Historic Portsmouth Village entrance, Cape Lookout National Seashore
Portsmouth Village is an abandoned town—a ghost town so to speak—located on Portsmouth Island at the very northern tip of Cape Lookout National Seashore’s North Core Banks. The last residents left in 1971. Depending on how you plan to get to Portsmouth Village, a visit can take up an entire day (up to six hours just for traveling). Once on the island, plan to spend a minimum of 3 hours while walking 2-3 miles to see the two dozen-plus historic buildings and cemeteries still standing. Six buildings are open to the public, and all of them contain exhibits and artifacts that tell the history of the village. Two of these exhibits are fairly large (Salter House, Life Saving Station), and you could easily spend a couple of hours reading all of the information. If that is your plan, allow 4-5 hours for your visit.
Historic Structures at Portsmouth Village
Portsmouth Island is technically an island because it is surrounded by tidal flats that when flooded actually separate it from the rest of North Core Banks.
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Last updated on March 25, 2024
