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Elizabeth City grew up at a narrow bend of the Pasquotank River, where colonists set up ferries and trading posts in the 1700s. The opening of the Dismal Swamp Canal in the 1790s linked the town to Norfolk and the Chesapeake Bay, and the young port, incorporated in 1794 and renamed Elizabeth City in 1801, prospered on shipping, lumber, shipbuilding and oysters. The name is said to honor Elizabeth Tooley, a tavern keeper who donated much of the land for the town.
Five historic districts keep that history close. Downtown's brick storefronts lead to the nine-story Virginia Dare Hotel of 1927, still the tallest building in the region, and the restored Lowery-Chesson Building is now home to Arts of the Albemarle and its theater. The Museum of the Albemarle, a branch of the state history museum, tells the story of one of the oldest colonial regions in America.
Known as the Harbor of Hospitality, Elizabeth City welcomes boaters on the Intracoastal Waterway with free docks at Mariners' Wharf, and the city is the birthplace of the Moth sailboat. Spring brings the North Carolina Potato Festival, and the Great Dismal Swamp is a short drive north.
The regional history museum of northeastern North Carolina sits on the downtown waterfront and covers the Albemarle region from Native American life and early colonists to fishing, farming and the Civil War. Admission is free, and it is a good first stop to understand the area.
A hands-on science center for children on Water Street downtown, with interactive exhibits on light, sound, weather and nature, plus regular workshops and camps. It suits younger kids best, so plan about an hour and check the website for current opening days before you go.
A community arts center in the historic Lowry-Chesson building on Main Street, with a gallery and shop selling work by local artists and a restored theater used for concerts and plays. Browse the gallery during the day and check the calendar for evening shows.
The compact downtown along the Pasquotank River has brick storefronts, restored commercial buildings, local cafes, antique shops and one of the larger collections of historic architecture in eastern North Carolina. It is easy to explore on foot, ideally combined with the waterfront parks.
A small waterfront park and public dock on the Pasquotank River where boaters traveling the Intracoastal Waterway can tie up for free. The city is known as the Harbor of Hospitality, and it is a pleasant place for a sunset walk while watching sailboats and the river traffic.
A seven-story Colonial Revival hotel completed in 1927, long the tallest building in town and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It now holds apartments, so the interior is private, but its facade on Main Street is a classic landmark worth seeing on a downtown walk.
A historic railroad passenger depot that recalls the era when trains connected Elizabeth City with Norfolk and the rest of the region. The brick station building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and can be viewed from outside as part of a history walk.
A Gothic Revival brick church built in the 1850s for one of the oldest congregations in town, standing at the corner of Church and McMorrine streets. It is still an active parish, so admire the exterior and churchyard and be respectful of services on Sunday mornings.
A vast forested wetland straddling the North Carolina and Virginia border, protected as a national wildlife refuge and state park. It has boardwalks, bike paths and the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. Bring insect repellent in summer and look for birds, turtles and black bears.
A state park near South Mills about 20 minutes north of town, entered by a swing bridge over the Dismal Swamp Canal. It offers a visitor center with exhibits, a boardwalk through the swamp forest, kayak launches and miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking.
The wide, slow river that gives Elizabeth City its harbor flows into the Albemarle Sound and is part of the Intracoastal Waterway. Paddlers and boaters explore cypress-lined creeks and quiet bays. Rentals and launches are available, and calm mornings are best for paddling.
A free community festival held each May in downtown Elizabeth City to celebrate the region's potato farming heritage. Expect live music, carnival rides, a car show, arts and crafts vendors, fireworks and plenty of potato dishes. Park a little outside downtown and walk in.
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North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
Photo: Ajsanjua, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ajsanjua at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
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Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
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Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Ajsanjua, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District from United States, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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