Plymouth

The full-scale replica of the 1867 Light House stands watch at the west end of Water Street and a three-eighth scale, floating, motorized replica of the CSS Ram Albemarle is moored in the river at the east end of Water Street.  The Ram Albemarle was the most successful ironclad ramming ship of the Civil War and was sunk along the Plymouth waterfront in the final days of the Civil War. 

The Roanoke River Basin is home to many beautiful species of birds, including the bald eagle.  Eagles are routinely seen flying along the shoreline looking for fish.  The Rail Switch Nature Trail has recently been added as a birding site on the North Carolina Birding Trail.  This nature trail is an old railroad bed that starts at the Port O' Plymouth Museum and runs along the edge of the Roanoke River.  It has several wooden observation platforms that overlook the river and a wetlands pond, where wildlife abounds.

Canoeing, kayaking and fishing are always relaxing and enjoyable activities in Plymouth.  Plymouth hosts numerous organized fishing tournaments each year, some with over 200 participants.  North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission researchers often refer to the Roanoke River as the "Crown Jewel" of North Carolina rivers because of its clean water, abundant wildlife and great fishing.

For those who like a little more excitement, Plymouth is home to the annual ODBA U.S. Grand National Drag Boat Races.  Racers reach speeds in excess of 145 miles per hour, in just a quarter of a mile.  It is some of the most impressive and thrilling racing of its kind anywhere in the United States.  Typically, 50 to 75 racing teams will converge on Plymouth from across the country to compete for the ODBA U.S. Grand National title.

History

Plymouth was established in 1787 and is the seat of Washington County, in northeastern North Carolina.  It is actually older than the county itself.  In 1807, Plymouth became the first incorporated town in the newly-formed Washington County.  In 1790, the United States Congress established Plymouth as a port of delivery, complete with a customs house.  Early in the 1800's Plymouth was the second largest of six main ports in North Carolina and ranked ninth in population among all towns in our state.  Schooners bound for the West Indies sailed from the port, heavily loaded with tobacco, barrels of tar, pitch and turpentine, masts and spars, corn and rice.

During the Civil War, Plymouth's location on the Roanoke River, which had been such a strong asset, suddenly became a liability.  Plymouth was one of the ports targeted for blockade by Union forces.  In 1862, Union troops stationed a garrison in the Town to control the mouth of the river. Four forts were built with the aid of northern sympathizers, free blacks and escaped slaved.

The second largest Civil War battle in North Carolina, known as the Battle of Plymouth, was fought on April 17-20, 1864, involving 20,000 soldiers, six naval ships, and the ironclad CSS Ram Albemarle.  It is believed Plymouth had the most extensive earthworks and fortifications in North Carolina during the war.  The 3,000 Union soldiers stationed here were eventually forced to surrender to the 17,000 Confederate troops after three days of intense battle.  By the end of the siege, only eleven buildings were standing.  Five of those still exist today.  The Battle of Plymouth proved to be the last major victory for the Confederate States through the end of the war. 

Today, Plymouth is a great place to visit, vacation and sightsee.  It has friendly shops and restaurants downtown and an assortment of retail stores, restaurants and hotels along US Highway 64.

Creative Communities Initiative

Plymouth is very fortunate to be participating in the Creative Communities Initiative developed by FoR ENC.  Plymouth is already home to several high-tech businesses and has the atmosphere that creative people thrive on.  Plymouth may well become a preferred Inner Banks destination for those who do creative work for a living.  Researchers, engineers, programmers, technology entrepreneurs, musicians, artists and knowledge-based professionals will find Plymouth has unique qualities and advantages.  The time is right for a creative economy to emerge in Plymouth that will attract high-tech talent, advance private enterprise and draw venture capital. 

For more information on Plymouth, please call the Washington County Chamber of Commerce at (252) 793-4804 or visit: www.visitplymouthnc.com or www.visitwashingtoncountync.com.