Elizabeth II at Dock_01
by Greg Reed
Title
Elizabeth II at Dock_01
Artist
Greg Reed
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
OBX Visitors Guide
The History of the Elizabeth II
The ship, or rather ships, that the Elizabeth II was modeled after are the sailing vessels that were sent to Roanoke Island in 1584 and 1587, respectively. At the time, Tudor-era queen Elizabeth I was trying to keep up with the New World exploration achievements of Spain, which had been sending vessels to and from the Americans for nearly 100 years. Spain had already conquered and settled the South American portions of the New World, so Elizabeth I turned her attention further north, to the modern day United States.
A settlement commandeered by Sir Walter Raleigh was sent to initially set-up a colony in the southern Outer Banks, (near Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands), but after a bout with bad weather and a bit of misdirection, the colonists settled instead on Roanoke Island.
This first settlement had trouble with supplies and local Native American relations, and a second colony was sent just three years later, this time with men, women and children, to try a more permanent settlement that could grow into an established New World colony. Unfortunately, the fate of these travelers went down in the history books, as this "Lost Colony" completely disappeared within several years of landing. Their fate is still argued today, and the story has become the plot of the famed "Lost Colony" outdoor drama which is performed nightly in the summertime just a couple hundred yards away from the Elizabeth II.
Certainly, the daily life of dealing with the Outer Banks elements, building a settlement from scratch, and living next to a growingly hostile community of Native Americans was a hard enough life on its own. But before the colonists even got to the New World, they had to deal with months aboard a heaving 16th century ship with cramped quarters, stale food, and barely livable conditions. Life on the ship was really an introduction to how hard their life on the new mainland was about to be, and the Elizabeth II replica plays an important role in teaching visitors the courage and determination America's first English residents needed in order to survive in an entirely New World.
The Elizabeth II was conceived and built as an integral part of America's 400th Birthday Celebration, and was constructed from the ground up right in Manteo at "The Boathouse," which now serves as the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum in downtown Manteo. Popular since it first laid out the gangplank, the Elizabeth II is still an admired and eye-opening attraction for visitors, and an incredible head-turning sight along the Manteo harbor. With no detail spared from the colors of the Tudor flags to the navigational instruments in the Captain's Quarters, the Elizabeth II is truly a remarkable way for visitors to experience the hardships of the first colonists, while still being able to step off of the ship, and step back into modern times.
Uploaded
November 17th, 2015
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Comments (13)
Tatiana Travelways
Your beautiful artwork has been featured in the "Travel Art" group's front gallery! For further exposure, please see the Social Media links on our home page: https://fineartamerica.com/groups/1-travel-art.html
Judy Vincent
Amazing capture! This will be the “Boats and Ships” photo of the day on the USA Photographers group home page for 8/22/21!
Irina Effa
Wonderful image! L/fv/pin/fb
Greg Reed replied:
Thank you very much Irina for the wonderful comment and the L/fv/pin/fb!! :) :) :)
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Greg Reed replied:
I appreciate the feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!" John and the fav!!
Judy Vincent
This image is being featured in the “Photography ONLY – Landscapes and Landmarks” group – one of the most active groups on Fine Art America featuring the best landscape photographers in the world! Congratulations on your excellent work!
Greg Reed replied:
Judy, thanks for the feature in the “Photography ONLY – Landscapes and Landmarks” group!!