Shifting Sands of the Outer Banks

On the eastern edge of North Carolina, our barrier islands are shaped and reshaped by the whims of wind and water, and people who put down roots on these changing lands continue to adapt.

Read in Our State Magazine, Oct 2023

America’s
Lighthouse

The Cape Hatteras Light has guided mariners for more than two centuries and undergone massive changes, but its connection to the Jennette family remains constant.

Read in Our State Magazine, May 2024

In Search of Down East

In Carteret County, the North River does more than divide the land. It defines a specific, once-remote region of North Carolina and the distinct culture and traditions that took root there, shaped by sound and sea.

Read in Our State Magazine, August 2024

Happy as Clams

A pair of Ocracokers find peace and contentment while digging for treasure in Pamlico Sound. Their ingredients for a perfect summer day? Sunshine, crystal-clear water, and a mess of clams.

Read in Our State Magazine, June 2024

The Tides That Bind on Hatteras Island

After Hurricane Isabel battered Hatteras Village 20 years ago, neighbors wasted no time in banding together to rebuild. Today, an annual festival celebrates the indomitable spirit of those who live and work on the water.

Read in Our State Magazine, June 2023

Lighthouse Folks:
Dale Mutro

For a born and raised “O’cocker,” the lighthouse was an abiding presence throughout Dale Mutro childhood’s. As an adult, he has helped tell the tower’s story.

Read in Our State Magazine, May 2024

Lighthouse Folks: Heber Guthrie

Born on Harkers Island and the great-grandson of a lightkeeper, Heber Guthrie now dons the visage of former lightkeepers to inspire a sense of Down East pride in younger generations.

Read in Our State Magazine, May 2024

Anchored in
Tradition

Once the pride of Carteret County, the Christmas displays on Harkers Island had grown dim. Buoyed by bright memories of holidays past, a group of locals brought back the lights.

Read in Our State Magazine, December 2024

The Jets
Next Door

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point built an unshakable bond between two eastern North Carolina towns: Newport and Havelock.

Read in Our State Magazine, October 2024

Lighthouse Folks:
Meghan Agresto

In Corolla, one lighthouse keeper follows in the footsteps of generations of lightkeepers, taking care of the grounds and welcoming curious visitors into the Currituck Beach Lighthouse.

Read in Our State Magazine, May 2024

Soup from the
Sound

Made with just a few simple, on-hand ingredients, Hatteras clam chowder has sustained generations of islanders. And when it’s time to put a pot on, Pamlico Sound provides.

Read in Our State Magazine, May 2023

Buxton Village Books

In a storybook cottage on Hatteras Island, a passionate bookseller shares her love of the Outer Banks with readers.

Read in Our State Magazine, May 2024

Prescribed Burns Bring New Life

When our maritime forests become choked with brush, native ecosystems are put in danger. To clear the way for fresh growth, prescribed burn crews set carefully controlled blazes, giving nature a little nudge.

Read in Our State Magazine, Oct 2019

Lighthouse Folks:
John Havel

For the son of an ironworker, the intricate railings and Italianate brackets of the Hatteras Lighthouse sparked a lifelong infatuation with America’s most iconic lighthouse.

Read in Our State Magazine, May 2024

A Storied Stay in the
Old Marshall Jail

A night in Marshall’s old jailhouse isn’t so bad these days — it’s now a boutique hotel.

Read in Our State Magazine, August 2022