1943 Map of Roanoke Island

About this map

Roanoke Island and its surrounding sounds appear here during the Second World War, a landscape defined by isolated coastal outposts and maritime navigation. The village of Manteo serves as a central hub, while the interior of the mainland shows the logging and lumber footprint of Buffalo City near Milltail Creek. Along the Outer Banks, the shoreline is punctuated by critical coast guard stations like Chicamacomico CG and the Bodie Island Lighthouse, marking the treacherous waters of the Atlantic coast. The map illustrates a time when travel between these points often relied on the Ferry network, as seen crossing the Alligator River and reaching the remote fishing communities of Wanchese and Stumpy Point. The presence of the Croatan Lighthouse and numerous "fire towers" across the swampy mainland suggests an era focused on coastal defense and natural resource monitoring.