This marker is located in Mariner's Wharf Park which is across the street from the Museum of the…read moreAlbemarle. There is plenty of room to park here. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Wild's Raid. First major campaign in N.C. conducted by the U.S. Colored Troops, Dec. 1863. Freed thousands of enslaved in the area." There is more information online. In 1863, Brigadier General Edward A. Wild began organizing "Wild's African Brigade," a unit of African American regiments in eastern North Carolina, though the brigade was never fully assembled due to logistical setbacks. Wild later led a significant military expedition into northeastern North Carolina, aiming to suppress Confederate guerrillas near the Dismal Swamp Canal, free enslaved people, and recruit Black soldiers. Over 1,700 troops marched from Virginia, uniting at South Mills and reaching Elizabeth City, where they conducted raids, destroyed guerrilla camps and distilleries, and liberated around 2,500 enslaved individuals. The operation, the largest of its kind in North Carolina, drew national attention for its use of African American troops and yielded valuable intelligence, despite limited success in recruitment. It is marker number A-93 and it was erected in 2021 by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History. [Review 862 of 2025 - 4292 in North Carolina - 24419 overall] [20/20]

This marker is along Plymouth's Main Street and points out the history that happened not far away…read more As a port city along the river, it was hotly contested by both sides during the Civil War and this is one of those encounters. It reads, "Naval Action. The Confederate ironclad ram "Albemarle" sank the Union gunboat "Southfield", April 19, 1864, one mile northeast in the Roanoke River." Union General Henry W. Wessells and about 3,000 troops occupied Plymouth in December 1862, fortifying the town against land and sea attacks. In April 1864, Confederate General Robert F. Hoke launched a coordinated assault with over 5,000 men, supported by the ironclad Albemarle, which played a decisive role by sinking Union ships and bombarding defenses. After intense fighting, Fort Wessells fell on April 18, and the Albemarle continued its offensive through the night. On April 20, a final Confederate assault overwhelmed the remaining Union positions, leading to the surrender of Fort Williams and the town by midmorning. It is marker number BBB-8 and it was erected in 1961 by the Archives and Highway Departments and the Confederate Centennial Commission. [Review 821 of 2025 - 4251 in North Carolina - 24380 overall]

This marker is located along the waterfront in Elizabeth City and points out this important…read moreindustry that was launched right here. The marker reads, "Soybean Processing. In 1915 W.T. Culpepper launched the soybean oil industry in the United States at Elizabeth City Oil & Fertilizer Co., 1 mile northeast." After the boll weevil crippled North Carolina's cotton industry, the Elizabeth City Oil and Fertilizer Company made history in 1915 by producing the first commercial domestic soybean oil--without altering its cottonseed equipment. Led by William Thomas Culpepper, the plant's success sparked statewide adoption, transforming soybeans from livestock forage into a vital crop thanks to George Washington Carver's earlier research on their nutritional and soil-replenishing benefits. Thriving in the region's climate, soybeans soon became a cornerstone of North Carolina agriculture, with the now-vanished Elizabeth City plant marking a pivotal shift in farming and industry. There is more information online. [Review 983 of 2025 - 4353 in North Carolina - 24537 overall]

The United States Colored Troops (USCT) monument in Hertford is a rare and deeply significant…read moretribute to African American soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War. Located on Academy Green at the corner of King and Hyde Park Streets, it stands as one of the oldest monuments in the nation dedicated broadly to Black Union soldiers and not just to specific individuals or regiments. Erected in 1910 by African American women of the "United Daughters of Veterans" in collaboration with the First Baptist Church (still active, across the street), the monument honors those who served in what they called the "War of 1861-1865," a deliberate phrasing that sidestepped the divisive labels of "War Between the States" or "War of the Rebellion." There are other USCT markers around and I will need to keep an eye out for them on my travels - in Wilmington's National Cemetery, at Fort Negley in Nashville and at the Vicksburg National Military Park. Check https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/ for more. I would not have known about this marker if it wasn't for the context marker added to the Confederate Soldiers' marker at the Perquimans County courthouse nearby. This one here is across from the church and next to the cemetery. [Round number review 4300 in North Carolina - 872 of 2025 - 24429 overall]

