I absolutely loved my experience at the Island Farm. Everyone was super nice and I especially enjoyed talking to Charles about the history of the original home and the farm and general. Definitely stop by and support this cute farm. read more

Entertainment - 4.5/5 Novelty - 4/5 I've been to a lot of historical houses (living in Virginia, I have easy access to Monticello, Mount Vernon, and Montpelier amongst others). But this one really sticks out in that 1) it is still a functional farm using agricultural methods from the early 1800s; and 2) literally EVERY part of the farm can be entered, touched and experienced. My youngest kid LOVED getting up close with the free range chickens and helping to collect the eggs (as well as playing games from the time period and using a see-saw on the property). My older son was really engaged by the employees, who taught him how to convert sheep's wool into yarn (letting him use a drop spindle and the spinning wheel). I loved seeing their smokehouse and strolling through the fun presentation of history. Getting to touch the beds, walk in all rooms, and experience a historic cookhouse, was really novel. The family who owned the farm were slave owners and the farm does not hide its history. The slave quarters are open and has a tribute to those who were enslaved. They also had an exhibit in the visitor center discussing the history of African Americans in Roanoke (where I learned there was briefly a thriving freedmen colony formed there post-Civil War). Although a bit more could be done (I'd love to see a marker for them in the cemetery on site), I appreciate that they address this dark aspect of the farm's history in a respectful way. The staff is engaging, the presentation is fantastic, and it's a fun way to (cliche alert!) let history come alive for the whole family. read more

This was a place i went by myself to learn and adventure. All the staff were amazing, nice and welcoming. You learn about history as you are immersed! It was a 10/10! If you are from around here and have even an hour to spare you should stop by! I could spend an entire day here. I got to try a drink they made, ride in a wagon, learn how children played by making a doll, pet cows, feed chickens and so much more!!! This is kid friendly and a great way to spend some time!!!! read more

Island Farm - Single bed - Museums Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

What a wonderful place to be. It's peaceful and smells so fresh Stepping back in time and learning to appreciate the value of farming. Got a friendly lick from Rosie the cow and some clucking welcome from the chickens. Kids can touch the chickens and collect the eggs from the coupe when there are some. Ask Terrie the cook to tell you about the home remedies used by the farmers. She's a wealth of knowledge read more

We had a wonderful time there! It's such a cute quaint farm and the people working there are very nice! Perfect for little kids. We spent close to two hours and my three old had a blast. read more

This place is simply beautiful. The restorations of the original buildings that stood on the property feel so authentic that if the very knowledgeable staff didn't tell me they weren't the original structures I'd have thought they were. Let's talk about the staff for a minute, because their passion for this place is really what makes it worth going to see. We were greeted by a kind gentleman in the "gift shop" area where they sold items like quilts and dolls all made on premises. He explained a little bit about the farm and how it's a living history site and sent of on our way. Throughout the grounds there are people in time period appropriate dress who took the time to answer our questions while going about their chores. I really enjoyed hearing about the original family as well as the historical society's journey in preserving the property. I wouldn't expect to spend a whole day here, but pack a lunch and enjoy stepping back to a simpler time for a few hours. I'll be back for sure! read more

Island Farm - Museums Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

This will not be my last time here. They have hands on activities, knowledgeable staff, and animals! What's not to like? An interactive attraction for all ages. Couldn't bring my doggie because they have the chickens and sheep but completely understandable. After about 30 minutes there , I wanted to roll up my sleeves and start helping out. H read more

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We have a second home in Manteo and have been coming down here for sometime and finally went to the Island Farm and we were pleasantly surprised. We really enjoyed walking around. The staff was very nice, very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information/history with us. We fed chickens, looked for eggs to take the cook (chickens had not laid any), saw the ox, 2 baby sheep and 2 horses from Corolla that had been rescued. One had been shot in the chest with a bow - they think (hope) it was by accident. The family cemetery was really nice - many generations there - what a nice place. Overall we really enjoyed it here! We had a 2 year old so that fact there was not a huge amount to do and see was perfect for us. We spent and really enjoyed the hour and then headed to Fisherman's Wharf for an awesome lunch! read more

