ESTABLISHED: APRIL 5, 1941
THE LOST COLONY, TIMELINE
1585: Sir Walter Raleigh established a preliminary military outpost on Roanoke Island under Ralph Lane. This colony struggled with poor leadership and conflicts with local Indigenous tribes, and the men were evacuated by Sir Francis Drake in 1586.
1587: A second expedition returned to establish a permanent colony with 117 settlers.
1587: Virginia Dare was born, she was the first person born in America to European parents. Governor John White reluctantly sailed back to England to secure desperately needed food and supplies.
1590: Because the Anglo-Spanish War prevented ships from returning, White did not make it back until three years later. He arrived to find the settlement dismantled and abandoned, with no bodies or signs of a struggle. The only clue was “CROATOAN” carved into a palisade and “CRO” on a nearby tree.
- There are 3 main theories on what happened to the colonists
- Assimilation with Indigenous Tribes is the most widely accepted
- Relocation to the Chesapeake
- Violence and Starvation
During the American Civil War the U.S. Army established a refugee camp for former slaves. This thriving community evolved into a safe haven that taught reading, provided trades, and served as a crucial step toward freedom.
Depiction of the original fort.
REMEMBER THE PAST, STEVE