Traveling around and reviewing historical markers, a few names here and there seem to be a bit more…read morefamous than others. This is one of those. The marker reads, "William Blount. Member of Continental Congress, signer of the Federal Constitution, governor S.W. Territory, Senator from Tennessee. Birthplace 1/5 mi. southwest." It is marker number A-41 and it was erected in 1951. William Blount came from one of North Carolina's most prominent families and was educated in private academies in both North Carolina and Virginia. He served in the American Revolution as a paymaster and later held multiple terms in the state legislature, contributing to the adoption of the United States Constitution and the cession of western lands. As Governor of the Southwest Territory, he played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Holston with the Cherokee and helped establish the state of Tennessee, chairing its constitutional convention. Blount College, now the University of Tennessee, was named in his honor. Though elected to the United States Senate, he was expelled in 1797 for involvement in a plot related to British expansion, but was later acquitted and returned to Tennessee politics. He died in Knoxville in 1800, leaving behind his wife Mary Moseley Grainger and seven children. Blount County Tennessee is named for him, as are both Blount Street in Raleigh North Carolina and Madison Wisconsin. Interestingly, Blount County in Alabama is named not for William, but for his half-brother Willie Blount. [Review 835 of 2025 - 4265 in North Carolina - 24394 overall]

Officially formed in 1777 from the northeastern portion of Pasquotank County, Camden was named for…read moreCharles Pratt, 1st Earl of Camden, a British politician who opposed the Stamp Act and supported colonial resistance. That symbolic gesture--honoring a British ally of American independence--set the tone for a county that would contribute significantly to the Revolutionary War, with over 400 local men serving in the conflict. The original courthouse--a modest wooden structure--was built in 1782, just five years after Camden County itself was carved from Pasquotank County. That first building stood as a symbol of civic order in a newly independent America, but it was tragically destroyed by fire in the mid-1800s. In 1847, the current red-brick Greek Revival structure was completed on the same site. Its architectural features include a stately portico supported by four massive columns resting on brick piers, a hallmark of the Greek Revival style that was popular in civic architecture of the time. The building has been updated and remodeled a number of times since then, to incorporate a new courtroom, updated facilities and to include HVAC. All of these expansions compliment the original brickwork and preserve the original character of this historic structure. The heritage museum and the historic jail are adjacent and open for tours. [Review 891 of 2025 - 4313 in North Carolina - 24448 overall]

More than merely a steel and concrete structure, the contemporary Jim "Catfish" Hunter Bridge…read morehonors a local legend and represents Hertford's changing relationship with the Perquimans River. James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter, a native of Perquimans County who became a national celebrity as a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Oakland A's and New York Yankees, is honored by the bridge, which was formally designated in 2015 by the North Carolina Board of Transportation. Hunter, who was well-known for his 1968 perfect game and five World Series victories, had a strong bond with his community until his death from ALS in 1999. The bridge itself avoids Hertford's historic downtown by crossing the Perquimans River with U.S. Highway 17. It was constructed to meet the demands of contemporary traffic, providing a fast path to Elizabeth City and beyond. The Jim "Catfish" Hunter Bridge is a practical structure that is straight, high, and built for efficiency. Its naming was a deliberate act of remembrance. Local officials and residents wanted to ensure that Hunter's legacy wasn't confined to baseball statistics or distant stadiums. By placing his name on a major piece of infrastructure, they embedded his story into the daily rhythm of the region. It's a quiet kind of monument--one that doesn't demand attention but offers it to those who know where to look. [Review 874 of 2025 - 4302 in North Carolina - 24431 overall]

I spent the day in and around Elizabeth City, including getting stopped for running a red light (I…read morecompletely spaced out and the police officer kindly wrote me a warning), touring the Pasquotank County Courthouse, enjoying coffee at two different coffee shops, walking along the waterfront, touring the fabulous Museum of the Albemarle and getting beers at Ghost Harbor Brewing (that was after the ticket). In my wandering, I spotted a bunch of these "Hot Cocoa Capital of the World" reverse graffiti markings on sidewalks throughout town. The Hot Cocoa Crawl runs from late November to early January and has grown to include everything from classic cocoa to spiked concoctions, cocoa-infused desserts, handmade gifts, and even cocoa-scented soaps. It's August now, so I definitely need to return in the winter for that! The downtown area is walkable and the parking is free. And even better, some parking lots have free Level 1 charging stations so I was able to top off the house battery on the RV. [Review 890 of 2025 - 4312 in North Carolina - 24447 overall]