Albemarle Area Fishing Tournament Calendar
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Asa Biggs House
Williamston, Martin County
Civil War: Home of prominent politician and jurist Asa Biggs from 1835 to 1862. Biggs served in the U.S. Senate 1854-1858, becoming a Federal, then Confederate district judge. Built circa 1831, the historic Asa Biggs House was once home to 19th Century attorney, judge and later US Senator Asa Biggs. Over two-thirds of the renovations present on the house today were made during Biggs' residency. Owned by the Martin County Historical Society, the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Martin County Travel & Tourism Authority & Visitor's Center and the Williamston Partnership for Revitalization occupy the home. Martin County Tourism albemarle-nc.com/martin/history
Deadwood
Williamston, Martin County
Come live the Old West and eat in the famous Smokehouse Grill. Open Friday and Saturday nights 6 p.m.-2 a.m., Sundays 1-10 p.m. Featuring 18 hole miniature golf course, shaded picnic area, video game room, playground, gift shop, snack bar, large western dance hall with live music Friday and Saturday nights. deadwoodnc.com
Fort Branch Confederate Earthen Fort
Hamilton, Martin County
Fort Branch Confederate Earthen Fort is a privately owned historic site open to the public April through the first weekend in November. The Fort Branch Battlefield Commission works to preserve and restore the fort and to interpret its heritage and historical significance. The First North Carolina Volunteers, a Civil War re-enactment group, uses Fort Branch for winter headquarters and battle drills, and the site is used for Civil War re-enactments and educational and curriculum-based programming in the community. Civil War: Confederates began fortifying this bluff 70 feet above a bend in the Roanoke River to help deter Union advances against the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad and protect the construction site of the ironclad CSS Albemarle. Work on the fort, begun February 1862, was completed a year later. A December 1864 Union attack failed to capture the fort. Well preserved earthworks in this extensive fortification remain. Original cannon remain at the site. Well-preserved star-shaped Confederate earthen fort on Rainbow Banks overlooking the Roanoke River. Annual battle re-enactment the first weekend in November. Seven of the original cannons on display. fortbranchcivilwarsite.com
Hamilton Walking Tour
Hamilton, Martin County
See wonderfully restored homes, from Queen Anne to modest bungalows, in the National Register Residential Historic District of Hamilton, located on NC 125 North on the Roanoke River in northwestern Martin County. Many of the homes were built between 1830 and 1850. Martin County Tourism
Ironclad CSS Albemarle
Edenton, Plymouth
Civil War: the May 1864 battle between the ironclad CSS Albemarle and escorts and Union navy vessels waiting in the Albemarle Sound. The Confederates managed to damage several Union ships, then escaped back to its base in Plymouth. The town, like many in the area, contributed troops to both sides. livinghistoryweekend.com
Morningstar Nature Refuge
Williamston, Martin County
Privately owned and operated refuge open by appointment only daily, yearround afternoons from 2 p.m. Points of interest incude museum and visitor's center, observatory, research lab and nature library, eight short educational trails, feeding station, trees, plants and shrubs identified. Located in migratory flyway with over 250 species documented. Programs created for one-on-one and small groups. Larger adult clubs and groups accepted. morningstarrefuge.org
Roanoke River Paddle Trail & Canoe Camping Platforms
Jamesville, Martin County
An emerging destination in northeast North Carolina, the Lower Roanoke River and its tributaries offer a unique wilderness experience for kayakers and canoeists. Meandering through the Coastal plain to the Atlantic Ocean, the Roanoke spreads out through the largest intact bottomland hardwood swamp forest east of the Mississippi. The area is home to black bear, river otter, white-tail deer, bobcat, beaver, and mink. Over 200 bird species have been identified including bald eagles. It is a birdwatcher's paradise. The River is renowned for its abundance of striped bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, lunker catfish, gar and bowfin. Thousand year-old bald cypress trees and towering tupelos form a lush canopy overhead. Seven camping platforms off the river have been completed as part of Phase One of the development of this water trail by Roanoke River Partners. To complete Phase One, three more platforms will be constructed between Hamilton, Plymouth and up the Cashie River to Windsor with nearly 140 miles of water trail linking the platforms. Phase Two will extend the paddle camping trail up to Roanoke Rapids, increasing the trail total to 200+ miles. Reservations for the Trail can be made at Roberson's Marina in Jamesville. Visitors will be educated about the trail system, and will sign a liability waiver and a ''pack-in and pack-out'' waste policy agreement to be used with the platforms. A per-person rental fee is paid to hold the reservation and receive a permit. Call 252-794-6501 to reserve a platform and visit us at www.roanokeriverpartners.org roanokeriverpartners.org
Roanoke River Basin
Windsor, Halifax County, Martin County, Northampton County, Plymouth
nature.org
Roanoke River: Devil's Gut Preserve
Martin County
nature.org
Roanoke River
Windsor, Halifax County, Martin County, Northampton County, Plymouth
St. Martin's Episcopal Church
Hamilton, Martin County
Circa 1881, the church is one of the most outstanding examples of frame Victorian Gothic architecture in eastern North Carolina. While the congregation has been inactive since the 1960s, the building remains consecrated and its preservation remains guided by the Historic Hamilton Commission Inc. Martin County Tourism
Skewarkee Rail Trail
Williamston, Martin County
A mile-long paved biking and walking trail from downtown Williamston to the Roanoke River waterfront. First rail trail in northeastern North Carolina. Martin County Tourism
Sen. Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center
Williamston, Martin County
The first facility in Eastern North Carolina designed primarily for equestrian and livestock events, this multi-event, yearround complex features a coliseum, Meeting Center, covered outdoor riding ring, lunging rings and four barns. The Coliseum is 110,000 square-foot fully enclosed indoor show arena with seating capacity of 7,000 people. Also hosts farm shows, boat shows, expos, car shows and more. The Meeting Center has 10,380 square feet of meeting and assembly areas perfect for trade shows, receptions, seminars, banquets, meetings and educational seminars. Rooms seat 125; Halls seat up to 250; total capacity 1,000. NCAGR
St. James Place
Robersonville, Martin County
Restored Primitive Baptist Church serving as a museum for folk art, quilts, furniture and pottery. Contains original furnishings, over 100 North Carolina quilts and over 600 pieces of North Carolina pottery. The church is a quaint, pristine example of late, clapboard revival architecture. Open by appointment. Call 800-776-8566 for more information. Martin County Tourism
Williamston Walking Tour
Williamston, Martin County
Close to 75 properties are highlighted in the self-guided walking tour in two National Register historic districts in Williamston. Containing a number of structures designed by well-known Benton & Benton Architects of Wilson Martin County Tourism
Wright Brothers Mural
Williamston, Martin County
Circa 1940 mural painted by Philip von Saltza of Maine hangs above the Postmaster's office in the US Post Office in Williamston. Entitled ''First Flight of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk,'' the scene is set on the beach showing Orville and Wilbur Wright with their plane, a bicycle and hovering gulls - ''the perfect flying machine'' according to von Salza. The work was commissioned through the US Treasury Department's Section of Fine Arts. von Saltza won a contest in 1939 in which 1,475 designs were submitted to the Fine Arts Section for small post offices in rural areas. von Saltza chose the subject due to Williamston's relatively close proximity to Kitty Hawk. (About a two hour drive). Martin County Tourism
