The remoteness and isolation of North Carolina's northern Outer Banks has shaped both early settlers and relative newcomers into tough and independent souls. Sir Walter Raleigh's colonists may have mysteriously disappeared from Roanoke Island, but the enterprising homesteaders who followed managed to eke out a living on the windswept and battered banks. Entrepreneur E.R. Daniels ran a line of mail and freight boats that helped connect the Outer Banks to the outside world. Former slave and Civil War hero Richard Etheridge did not shirk from an opportunity to become the first black keeper of a lifesaving station. In the mid-20th century, leaders like Bradford Fearing saw the importance of developing tourism, so that people would come see Paul Green's new outdoor drama, The Lost Colony. Outer Bankers have warmly welcomed visitors, from the time the Wright brothers arrived to today's modern tourists. The challenge now is to balance commercial growth with environmental sensibility so that oystermen, like Georgie Daniels, and fishermen, like Dewey Hemilwright, can continue to ply the waters.

Keywords: Ocracoke, Outer Banks, Lighthouse, Blackbeard, shipwrecks, beaches, British Cemetery, Howard Street.2ND EDITION, ENHANCED WITH MORE PHOTOS, AUTHOR SIGNATURE.OCRACOKE, that magical name that refers to both island and village, has always meant something special. It may have been derived from a Native American word for ?enclosed place,? fitting for the village of Ocracoke is indeed an enclosed place on the island of Ocracoke, at least as much as possible on North Carolina's OUTER BANKS. It is tucked away from the Atlantic Ocean on the Pamlico Sound ? like a pearl. It is a vacation paradise. Ocracoke, though beautiful and often serene, has rarely been entirely safe. TREACHEROUS STORMS, PIRATES AND EVEN GERMAN SUBMARINES HAVE TAKEN DOWN SHIPS offshore and made the onshore lives of islanders uncertain. It was at Ocracoke that America's most famous pirate, the ruthless BLACKBEARD, met his end in a ferocious battle with naval authorities. The pirate was shot or wounded 25 times before finally dying of a throat slashing. There is, of course, a gentler side to Ocracoke, as well. The island is home to the iconic 1823 LIGHTHOUSE that is only 75 feet tall and a photographer's favorite. Here, too, are ferries full of visitors and throngs of bicycle riders, a legendary herd of once-wild PONIES and miles upon miles of nationally honored BEACHES, the charmingly unpaved HOWARD STREET and the poignantly serene BRITISH CEMETERY. Award-winning author Ray McAllister explores them all, then goes further in search of the soul of Ocracoke, discovering what it is that pulls visitors back year after year. Along the way, he teams with Dr. Stephen Leatherman, the world-famous Dr. Beach, to advance an audacious and compelling new proposal for the island. Ocracoke: The Pearl of the Outer Banks is a delightful look at what has made Ocracoke special ? and likely always will.

"The world loves Sheriff Andy Taylor. Yet the actor who played him was intensely private. Here, for the first time, is the real Andy Griffith, his career and life defined by the island that made him in the years soon after World War II. He achieved his artistic breakthrough while acting in The Lost Colony drama on Roanoke Island, then spent the rest of his life repaying the island for giving him that start. Here, in unique closeup, is Andy of Manteo, reveling in wild, watery and loving ways with his fellow islanders." --Amazon.com

The rumble of trains carrying people, cotton, and freight to and from Moore s Siding was the song of a vibrant community. People worked to build homes, schools, and churches as early as 1760. They got a town, Mooresville, in the bargain. James Elbert Sherrill, George C. Goodman, and the Turner brothers supported the growing economy. Love of community led Winnie Hooper and Elizabeth Matheson to champion recreation. Shaw Brown saw people in need and worked to establish a Christian mission. Mayor Joe Knox and Rep. Robert Brawley embraced change and led a mill town toward a technological future. Success at home led to success far away for artist Selma Burke, Mooresville Moors pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm, New York Parties author Punky Brawley, and Reynolds Tobacco president S. Clay Williams."

Elizabeth City is rich in legend and lore. The pirate Blackbeard was a frequent visitor to the area, selling his ill-gotten goods to a willing populace. The Wright brothers made Elizabeth City the first leg of their trips to Kitty Hawk, and they bought materials to build their flying machine from Kramer Brothers, a local lumberyard. Champion nine-ball player Luther Wimpy Lassiter was born and died here. Young Beautiful Nell Cropsey was murdered in 1901; her death is the towns most enduring mystery. Newspaperman W.O. Saunders, editor of the Independent, was known nationally after he walked down New Yorks Fifth Avenue in pajamas to protest uncomfortable work attire. Young Tamsen Donner, a member of the ill-fated Donner Party, was a teacher here in the 1830s. Fred Fearings Rose Buddies welcomed boaters to Elizabeth City with homegrown roses and wine and cheese parties. He has entertained Walter Cronkite and Willard Scott, among other luminaries. These are just a few of the stories, mysteries, and legends of Elizabeth Citys past and present.

Let this guide show you why the Outer Banks is one of the most unique and interesting places in the U.S. to visit. The Outer Banks preserves history and traditions lost to more urban areas of the eastern U.S. Whether it’s wild Banker ponies, historic Kitty Hawk, or hidden beaches that visitors would otherwise never find, author Renee Wright leads you to her Wright Choices.”

Let this guide show you why the Outer Banks is one of the most unique and interesting places in the U.S. to visit. The Outer Banks preserves history and traditions lost to more urban areas of the eastern U.S. Whether it’s wild Banker ponies, historic Kitty Hawk, or hidden beaches that visitors would otherwise never find, author Renee Wright leads you to her Wright Choices.”