Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

All clear. The managing agency, the National Weather Service and wildfire reporting show no current alerts.

Overview

Amongst the shallow blue waters of the Outer Banks lies Fort Raleigh on Roanoke Island. Shaped by constant winds of change, Fort Raleigh has become a focal point of American history. From the first Algonquian-speaking people to the first English colonies, from formerly enslaved people starting anew to an inventor testing new radio technology, this island continues to be a place to forge new paths.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Theater
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Park Grounds: The grounds are open for visitation 24 hours a day.

Getting there

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is located on the northern end of Roanoke Island, north of the town of Manteo, NC.

Visitor centers

Weather

Weather on the Outer Banks varies seasonally and daily. Please check the National Weather Service at http://www.weather.gov/mhx/ for up-to-date weather forecast information.

Phone: 2524732111

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

A black stone monument with the words "First Light of Freedom and an etched painting of many people
First Light of Freedom · Kurt Moses/NPS Photo
An outdoor theater on the shoreline with green stadium seats, sand stage, and wooden facade
Waterside Theater · Kurt Moses/NPS
A stretch of sandy beach with trees near the shoreline and a building in the distance on the shore
Fort Raleigh Beach · Edwige Moses/NPS
A trail through a forested area with pine straw covering the trail
Fort Raleigh Trail · Edwige Moses/NPS

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