Island Farm - The windmill with the two rescue horses grazing underneath. - Museums Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

Really enjoyed the Island Farm. See and touch life the way it was in 1847! Original 1845 home, working blacksmith, saw a cook in action in the kitchen, the process of laundry day, and explored numerous other out buildings. Our 5 year old loved feeding the chickens roaming the property and petting a former Corolla wild mustang! Love that they encourage you to explore on your own and touch what you see but they are also ready to give details about what you explore. Beautiful massive 500 year old live oak with swing. Lovely gardens. All the employees were so friendly and shared the history with enthusiasm. Especially enjoyed listening to Charles who is very passionate about the history of the homestead. Wished we could have stayed all day. Definitely want to return again. read more

Wow! This was the best two hours we spent all week. The staff was so knowledgeable and excited to share their knowledge. It was so neat to see how things used to be done. The cook house was the best part and the blacksmith was fascinating to watch. The main house was filled with awesome antiques and textiles, and the chicken coop was an inspiration for us to remodel ours. What a charming spot. I can't wait to return once the windmill is finished. read more

My children LOVE the Island Farm. We live about an hour away and every time we're near Nags Head or Manteo they plead with me to take them to the Island Farm. If you asked my kids what they most want to do on a given day with free time they would say, "Minecraft, Legos, Kickball" but get them near the Island Farm and they've forgotten all those things and want to swing on the rope swing, play catch with stick and hoops, make things from corn husks, and climb the steep stairs to the loom in the farmhouse. One trip to the Island Farm and believe me, your kids too will be converts too! read more

Great place to visit !! Lovely place great history ! Great staff in costumes highly recommend stopping by ! Definitely worth more than $9 per person! read more

My husband loves history and this was right up his alley! There were little to no other people there so our two boys got lots of special attention from the reenactors working there. Beautiful setting and so beautifully maintained. Kids loved feeding the chickens. read more

We visited the Island Farm while on our annual vacation to the OBX, and we had a wonderful time here with our four year old daughter, one year old son, five year old niece, and my in-laws! The grounds of the farm are impeccable and very well cared for, and it is apparent that there is a lot of love that goes into maintaining the site as a true reproduction of a mid-nineteenth century farm. There were plenty of things that were of interest to both the kids as well as the adults. The kids loved the tree swings, playing the simple games of the period (ring toss, hoop rolling, etc.), feeding the chickens, trying authentic corncakes (they actually made them in the cookhouse, lard and open fire and all!), and exploring the grounds. Our admission was good for the whole day, so we left and had lunch in Manteo and returned to the farm for a ride on the ox-drawn carriage. It was a bit bumpy, but a total blast that the kids loved. The employees are all dressed in period garb, performing period tasks (knitting/sewing, cooking, woodworking, etc.) and they were all extremely friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. One of my favorite things about the farm is that all of the buildings on the premises (the main house, the cookhouse, the barn....everything) were totally open and accessible for visitors to get an up-close look at artifacts of the era. Nothing was roped off, so visitors are able to (very carefully!) touch the displays. To feel the greasy soap and the straw in the beds and the hard, handmade shoes; to get an up-close look at the air bubble-filled glassware, the furniture, the books...it really made for a unique experience that allowed us to really connect with the era and take a step back in time. I am so, so glad that we decided to visit the Island Farm - it was truly an awesome experience! read more

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Very colonial with a lot of history and nicely kept grounds, but not exciting for small children. There's 2 cows, a few chickens, and a couple of sheep. There were 3 or so rope swings and that was about as exciting as it got. The staff was very nice. read more

WONDERFUL interpreters! We stopped by at a bad time, a schoolbus full of rowdy, rude, and bored children, and the costumed interpreters seemed happy to see people actually interested in history. They were very knowledgable and friendly. The houses were very nice, and there were lots of animals, handmade items and even food cooked in the kitchen. There was a small but nice selection of items available for a suggested donation, and there are some upcoming special events that look amazing. This is only the farm's second year and I forsee very good things in their future. read more

Lots of history and charm! Great place to spend a morning or afternoon with the family. A great alternative when you need a break from the beach. read more