Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™ Issue 048 March 2015 | Page 22

Tour The Ghost Village On

T

#111

he Village of Portsmouth was once one of the most
thriving communities on North Carolina’s Crystal
Coast but it was destroyed by a hurricane that didn’t
land anywhere near the island. Portsmouth’s buildings,
sandy streets and docks appear to remain ready to welcome
ships passing through Ocracoke Inlet today, but all of its
residents deserted long ago. The town was victim to the natural forces that shape
North Carolina’s barrier islands, known as banks. Portsmouth was a “lightering”
town, providing warehouses and transfers for goods that deep-draft ships could
not carry through the shallow inlet, which was the best ocean passageway to
the interior of North Carolina. Portsmouth was doomed by a hurricane, but
not by damage from the storm itself. The hurricane of 1846 opened up a better
passage through the Outer Banks near Hatteras Island and shipping transferred
to the new channel. The growth of railroads, the Civil War and additional
hurricanes dealt the final blows until the last remaining residents left in 1971.
Portsmouth Island is now part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. The
250-acre historic district is listed
on the National Register of Historic
Places and preserved to allow visitors
to step back in time to experience
the bones of a typical Outer Banks
Project 543 tells the story of
village of the last century. Several of
unique spots across North
the town’s buildings contain exhibits,
Carolina we hope will become
and guided walking tours are available
some of your favorite places.
seasonally. Ferry service is offered
Why 543? Because that’s the
from neighboring Ocracoke Island to
number of miles from Manteo,
on the coast, to Murphy, in the
tour the structures, and visitors can
mountains, and is traditionally
also bring their own boats to enjoy
considered to be the width of
the island’s desolate beach as part
our state. The entries in this
of a vacation to the North Carolina
project are in no particular
coast. A Portsmouth Homecoming
order, and we’ll add to them
takes place every other year in the
each week. Check in often to
even-numbered years.
find inspiration for your next

trip, or start planning today at
VisitNC.com.

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