Outer Banks History Center

10/21/2026

Did you know that Whalebone Junction got its name after a whale skeleton washed up near Oregon Inlet, and was later displayed at Midgett’s Filling Station in the 1930s?



AV.5124_A-15 - Whalebone Junction - Roger Meekins Aerials Prior to 1954, OBHC

10/20/2026

Looking for a fun Tuesday night activity? How about a spooky night of history and Halloween trivia?!

Join Roanoke Island Festival Park and the Outer Banks History Center at NouVines (aka NouVeins🦇) in downtown Manteo for a special History Happy Hour: Halloween Trivia Edition as part of Halloween Island! 👻

Happening TONIGHT, Tuesday, October 20th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm! See you there!

10/19/2026

10/19/2026

Save the Date! The Friends of the Outer Banks History Center is partnering with the College of the Albemarle's Social Sciences Department, COA - Dare, and Downtown Books to bring you a Speaker Series over the coming fall and winter months.

We are kicking things off with a talk from Scott Dawson on Thursday, October 29, at 6:00pm in Veterans' Hall at COA - Dare Campus in Manteo. The event is free and open to the public. A book sale and book signing will follow the presentation, courtesy of Downtown Books.

We hope you can join us!

10/16/2026

Happy !

AV.5191.026 - Carolina, Hatteras Inlet dredge, 1976 - J F Scott Photo Collection, OBHC

10/15/2026

Get ready for a spooky night of history and Halloween trivia! 🎃

Join Roanoke Island Festival Park and the Outer Banks History Center at NouVines (aka NouVeins🦇) in downtown Manteo for a special History Happy Hour: Halloween Trivia Edition as part of Halloween Island! 👻

Happening on Tuesday, October 20th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

Put your local history knowledge to the test, enjoy some friendly competition, and see how much you know about the spooky stories and fascinating past of the Outer Banks. Grab your friends, come ready to play, and celebrate Halloween Island with a little history mixed into the fun!

10/14/2026

Aerial of the Week Time! Any guesses on which business sits as the focus of this image? The landmark on what was known as "Treasure Island" is the original Oasis Restaurant, which was open for customers from 1950-2004. The restaurant, owned by Violet Kellem, was known for its lace cornbread and the barefoot college coeds, the young women who served tables in white Bermuda shorts, blue ties, and, famously, no shoes. The restaurant shifted owners throughout the years before suffering a fire in 2004. The Oasis Suites was constructed on the spot and opened for vacationers in 2007, boasting a pool and hot tub in what used to be the parking lot - but don't worry, that beautiful sound view has stayed the same. Do you have any memories of the barefoot coeds or Violet's famous cornbread?

AV.5124 - A-02, Oasis on Causeway - Roger Meekins Photographs, OBHC

10/14/2026

NC-94 is seen here crossing Lake Mattamuskeet, September 1944.

In the 1910s and 1920s, the lake was drained for residential and agricultural use but by the mid 1930s ownership had passed to the US government. The lake naturally refilled once the pumping station was no longer in use.

A migratory bird refuge was created shortly thereafter. The area is now a national wildlife refuge.
_____________
ConDev4611
From the Conservation and Development Photo File, State Archives of NC.

10/13/2026

🍵Whisking Up a Little Yaupon Tea Magic circa 1910!

Made from the yaupon holly bush (Ilex vomitoria Ait), this drink has been used by American Indians ffor thousands of years. Early European settlers in the Southeast quickly adopted its use as an alternative to tea. It appeared in 18th-century markets of England, where it was called “Carolina” tea, and in France, where the drink had the name “Appalachina.” Despite an initial popularity in Europe, broad consumption of yaupon tea ceased both in the United States and abroad by the late 19th century. It made a brief return to the North Carolina coast during World War II as a substitute for tea and coffee and still can be purchased as a novelty drink.

📸Courtesy State Archives of NC

10/13/2026

Mark your calendars! The State Archives of North Carolina's One Day Wonder is making the trip to Manteo on November 3rd! For one day only, explore the soldiers' experiences during the Revolutionary War through unique original records!

State Archives of North Carolina
America 250 NC