History is peculiar. Is it correct? Is it real? Who are the victors, and why? Lots of questions. Luckily, we have the will, the brains and, nowadays, the technology to separate the wheat from the chaff. One bit of history that has persisted for many decades in American history is the Lost Colony at Roanoke. Or is it? The story of the Lost Colony at Roanoke is one of the most enduring mysteries in American history. It tells the tale of an entire English settlement that vanished without a trace in the late 16th century, leaving behind a few cryptic clues and a centuries-long puzzle.
The story begins with Sir Walter Raleigh, who received a charter from Queen Elizabeth I to establish an English colony in the New World. His first expedition, consisting of 100 soldiers, arrived on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina, in 1585.
Led by Governor Ralph Lane, this initial settlement was primarily a military outpost. The colonists quickly ran into trouble due to a lack of supplies and growing hostility with the local Native American tribes. Facing starvation and conflict, they were eventually rescued by the privateer Sir Francis Drake and returned to England in 1586, leaving the island abandoned.
The “Lost Colony” and the Mystery Begins (1587)
Despite the failure of the first attempt, Raleigh was determined to establish a permanent settlement. He organized a new expedition led by John White, a talented artist who had been on the first voyage. This time, the group was composed of families—men, women, and children—who were meant to establish a self-sufficient community. So, the legend lives on, even hundreds of years later. One good outcome is that Roanoke is a rather nice place to visit especially if you’re into history.
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