• Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

    Fort Raleigh

    National Historic Site North Carolina

There are park alerts in effect.
show Alerts »

  • General Management Plan Open For Comments

    Help us plan for the park's future! We look forward to your comments. Last day for comments is June 4, 2013. More »

Trading Cards

Kids! Collect stories about the Civil War and civil rights! The National Park Service is offering more than 500 trading cards to mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Visit a park in person to earn a card (sorry, cards cannot be mailed). Ask a ranger or stop by the visitor center at a participating park. You can view all the cards online and discover stories from nearly 90 national parks in 31 states and the District of Columbia. You'll be surprised at what you will learn.

 
Horace James

Horace James

An ardent abolitionist, James, a Union army chaplain, arrived on Roanoke Island, North Carolina in February 1862 and was soon appointed to manage escaped slaves. James tirelessly raised funds and acquired building materials and land for, and designed, the Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island. Under James, the colony became a model for other Freedmen communities.

 
First Light of Freedom

First Light of Freedom


This memorial is a remembrance of the 1863 Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony-a place of safe haven for escaped slaves. Local descendants of the colony helped dedicate the memorial in 2001. Their ancestors made the passage to freedom and started a new life at this colony.

 
Freedmen’s Colony on Roanoke Island

Freedmen's Colony 1863-1867

Formed by military order, the Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island, North Carolina became a model of Freedmen's Colony organization. At its height, the colony boasted a street grid system, steam powered sawmill, fishery, and six schools attempting to give its 3,000 residents the skills needed for the future. Colony descendants still reside in the area.

 
Battle of Roanoke Island

The Battle Of Roanoke Island

First Battle of the Burnside Expedition

Roanoke Island, a linchpin in the Confederate control of eastern North Carolina, was attacked by Federal forces on February 7, 1862. Following a naval bombardment, Union troops, led by General Burnside, stormed the island on February 8, capturing almost 3,000 Confederates. This fi rst serious victory helped raise a fl agging Union spirit.

 
The Mosquito Fleet

The Mosquito Fleet

The Little Fleet that Couldn't

A collection of tug-boats, sailing schooners, and other light draft ships, the Confederate Navy's Mosquito Fleet scored impressive early victories in the North Carolina sounds. When attacked near Roanoke Island by the Union Navy in February 1862, the seven lightly
armed Confederate ships fell easy prey to Union gunboats. All but one was sunk or captured.

Did You Know?

Freedman Colony reenactor and descendent, John Wise

Roanoke Island became a safe haven of Freedom for escaped slaves when the Union seized the island during the Civil War.  As a result, the first and largest Freedmen's Colony in North Carolina was established to prepare these African Americans for a new life after the war. More...