Plymouth (North Carolina)

Plymouth is the seat of Washington County on the North Carolina Coastal Plain.

Understand
Plymouth is found along the banks of the Roanoke River, roughly seven miles upstream from the Albemarle Sound. Dating back to the late 1700s, Plymouth was named a 'port of delivery' by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1790 and then a 'port of entry' in 1808.

Plymouth is most known for its Civil War history. The town saw both Confederate and Union soldiers here at times and several decisive battles for the area were fought on and near the waterfront. The CSS Albemarle was built just upstream from Plymouth in waters that were too shallow for the Union to travel, and fought in the river very near the downtown area. Several homes still survive from the battles and the scars are still visible to passers by.

Today, people come to Plymouth not just to learn of its history but also to fish. The Roanoke River, and other nearby rivers, streams, and the Albemarle Sound, serve as great place to relax and take in the sights or try your hand at regularly-occurring fishing tournaments.

Get in
Plymouth is easily accessible by vehicles via US-64 or NC-32. The town also provides dockage for those wishing to visit by boat. The Roanoke River is accessible from the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) via the Albemarle Sound.

Get around
The downtown and historical portions of Plymouth is small enough that one could easily park and walk. Parking is available along all downtown streets and the parking lot at the Port o' Plymouth Museum.

Do

 * Attend the 3 day North Carolina Black Bear Festival in June, the festival that brought about National Black Bear Day, consisting of live music, bear farm tours, helicopter rides, and other entertainment.