Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Part of the ditch and wall of the earthwork
Amongst the shallow blue waters of the Outer Banks lies Fort Raleigh on Roanoke Island. Shaped by constant winds of change, Fort Raleigh has become a focal point of American history. From the first Algonquian-speaking people to the first English colonies, from formerly enslaved people starting anew to an inventor testing new radio technology, this island continues to be a place to forge new paths.
Map showing location of park.
Photo of an educational panel and silhouette along wooded trail.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site opens new Freedom Trail exhibit on National Trails Day, June 1
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (Fort Raleigh) and the Dare County Trails Commission will celebrate National Trails Day, June 1, 2024, by unveiling newly installed educational exhibits along Fort Raleigh’s Freedom Trail.
Photo showing a fire-damaged section of woods.
National Park Service seeks information on human-caused fires at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
National Park Service law enforcement rangers responded this morning to a report of two wildfires adjacent to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site’s Freedom Trail. Both fires were safely extinguished and pose no risk to public safety.
Back of the monument commemorating the Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony
Photo by NPS Photo
Tree standing next to the maritime forest path of the Thomas Hariot Trail
Photo by NPS Photo
Pieces of a crucible left behind by the 1585 English expedition
Photo by NPS Photo
Stage of the Waterside Theatre with a view of the Roanoke Sound in the background
Photo by NPS Photo