Washington County was formed in 1799 from the western third of neighboring Tyrrell County. It is named for George Washington, who died that same year. Washington County is home to history, BIG bears and so much more, including Lake Phelps, Pettigrew State Park, Somerset Place, Pocosin Lakes NWR, Gateway to the Roanoke River Delta with 50 miles of shoreline within 5 miles of Plymouth, and 4 museums on the Plymouth waterfront. It is where traffic ends and adventure begins!
Somerset Place is an antebellum plantation in Creswell that was owned by the Collins Family. It was active from 1785 – 1865 and included more than 100,000 acres of land and the 16,000 acre Lake Phelps. During its 80 years that is was active, the plantation produced rice, corn oats, wheat, beans, peas,, and flax. Sophisticated sawmills produced thousands of board feet of cypress and long leaf pine lumber. Somerset is open year round and offers special programs throughout the year.
Bear-Ology Black Bear Museum is the newest museum in downtown Plymouth. Discover why the largest black bears on the planet are found here on North Carolina’s Coastal Plain, as well as the world’s highest black bear densities. Dispel myths and learn the truth about black bears as you watch a 20 minute film in the surround sound theater. Housed in the same building is God’s Creation Wildlife Museum with mounted animals from around the world.
