Homeschool On the Range: Roadschool Trip to the Lost Colony of Roanoke

Most Americans know the story of the “Lost Colony.” The village of Roanoke was the one of the first English colonies to be established on the soil, however this village ended up shrouded in mystery...

We began our study of the Lost Colony at the North Carolina History Museum in Raleigh. Here, you'll find three floors of artifacts and exhibits spanning from pre-colonization to modern day.

The Governor of this colony was John White. The small population of Roanoke complained about their lack of food and tools, and they believed that the Native Americans would launch a surprise attack on them. These complaints led to John White going to England, for nearly three years, to later return along with the proper supplies the colonists requested.

When John White returned, he found a ghost town. The area which was once a village was stripped of its people. Houses and other shelters were nowhere in site. What was left behind were some small cannons, an opened chest, a tall fence built around the perimeter of the former village site, and a single word inscription carved on a fence post, “Croatoan.

Roanoke Island Festival Park

Further down the road, at the Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo, we got an intensive history lesson on the area, from the Native Americans to modern times. We kicked off the day with a little duck-hunting at the boat museum...then stepped 400 years back in time. At the settlement site, we saw settlers from the Roanoke Voyage of 1585. They show what daily life was like for the soldiers and sailors who traversed the Atlantic Ocean to build a permanent colony for England.

At the settlement site, we saw settlers from the Roanoke Voyage of 1585. They show what daily life was like for the soldiers and sailors who traversed the Atlantic Ocean to build a permanent colony for England.

With guns in hand, we first had to prove that we were friendly, and not here to attack! Then we were allowed to enter, learn all about blacksmithing, and try our hands at woodworking and pottery making. The boys spent some time practicing their knot-tying skills before we jumped forward in time.

On the Queen Elizabeth II, we got to help 16th century sailors set the sails, plot a course with an astrolabe, and swab the decks. A good friend of Sir Francis Drake told us about his life and mission, and we helped some slaves below-decks to lift anchor.

Springing forward just a bit, we came to Indian Town, where the various aspects of native american life pop up along the trail. You can roast meats, build a wigwam, and do a rain dance. We learned about the different types of furs, and the advantages of using each, as well as how to plant the Three Sisters successfully!