About the Exhibition

The Exhibition

Explore one of history's most astonishing unsolved mysteries! Mysteries of the Lost Colony is presented by the N.C. Museum of History in collaboration with the Roanoke Island Historical Association, producer of the outdoor drama "The Lost Colony." A New World: England's First View of America is presented in collaboration with the British Museum in London, England. The exhibition is open through January 14, 2008.

Mysteries of the Lost Colony examines England's first attempts at a permanent settlement in America and what may have happened to the colonists at Roanoke Island. At its heart is A New World: England's First View of America, featuring more than 70 watercolor drawings made by John White on the voyages to Virginia (now North Carolina) in the 1580s. This is the first time in over 40 years that this complete collection of White's original watercolors is on view outside of England.

Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of England’s attempts at colonization and offer several perspectives surrounding the colonists’ disappearance. Exhibit items, such as Algonquian Indian artifacts and other 16th-century objects, offer clues to the unsolved puzzle. For example, a 1583 English sixpence that was likely brought to North Carolina on a Roanoke voyage and various objects from America’s first “science laboratory” set up by the colonists will be on view.

Visitors can follow the 70-year history of the famous “The Lost Colony” outdoor drama and walk through an Indian village made with set pieces from the production, where North Carolina star Andy Griffith began his career. The Indian village will feature hands-on activities and the opportunity for further exploration with museum docents.

In a rare appearance, several engravings from the 1500s by Theodor de Bry, a Flemish publisher who engraved prints based on White’s watercolors, are on exhibit. De Bry’s engravings were used to illustrate Thomas Harriot’s written account of the 1585 Roanoke voyage, A brief and true report of the new found land of Virginia. An exceptional 1590 German hand-colored version of Harriot’s manuscript is featured.

Background

John White, a gentleman and artist, was appointed governor of the Roanoke Island colony in 1587. That same year, his granddaughter, Virginia Dare, became the first English child born in America. Weeks after her birth, White traveled to England for supplies. When he returned three years later, the entire colony had vanished.

Today, the Lost Colony mystery remains—as do White’s detailed renderings of New World flora and fauna and Algonquian Indians. These extraordinary images provide the only surviving visual English record of America at the time of European contact. London’s Daily Telegraph has called A New World: England’s First View of America “enthralling” and “unmissable.”

Audio Tour

Download the following clips and listen during your exhibit visit. To save files, right-click on the link and select "Save target as."

Introduction: A New World
Stop 1: John White's Map of Virginia
Stop 2: Tupinamba warrior of Brazil
Stop 3: Pictish man
Stop 4: The skirmish at Bloody Point, about 1577
Stop 5: Groupers
Stop 6: Milkweed
Stop 7: Names of the Lost Colonists (additional details available online)
Stop 7a: Destination Croatoan?
Stop 8: Pomeiooc
Stop 9: Festive dance
Stop 10: A chief, possibly Wingina
Stop 10a: A chief, possibly Wingina (bonus track)
Stop 11: Album containing offsets of John White's watercolors

Audio Credits
Narrators: Julia Carpenter, Rowell Gorman, B.J. Davis
Music: John W. Kincheloe III, Joe Newberry, Pete Sutherland

Articles

Download and print articles from the museum's Web site.

The Art of John White

What can we learn from artist John White's watercolors of the New World? How were the Native people whom the colonists encountered like Europeans? How were they different? This article (pdf) appears in the fall 2007 issue of Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine.

Fact and Fiction: Looking for the Lost Colonists

England colonists settled on Roanoke Island in 1585 and 1587, but few archaeological remains has been discovered. Learn what researchers have found and explore some of the stories that have developed from, or without, hard evidence. This article (pdf) appears in the fall 2007 issue of Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine.

First Immigrants: Native American Settlement of North Carolina

Discover what archaeologists have learned about the origins and everyday lives of American Indians in North Carolina. Find out how European settlement pushed Indians westward, sparking conflicts. This article (pdf) originally appeared in the spring 1995 issue of Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine.

Virginia Dare

Whatever happened to Virginia Dare? Learn the legend of her transformation into a ghostly white doe that still haunts the site of the Lost Colony. This article (pdf) originally appeared in the Raleigh News & Observer, 9 January 2004.

The Lost Colony

The tale of the Lost Colony is often told in North Carolina, but what do some people think really happened to the missing settlers? This article (pdf) originally appeared in the Raleigh News & Observer, summer 2004.

The Roanoke Voyages

Learn about England’s three attempts to establish a permanent English settlement on Roanoke Island. This article (pdf) originally appeared in the Raleigh News & Observer, 16 May 2007.

Virginia Dare and the Lost Colony: Fact and Legend

No one knows the fate of Virginia Dare and the Lost Colony. Stories and legends have been created to help explain what might have happened. Explore one of these legends. This article (pdf) originally appeared in the spring 2000 issue of Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine.

Activity Sheets

Explore the exhibit using these fun activity sheets (pdf) for students in grades K through 8.

Online Lessons

Use these lesson plans in your classroom. All resources meet North Carolina Standard Course of Study curriculum goals.

Discover NC: English Exploration of Roanoke Island and Beyond Lesson Plans

Examine John White's paintings and read Ralph Lane's reports about his 1585 colony on Roanoke Island. How did Lane’s relations with American Indians affect his colony? How do Lane’s men compare with the Spanish conquistadores? Use these lessons (pdf) to make primary-source documents more accessible to students. Courtesy of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Middle Grade Resources.

Discover NC: Native American Lesson Plans

Teach your students how to “read” images while examining the paintings of John White. These paintings and the engravings of them by Theodor de Bry will help students understand American Indian culture and the interaction of Indians with their environment. Courtesy of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Middle Grade Resources. (Download pdf)

Mystery of the Lost Colony

The mysteries surrounding the Lost Colony are explored in this interactive electronic lesson, which includes pre- and postlesson assessments and uses primary sources from the Library of Congress. Courtesy of Adventure of the American Mind.

Videos

To order a video, print, complete, and return an order form (pdf). Cost: $1 per program for a one-week rental (you pay return shipping).

Raleigh and Roanoke

A detailed account of Sir Walter Raleigh’s attempts to establish an English colony in the New World. VHS, 12 minutes.

Roanoak

An exciting detailed drama about the arrival of English settlers on Roanoke Island and the founding of the Lost Colony. VHS, 3 parts, 3 hours total.

Tar Heel Mysteries and Legends

Enjoy learning Tar Heel history through 14 legends and chilling ghost stories from around North Carolina. VHS, 26 minutes.

Educator Notebooks

These multidisciplinary tools are filled with a rich array of materials about North Carolina history. Designed for use in the classroom, they include teacher background materials, lesson plans, handouts, and additional resources. Choose the activities and information that best meet your classroom goals. To purchase a notebook, print, complete, and return an order form (pdf) or call 919-807-7995. Cost: $15 each.

North Carolina Legends

North Carolinians love our legendary historical figures. Learn the myths and realities of characters such as Blackbeard and Flora MacDonald. This handy resource guide is designed for fourth-grade social studies, language arts, and math educators. Purchase the North Carolina Legends Educator Notebook for useful lesson plans and resources.

Professional Development

Earn CEUs through online interactive workshops. To register for an online workshop, print, complete, and return a registration form (pdf) or call 919-807-7971; fax 919-733-8655. Cost: $35 per workshop.

Legends of North Carolina

Was Blackbeard really so bad? What became of Virginia Dare? Explore the fascinating history of these and 12 other North Carolina legends and learn how and why their stories have changed over time. Workshop dates: April 1 to May 15, 2008.