The Lost Colony of Roanoke
In 1587, a group of 115 men, women and children arrived on Roanoke Island to establish England's first permanent colony in the New World. Led by Governor John White, they built a small settlement, hoping to create a thriving English community along the coast of what is now North Carolina.
Soon after arriving, White sailed back to England for much-needed supplies. The outbreak of war with Spain delayed his return for nearly three years. When he finally made it back to Roanoke Island in 1590, the settlement had vanished. The only clue left behind was the word "Croatoan" carved into a wooden post, and the letters "CRO" hurriedly carved on a tree. There was no indication as to what had become of the colonists, including White's own granddaughter — Virginia Dare — the first English child born in the Americas.
To this day, the fate of the Lost Colony of Roanoke remains known to history as America's oldest mystery. Historians believe the settlers may have joined friendly indigenous communities, relocated elsewhere, or succumbed to hardship, but no definitive answer has ever been found. ensuring that the legend continues to captivate visitors to the Outer Banks more than four centuries later.