Elizabeth II

The Elizabeth II is a representative sailing ship berthed at Roanoke Island Festival Park across from the Manteo waterfront. The square-rigged three-mast bark was built in the early 1980s as part of the America's 400th Anniversary Celebration that marked the quadricentennial of the Roanoke Voyages 1584-1587. It is modeled after the ship Elizabeth, which sailed from England in 1585. The Elizabeth II is 69 feet long, 17 feet wide and draws 8 feet of water. She was launched in November 1983.

Since that time, the Elizabeth II has had some modern additions. In order to help the ship navigate in the shallow waters of Shallowbag Bay and the Roanoke Sound, diesel engines were installed. She has visited Ocracoke, Columbia, Elizabeth City, Beaufort and other towns in eastern North Carolina.

Visitors to Roanoke Island Festival Park can tour the Elizabeth II and learn about what life was like for the members of Roanoke Voyages in the 16th century. Costumed interpreters depict the sailors and soldiers of the Roanoke Voyages, the sailors aboard ship, and the soldiers at a settlement site, which is a recreation of an early encampment. Visitors can see the many tasks and trades that these men had to carry out.

Each winter the ship is "hauled out." this process involves motoring over to the North Carolina Ferry Maintenance Facility in Manns Harbor where she is removed from the water, and the hull is scraped and painted. Any additional maintenance is performed to keep her in ship shape, so to speak.

For more information: Roanoke Island Festival Park