The only screw-pile lighthouse still standing in North Carolina is the Roanoke River Lighthouse…read morenear Edenton, a unique and durable piece of maritime history. It was constructed in 1886 and lit in 1887 with the intention of directing ships into the Roanoke River from the Albemarle Sound. An inventive answer to the delicate, changing soils of coastal rivers was its distinctive screw-pile foundation, which consisted of steel pilings that were physically screwed into the riverbed. In contrast to the majority of lighthouses of its type, this one was two floors tall and had a lantern tower with a fourth-order Fresnel lens positioned on a corner of the roof instead of in the middle. The Coast Guard sold the lighthouse to Elijah Tate in 1955 after it was discontinued in 1941 because of dwindling river traffic. The building was severely damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, which led to a preservation effort. With the help of the public and private sectors, the Edenton Historical Commission bought it in 2007, relocated it to Colonial Waterfront Park, and repaired it. It now proudly sits on Edenton's port as a museum and a testament to the tenacity of the local community and historical preservation. The lighthouse is free to tour and the "grounds" are accessible 24 hours. It is well worth a stop. I'm only bummed that I wasn't here to see it at sunrise or at sunset as I am sure it is quite magical. [Round number review 24000 overall - 841 of 2025 - 4271 in North Carolina]

Very cute and quaint lighthouse in an amazing part of North Carolina! The history is fascinating,…read morethe building is well-preserved, and the surrounding waterfront views make it a great stop to explore and take photos.

The docent was so knowledgeable. She is a former teacher and grew up in the area. She did an…read moreamazing job. The driver was funny and very good at navigating small streets. This tour is a must when visiting.

Barbara (guide) and Clayton (driver) were a joy to spend the hour with on this very informative and…read moreenjoyable trolley tour of Edenton. We really enjoyed the ride and all the history they shared with us along the way. It was a hot day but the temperature inside the trolley was comfortable. Barbara's extensive knowledge of the area and Clayton's visible enthusiasm for the tour really exemplifies the magnificent people of downtown Edenton and the sense of community that's obvious as soon as you get out of your car to explore. The ride might not be the best choice if you have small children with you as they would likely find it boring. Buy tickets for the trolley at the Penelope Barker house right across the street from where the trolley is parked. Don't miss this!

The Chowan County Courthouse was completed in 1767 and is the oldest courthouse still in active use…read morein North Carolina. The courthouse's design is attributed either to John Hawks, architect of Tryon Palace in New Bern, or Gilbert Leigh, a local builder. It features a T-shaped layout with Flemish bond brickwork, a central courtroom, and a second-floor assembly room often referred to as a ballroom. The building has a two-stage wooden cupola with a weathervane atop the structure, reflecting classical British architectural influences. During the Revolutionary era, the courthouse was a hub of political and legal activity. Figures such as Joseph Hewes (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), James Iredell (later a U.S. Supreme Court Justice), and Samuel Johnston (Governor and U.S. Senator) practiced law and held meetings there. It is one of the most impressive buildings in Edenton and well worth a stop. [Review 838 of 2025 - 4268 in North Carolina - 24397 overall]

Tons of history in this building! Very cool to stand on original stone floors that were imported…read morefrom Britain. It's still an active courtroom and we learned that the NC Supreme Court holds court here once in a while. You can walk around freely and sit in the judge's seat which was a cool experience. The guided tour with Lucas was fun and informative.

The Barker House in Edenton, North Carolina, is a storied landmark that blends architectural…read moreelegance with deep historical resonance. Built in 1782 for Thomas and Penelope Barker, the home originally stood two blocks north of its current location and began as a modest Federal-style parlor wing and half hall. Penelope Barker is best known for organizing the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, a bold act of protest in which 51 women signed a petition against British taxation--making it one of the earliest political demonstrations by women in America. Unlike the Boston Tea Party, these women signed their names and sent the petition directly to King George III, drawing international attention and criticism from British newspapers. Since relocated (yes, they moved it two blocks), it now serves as Edenton's Welcome Center and the headquarters of the Edenton Historical Commission. Stop in for information about Edenton sights and history. I wasn't staying long here, but I was helped by friendly folks who clearly love their town. [Review 839 of 2025 - 4269 in North Carolina - 24398 overall]

We were greeted by an excellent curator that provided us a very warm Welcome into the Barker House…read more The house is a beautiful step back in time with period antiques and a very nice gift shop. I purchased a Tea House cookbook and was amazed by the recipes along with beautiful historical notes of the area. You must stop in while visiting Edenton!

I would give zero stars is I could…read more Our family booked a trip with Freedom Tours Coach Lines, Inc. and paid $3,200 in advance. Unfortunately, due to a declared state of emergency in all four states we were traveling through, the trip had to be canceled. We completely understand that emergencies happen, but what we can't understand is the company's refusal to reschedule our trip for the following year or provide a refund. Despite circumstances beyond our control, Freedom Tours Coach Line, Inc. has chosen to keep our payment without offering any reasonable solution. Their lack of flexibility and customer service has been extremely disappointing. We expected a reputable company to handle such situations with fairness, but instead, we've been left with nothing. If you're considering booking with Freedom Tours Coach Lines, Inc. be warned--if anything unexpected happens, they may keep your your money.

Not only did Freedom tour Suffolk not transport our family. They kept the entire 3,200 dollars. We…read moreare in the pursuit of legal action and sharing their bad business practices with the area families

I highly recommend the dolphin watch cruise. We spoke with Holly to book the event. She was very…read moresweet and accommodating captain Jay and crew pointed out many interesting sites and shared stories and picture albums during the cruise. We saw dozens of dolphins. Well worth the trip.

our 1030 cruise got canceled so they were able to reschedule us and comp us alcoholic beverages and…read moretreated us like VIPs on our afternoon cruise. We saw dozens of dolphins and the crew was very friendly and gave us a lot of history of the area.