PEOPLE & 



PLACES 



fort and demonstrate what it means to rely on 

 natural resources for food and shelter. Soldiers 

 are ever watchful for a surprise attack from 

 Spaniards, in spite of the seemingly remote 

 settlement island location. 



Without the protection of Algonquian 

 Indian Chief Manteo, their lives would be in 

 greater peril from hostile natives. 



Being part of the drama gives visitors 

 a greater sense of history, says Scott Stroh, 

 Festival Park's executive director. 



The biggest draw for the park may be the 

 view of the Elizabeth II from the Manteo water- 

 front. "It's a wonderful symbol of our state and 

 our country's history," he says. 



Once in the park, though, visitors are 

 surprised at how many things there are to "do" 

 — not just to see or to observe. 



"Everything here is predicated on the fun 

 of hands-on learning. You help raise the sails on 

 the ship, navigate with 16th-century technol- 

 ogy, or put on authentic clothing and experience 

 history," Stroh says. 



Even the Roanoke Adventure Museum 

 is an interactive presentation of 400 years of 

 Outer Banks history. "It's a play-and-learn 

 experience for all our visitors," says Stroh. 



More in store 



Another surprise, 

 Stroh adds, is the scope 

 of experiences — per- 

 forming and cultural arts, 

 nature trails, archival and 

 research facilities. 



Park visitors can 

 relax in a theater to view 

 Tlie Legend of Two Path, 

 a film depicting the his- 

 tory of Roanoke Island 

 from the point of view of 

 the Algonquians. 



The Outdoor Pavil- 

 lion provides the summer 

 venue for N.C. School 

 of the Arts students to 

 ply their talents. Their 

 "illuminations" — 

 a series of afternoon and 

 evening performances of 

 drama, music, dance and 

 film — runs through July 

 3 1 , Tuesdays through 

 Saturdays. Picnics are welcome. 



In addition, the 2004 Summer Children's 

 Performance Series runs 

 from June 29 through 

 July 30, Tuesdays 

 through Fridays. The 

 morning editions feature 

 professional productions 

 ml with kids in mind. 



Visual art lovers 

 are not short-changed 

 at the park, Stroh notes. 

 The Art Gallery hosts 

 year-round, monthly 

 changing exhibits by 

 renowned artists. A 

 display from the North 

 Carolina Penland School 

 of Crafts reminds 

 visitors that Gov. Easley 

 has designated 2004 

 as "The Year of North 

 Carolina Crafts." 



The park's calen- 

 dar is filled with special 



events. Some recall the nation's maritime begin 

 nings: The North Carolina Maritime Museum 

 will present a junior sailing program as well as 

 sail training and boat handling. 



And for guests with a passion for shop- 

 ping, the museum store offers books, gifts, 

 toys, jewelry and nautical-themed goods for 

 visitors who want to carry away a reminder of 

 America's roots. 



All told, the Roanoke Island Festival Park 

 has carved a niche in North Carolina's heritage 

 and cultural tourism industry. More than 

 1 10,000 people visited the park in the 2003 

 season — in spite of an unusually wet summer 

 and Hurricane Isabel's rampage through the 

 Outer Banks. 



Heritage tourism 



The Roanoke Island Festival Park is one 

 of many historical sites supported by the N.C. 

 Division of Cultural Resources that figures in 

 the state's economic picture. 



According to the Travel Industry Associa- 

 tion of America (TIAA), heritage and cultural 

 tourism is the fastest-growing segment of the 



24 HIGH SEASON 2004 



