch the National Park Service's films.)
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