A Bit About Ocracoke

Aerial View of Ocracoke

Jen & I did a day trip to Ocracoke this year, but I'll post about that later. (I've been attempting to keep my trip in chronological order.) Since receiving the news that Dawn won the GVG on Ocracoke, I've been reminiscing about my previous trips to Ocracoke, possibly one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited.

In 2007, the beaches of Ocracoke were voted #1 in the USA by Dr. Beach. The reason is obvious .... nearly 20 miles of nearly deserted wide, white sand beaches, warm shallow waters in tropical hues of blues, greens & purples, shells littering the shore.

There is only one lifeguarded beach, that close to the south end of the island. The remainder of the wind-swept strand is isolated from the outside world. No noise except for the sea bird's cries and the surf crashing on the beach. A day spent here is languorous and lazy. Time slows to a snail's pace as you feel yourself begin to relax and unwind.

The first Europeans known to set foot on Ocracoke was in 1585, when Sir Walter Raleigh's flagship, "Tiger," ran aground on a sand bar in the inlet and was forced to land on the island to make repairs. In 1715, Ocracoke was established as a port, then known as Ococcock. Earlier maps show the island as Woccocon, undoubtedly Native American in origin. Ocracoke grew in importance until 1787, when 697 vessels reached the mainland via Ocracoke Inlet. These ships had to be brought over the bar, and the Colonial Assembly set aside over 20 acres of land for the use of pilots. At this time, the village was known as "Pilot Town." How original. These pilots were greatly hampered in their work by pirates, who made peaceful commerce almost impossible along the North Carolina Coast.

Blackbeard's Flag

The most notorious was a Captain Drummond, who used the name Edward Teach or Thatch, but those aware of his past knew him as the infamous pirate Blackbeard. Blackbeard roamed from the Caribbean to the Virginia Capes robbing ships. In November 1718, Blackbeard was finally captured near Ocracoke by Lt. Robert Maynard of the British Navy. Teach was reportedly shot five times and stabbed more than twenty times before he died and was decapitated. Legends about his death immediately sprang up, including the oft-repeated claim that Teach's headless body, after being thrown overboard, swam between 2 and 7 times around the Adventure before sinking. Much like today's visitors to Ocracoke, Blackbeard also enjoyed just hanging around. teeheehee

Ocracoke was finally realized as a town in 1753, when 20 to 30 families resided there. The area's earliest families included the Williams, Braggs, Gaskins, Wades, Styerins (Styron), Wahabs, and Howards.

The first lighthouse was built in 1798 on Shell Castle rock, abreast of the inlet. It was destroyed by lightning in 1818. The present lighthouse, one of the oldest still in use on the Atlantic Coast, was built in 1823. by Noah Porter for $11,359.35. At seventy-five feet, it is the shortest lighthouse on the North Carolina coast and can only be seen for 14 miles.

To be continued .......