Take a History filled tour and cruise on the Belle of Washington! This weekend event begins on Thursday May 10th with an evening social hour and preview of the new exhibit at the Museum of the Albemarle to celebrate the heritage of the “Old Albemarle” region beginning at 6pm. While aboard the Belle of Washington over the following days, participants will be treated to comfortable amenities such as lush seating, delicious regional cuisine, a bar stocked with local and traditional beer, wine, and spirits, and lively conversation with our hosts, Bland Simpson, David Cecelski, and Tom Earnhardt.

Our weekend event begins on Thursday May 10th with an evening social hour and preview of the new exhibit at the Museum of the Albemarle to celebrate the heritage of the “Old Albemarle” region. The highlight of the night will be the unveiling of the 1663 Carolina Charter, which rarely leaves its protected spot in the North Carolina State Archives’ vault in Raleigh.

We will depart bright and early on Friday, May 11th from the Waterfront Park in Elizabeth City. We will cruise in the Belle of Washington for a few hours, seeing the natural glory of our inland waterways from a new perspective. While aboard the Belle participants will be treated to comfortable amenities such as lush seating, delicious regional cuisine, a bar stocked with local and traditional beer, wine, and spirits, and lively conversation with our hosts, Bland Simpson, David Cecelski, and Tom Earnhardt.

Our first stop on Friday will dock at the lovely Albemarle Plantation Marina where we will be met by a bus to transport us to the Newbold White House, a 1730 Quaker Homestead, one of the oldest houses in the state open to the public. We will dine on the grounds of the Newbold White House and enjoy an afternoon tour before departing for Edenton.

Our first overnight stay will be in Edenton, one of North Carolina’s oldest towns. This quaint village boasts a thriving downtown shopping district and a host of historic buildings for you to explore. Soon after we arrive, the Town of Edenton has planned a reception at the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse, a perfect location for dinner on your own in lovely downtown, all within walking distance. A shuttle will be available to transport guests from downtown to hotel facilities on a schedule.

After a leisurely morning in town visiting the historic site and shops, there will be a catered lunch on the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse Lawn with tours of the lighthouse. After lunch, we will again board the Belle at the lighthouse docks and head inland towards the historic Roanoke River and the town of Plymouth.
Along the way to the historic Plymouth waterfront, your narrated tour will take you some of the most beautiful and untamed river environments in North Carolina. You will see the historic waterways as our early explorers did – even possibly spotting the area where some of the Lost Colony relocated to after abandoning Roanoke Island!

We will arrive in Plymouth in time to tour the Port O’ Plymouth Museum, with an emphasis on the study of the Civil War battles for the town and the sinking of the ironclad CSS Albemarle in the Roanoke River. We will conclude the day with a delicious catered meal in the new Maritime Museum in Plymouth, complete with anecdotes from our guides and historians!

We will again board the Belle on the Plymouth waterfront Sunday morning to embark east toward Columbia and Creswell. While on the Belle, we will again learn from our esteemed hosts and enjoy a wine tasting hosted by local vinters. Once we dock, we will visit the historic Somerset Plantation, one of the state’s largest plantations along picturesque Lake Phelps. Somerset’s enslaved community was dynamic and their descendants have maintained ties to the place. As a result, visitors experience the plantation environment from the slave perspective. Our cruise will be treated a special meal inspired by traditional foods and foodways of the enslaved workers found at Somerset.

After leaving Somerset, the trip will come to a close with a bus ride back to Elizabeth City where participants can enjoy an optional second night in Elizabeth City.