Vision for the Future
 esidents
and officials of The Town of Plymouth believe in thinking beyond today.
Several projects are underway to protect the environment and help improve
the economy for future generations.
Roanoke River Lighthouse/Maritime Museum
Project
 The port at what is now Plymouth,
NC was important even
to the earliest settlers. Navigation increased in the 1820s and through the
1830s, when a shallow-draft steamboat ran from Plymouth to Weldon. Plymouth
was the state’s second largest port in the 19th century and ships
from the West Indies and other foreign ports were common here. Plymouth’s
importance as a port was underscored when it became a blockade target of
Union forces during the Civil War.
The first Roanoke River Lighthouse was built in 1867 on
a square, screw pile foundation, featuring a Fresnel lens of the “third
order”. It was located in the Albemarle Sound at the mouth of the Roanoke
River to guide ships into the river. The lighthouse replaced a lightship
used for the same purpose. The lighthouse burned in 1885 and was replace in
1887 after ice shoved it from its supports. Plymouth’s maintained its
status as second largest port in the state until the 1950s. A replica of
the lighthouse will be built at the west end of Water Street.
In conjunction with the Roanoke River Lighthouse
replica, a Maritime Museum will be established across the street form the
replica. The Maritime Museum will house a Welcome Center and exhibits
showing the maritime transportation history of Plymouth and Washington
County including the Roanoke River Light Service, the story of the families
that operated the facility, and the history of the river transportation
system. Historic boats from the region will be displayed and classes in
traditional boat-building will offer hands-on experiences.
Rails to Trails Project The Town of Plymouth and the Washington County
Waterways Commission are completing a Maritime Heritage Trail system along
the abandoned CSX Railroad spur and the Roanoke River in Plymouth.
A riverside walkway will highlight several sunken
wartime vessels with educational signage and observation platforms. A
wetlands observation deck and classroom will be available for area students,
scout groups, paddlers, and users of the primitive campgrounds included in
the project.
The trail system provides a transportation link from
the downtown museum to Main Street near the high school. It also works well
with the nearby Conaby Creek Nature Trail, a Boy Scout project and
compliments the Roanoke River Lighthouse and Maritime Museum at the west end
of Water Street.
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