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THE HISTORIC ALBEMARLE TOUR CELEBRATES
MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY AS THE OLDEST HERITAGE TRAIL IN THE
SOUTHEAST
(WASHINGTON, NC) – Northeastern North Carolina’s Historic
Albemarle region has a long and rich history that dates back to
at least 1660 when the first permanent European settlers began
to trickle down from Tidewater Virginia into the northeastern
corner of the state. They established small homesteads in this
untamed region, lured by the rich soil, expansive landscape, and
bountiful environment. Before them, the Native Americans had
already established a thousand year-old thriving society along
the Albemarle’s sounds and rivers.
Since then, the Historic Albemarle has continued to attract
visitors who are enchanted by this region’s rich history,
culture, and environment. Granted, this 17-county region
(bounded on the north and south by Virginia and the Pamlico
River, and east and west by the Outer Banks and Interstate 95)
is not one of the most heavily visited areas of North Carolina.
However, this “road less traveled” sensibility is one of the
reasons why the Historic Albemarle region retains much of its
allure.
Characterized by small colonial-era towns and historic sites
interspersed with a broad expanse of rivers and sounds, fields
and wetlands, the Historic Albemarle is a history and nature
lover’s dream. Since 1975, the 32-site Historic Albemarle Tour
(HAT) has helped visitors discover and learn more about the
region’s heritage, culture, and ecology.
Currently celebrating it’s 30th Anniversary as the oldest
organized Heritage Trail in the southeast, the self-guided
Historic Albemarle Tour imparts a sense of place and time and
history. When woven together, the Tour’s diverse attractions,
towns, and natural attractions offer an impressive glimpse into
American and southern culture and heritage.
For 30 years, visitors to northeastern North Carolina have been
directed to the Tour’s historic, natural, and cultural sites by
familiar brown Historic Albemarle Tour signs that line the
region’s highways and byways. Tour stops range from the one of
the oldest surviving colonial homesteads in the state to the
beautifully restored plantation home of North Carolina’s Federal
era governor; from the restored homes and buildings of colonial
Edenton to a Nineteenth century Outer Banks lifesaving station.
It encompasses lighthouses, walking tours, museums, aquariums,
gardens, arts organizations, eco-tourism activities, and the
oldest outdoor drama in the country.
The Tour’s founders knew they had a unique opportunity back in
the mid 1970s when the managers of some of the region’s historic
sites and towns decided to pool their promotional and funding
efforts. It was a new concept at the time, explains Russ Haddad,
HAT President. “Back then, there were nine HAT members,” he
says. “The Historic Albemarle Tour was one of the first
organized attempt at regional tourism in North Carolina. Of
course, now regionalism is pretty big stuff, but 30 years ago,
it was a new concept.”
In 1975, under the leadership of Snookie Bond, a lifelong
Edenton, NC, resident and regional tourism advocate, the
original sites incorporated the Historic Albemarle Tour. Their
mission was and still is to “promote cultural sites and natural
attractions of the region as part of a total effort to develop
the travel and tourism industry in northeastern North Carolina.”
However, attracting visitors has not always been easy. “Over the
years, the lure of the Albemarle’s unique attractions has been
overshadowed by the development of North Carolina’s Outer Banks
and other traditional coastal vacation destinations,” said
Haddad. “That, combined with our limited marketing budget and
the historical lack of a visitor-friendly infrastructure has
resulted in small steps forward in our promotion efforts.”
But times have changed. Today’s travelers are rediscovering the
charms and economics of rural and heritage tourism. In fact, the
North Carolina Department of Commerce has created a Heritage
Tourism Division to cater to this growing segment of the
population. A recent study by the Department showed that while
the beaches are still the top attraction in eastern North
Carolina, nearly 45% of travelers to the region visited a
historical site or park and engaged in outdoor activities.
Add an increasingly sophisticated network of accommodations,
restaurants, shopping and improved four-lane highways, and the
setting is ripe for heritage and cultural tourism to become a
major economic development force for the Albemarle.
“Within a 200 mile radius of us are four major metropolitan
areas, said Haddad. “With the new four lanes Highways 17, 64,
and 264, access is easier than ever. Moreover, we have some of
the most unique inns, restaurants, and shopping opportunities in
the state. The result is a rediscovery of the Albemarle by folks
who live in our own backyard.”
Thirty years after its founding, the Historic Albemarle Tour is
still at the forefront of tourism in this region. And its
members are presenting a unique glimpse into the unique and
varied heritage of this ancient region to thousands of new
visitors each year.
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