How much do you know about the first major Union victory of the Civil War? On February 11, 2012 the National Park Service at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site will observe the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Roanoke Island. This commemorative event will take place at the Fort Raleigh Visitor Center from 9a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include displays on the Civil War on Roanoke Island from various museum and historical societies, local collectors as well a presentation of artifacts found on the Fort Raleigh NHS site relating to the island’s occupation by both sides. A video presentation of Ken Burns’ “The Civil War” documentary covering the war up to the Battle of Roanoke Island will be shown in the Visitor Center’s newly renovated auditorium. In the morning a driving tour of the battlefield sites will be given by a trained guide and in the afternoon authors will present topics relating to the battle and its importance. There is free admission.
I wish I had the money to make the trip (heck, I wish I had the money to make the trip this summer and go see The Lost Colony for the first time in twenty-eight years) as that's one of the more fasinating of the lesser known battles to me.