When tourists come to the Outer Banks, many make a trip to the small town of Manteo, home of Andy Griffith. Manteo is famous because it is the suspected home of "The Lost Colony." I have lived here for almost 5 years, and vacationed here for at least 15 years, and still do not fully know the story of the missing first settlers from England. Here's the low down, told by me, and I am no expert (this will be clear to you shortly).
In the late 1500s, the English made their first attempt to settle in North America on Roanoke Island, which is just 7 miles from where I Iive now. (Just past the Outlet mall and over the bridge! Ha ha) After a while, not sure how long, all but 15 of the first group of settlers returned to England because of a shortage of food and Indian attacks. Go figure.
In 1587 (also the name of a popular, upscale restaurant in Manteo, by the way), a second colony took their shot. When they arrived, everyone from the original group was gone, and the fort was burned down. They decided to rebuild. Yep, THAT would make me think, "I wanna' live HERE!" It was then that Virginia Dare, the first baby born to English parents in North America, was born.
Weeks after her birth, John White, Virginia Dare's Grandfather and leader of the colony, left for England to get more supplies. When he returned in 1590, all of the members of the settlement were gone. Thus..."The Lost Colony" was born. To this day no one knows what happened to them.
The story really is quite amazing, and it's retold each season in an outdoor-mosquito-infested-bat-flailing-song-and-dance-drama. For the first time, I saw the Lost Colony show! 
PS- Photography is not allowed, so don't turn me in. I wanted a picture of the Queen, but I wasn't quick enough.
Special thanks to my friend, Karen, for biting the bullet and going with me! Tonight I learned that Karen is actually a descendant of one of the first settlers... cool fact of the day!
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