North Carolina's Albemarle region is the seat of earliest settlement in the region. Dating back to the mid-1600s, the area's history is some of the richest and accessible in the state.

In Elizabeth City, the state-supported Museum of the Albemarle is a great first stop for a detailed overview of the region's long history.

Once the colonial capital of North Carolina, Edenton today looks much as it did during the American Revolution. Its restored waterfront and shaded streets offer visitors a glimpse into colonial times with tours of over 30 restored homes and buildings. In stark contrast to the aristocratic feel of Edenton is the frontier environment of North Carolina's oldest dwelling, the Newbold-White House near Hertford, built in 1685.

To the north of Edenton and Hertford lies the Great Dismal Swamp. The swamp once covered over 50,000 acres of land. Today, despite it's reduced area, the swamp is still home to thousands of species of wildlife. As a part of the Intracoastal Waterway, the Dismal Swamp Canal offers boaters safe passage south as it has done for over 200 years.

Merchants Millpond State Park gives visitors a glimpse at what the Dismal Swamp looked like before it was drained. Canoes can be rented for a day on the rusty-brown waters amidst great stands of cypress.

Near Windsor, Hope Plantation is an excellent example of a Federal-style plantation house. The dwelling was home to colonial North Carolina governor David Stone and has been restored to its original glory by local residents.

A short drive to Plymouth takes visitors from North Carolina's plantation era to the Civil War. Plymouth was the site of a fierce land and sea battle for control of the North Carolina rivers and sounds. The event is commemorated at the Port O'Plymouth Museum, which highlights the destruction of the Confederate ironclad ram, the CSS Albemarle.

 

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