History Ocracoke, North Carolina

howard street

in 1585, sir walter raleigh s colony, in ship tiger, in search of roanoke island collided sand bar in ocracoke inlet , forced land on island repairs.

an attempt @ english settlement tried @ roanoke island in late 16th century, failed. halted european settlement until 1663, when carolina colony chartered king charles ii. however, remote ocracoke island not permanently settled until 1750, being pirate haven @ times before then. favorite anchorage of edward teach, better known pirate blackbeard. killed in fierce battle troops virginia on november 22, 1718. grounds of springer s point nature preserve said pirate s favored hang-out during days.

sand dunes

throughout mid-to-late 18th century, island home number of skilled schooner pilots, smaller ships through inlet pamlico sound. population increased on mainland, demand transshipment of goods ocean-going vessels increased. population listed 139 in 1800 census. warehouses built hold goods off-loaded larger ships offshore , loaded onto smaller schooners delivered plantations , towns along mainland rivers.

by late 19th century, shipping business gone, , united states lifesaving service became major source of steady income local men. fishing, including charters tourists, became more important livelihood of area.

the ocracoke historic district, ocracoke light station, , salter-battle hunting , fishing lodge listed on national register of historic places.

in august , september 1933 , again in september 1944 , august 1949 major hurricanes struck island. interestingly first person accounts of these storms recorded on walls of hurricane house.

fort ocracoke

fort ocracoke

fort ocracoke, confederate fortification constructed @ beginning of american civil war, situated on beacon island in ocracoke inlet, 2 miles west-southwest of ocracoke village. octagonally shaped fort built on previous war of 1812 site. @ 1 point 500 confederate troops stationed in , around ocracoke , fort. confederates abandoned , partially destroyed fort in august 1861 after union victories on nearby hatteras island. union forces razed month later on september 17, 1861. beacon island , fort subsided beneath waves of inlet after 1933 hurricanes struck area. remnants of fort ocracoke relocated , identified in 1998 surface interval diving company.