Vivian Deloris Norman Scholarship Foundation
The Roanoke River Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Plymouth, NC
War, fire, ice, politics….the story of the The Roanoke River Lighthouse-- or more appropriately, the four Roanoke River Lights--could be the subject of a disaster movie or an inspirational book.
Today, a perfect replica of the second Roanoke River Lighthouse sits peacefully alongside the Roanoke River. Its exhibits tell the story of this once-bustling port town where schooners, steamboats, and barges frequented the customs house. The river connected the region to the broader world and this beacon protected that connection.
Somerset Place near Creswell, is a representative state historic site offering
a comprehensive and realistic view of 19th-century life on a large North Carolina plantation. Originally, this atypical plantation included more than 100,000 densely wooded, mainly swampy acres bordering the five-by-eight mile Lake Phelps, in present-day Washington County.
During its 80 years as an active plantation (1785-1865), hundreds of acres were converted into high yielding fields of rice, corn, oats, wheat, beans, peas, and flax; sophisticated sawmills turned out thousands of feet of lumber. By 1865, Somerset Place was one of the upper South's largest plantations.
Discover a place still wild more that 300 years after the English arrived--where eagles soar above the ancient Roanoke River, black bear, deer and small game roam the woodlands and fields, and wildgeese and tundra swan cover Lake Phelps.
Washington County has beautiful waterways that provide recreation for hunting, fishing, boating, and enjoying a multitude of sightseeing. It is located 120 miles east of Raleigh and 80 miles west of Nags Head and the Outer Banks. As of the 2010 Census, the population of Washington County was 13,228. The county seat is Plymouth.
Don't forget the Outer Banks Motor Speedway drag strip located in Creswell, NC. It's a great place to bring your family and let your imagination run wild.
Settled more than 300 years ago, Washington County was formed in 1799 and named in honor of the nation’s first president. Colonial, Civil War and maritime history all played key roles in shaping the county’s legacy. Situated where the Roanoke River flows into the Albemarle Sound in northeast North Carolina, Washington County is home to approximately 13,300 residents, and part of a six-county regional population of more than 75,000. North Carolina’s Outer Banks are a 45-minute drive east, and Raleigh and Norfolk are less than two hours via U.S. Highway 64 and U.S. Highway 17.
There are three incorporated municipalities in the county: Plymouth, Roper, and Creswell. Water and wildlife are among the county’s most valuable assets. Recreational and scenic waterways, natural lakes and old growth forests support a rich diversity of wildlife as well as a thriving outdoor recreation industry. Thanks to these natural resources and our many historical landmarks, Washington County has become a popular destination for heritage tourism.
