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Manteo Historic Walking Tour: Explore Living History
4.9
206 Ratings
Manteo
Join retired Police Chief D'Ambra for the Manteo Historic Candlelight Walking Tour and explore 450+ years of living history. Discover fascinating stories of The Lost Colony, Pirates, The Underground Railroad, Wright Brothers, and more. Voted “Favorite Outdoor Activity” and featured on PBS and in The Sheffield Star. Don't miss this must-see experience in OBX!
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Manteo Waterfront Park - The original Manteo Walking Tour is back! Join Manteo’s retired Police Chief for an evening sroll through the Historic Waterfront of Old Manteo. We will explore 400+ years of living history as he shares with guests an entertaining mix of the many “firsts”, lore, tales & history that make Dare County “The Land of Beginnings”. The Chief highlights stories from The Lost Colony, Pirates, The Underground Railroad, The Wright Brothers, and the modern era. Colorfully, he shares personal stories of the real Mayberry, USA that inspired the classic TV series “The Andy Griffith Show”. He shares his relationship with several celebrities and many space heroes who have made Manteo such a unique and special place to visit. This highly acclaimed tour has been featured on PBS show “NC Weekend”. “The Sheffield Star” newspaper in the UK had this to say about this tour, “The historical significance of this small island in America is truly astonishing. It’s a Must See when you are in the states!”
What's Included
- All fees and taxes included
What's Not Included
- Mother Vine Muscadine Preserves
Additional Information
Embark on a captivating journey through time with retired Police Chief D’Ambra on the Manteo Historic Candlelight Walking Tour. As night falls, amble across Manteo’s scenic Historic Waterfront, established by Chief D’Ambra in 2004. The tour offers a glimpse into over 450 years of vibrant living history. With a blend of more than 21 pioneering tales and historical facts, Chief D’Ambra paints vivid imagery of Manteo, also known as ‘The Land of Beginnings’. Enthralling narratives about The Lost Colony, Pirates, The Underground Railroad, Wright Brothers, and Buffaloes City’s moonshine production promise a delightful experience. The tales are not just historical; Chief D’Ambra also reveals first-hand anecdotes of the real-life Mayberry, USA that gave birth to the iconic television series ‘The Andy Griffith Show’. He discusses his interactions with numerous celebrities and space legends that shaped Manteo’s one-of-a-kind history. Recognized by ‘NC Weekend’ on PBS and ‘The Sheffield Star’ newspaper in the UK, the tour also garnered the accolade of ‘Favorite Outdoor Activity’ and bagged the Coastland Gold 2022 People’s Choice Award. A visit to OBX is incomplete without this tour!
Location
101 Budleigh St
Budleigh Street
We meet on the corner of Budleigh St. and Queen Elizabeth Ave. at The Gourmet Olive Company.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(206 Ratings)
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Tyler_b
Jun 9, 2024
Chief D is extremely... - Chief D is extremely knowledgeable and very entertaining! He also gave recommendations of other places to check out during our stay.
Review provided by Viator
Expedition624875
Jun 8, 2024
Well worth it! - The walking tour of Manteo was fantastic. Our guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining! It was a great way to learn about the significant history of the area. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emschick911
Jun 5, 2024
Excellent tour! - Wonderful tour! He covers so much history in a short period of time and is very engaging. We had an excellent time and learned a lot. I've done a lot of tours in different cities and this was my favorite.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pickandpuff
May 29, 2024
Brilliant - This was truly wonderful, Chief Dan was brilliant!!! So knowledgeable, funny and so much more !!!
Definitely deserves the best tour ever reward !!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z9054pvjosephr
May 18, 2024
Lots of fun - both educational and entertaining - Run , don’t walk to the Manteo Historic Walking Tour with Chief D’Ambra
An amazing tour guide , both extremely knowledgeable and entertaining in his presentation- quite a historian in his knowledge of Manteo and OBX in general - definitely worth the price! We enjoyed it immensely
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carlandsuewoody
May 17, 2024
Manteo historic tour - Excellent info provided by tour guide. Guide was very knowledgeable about Manteo and its past history. Recommend everyone visiting Manteo take this tour. We will take the tour again with other family members.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G9692sdnicholasl
May 15, 2024
Awesome tour and the Chief is the Best!! - This was the best tour and the Chief was the best guide. Seriously so enjoyable from ages 12-65 in our party of seven and all loved it! 5 star. Worth every penny. So much history and the chief has personal knowledge of the town that is unsurpassed. You should do it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Goplaces63767950290
May 14, 2024
Engaging and Fun!!! - The tour was AWESOME!! So much history done with great enthusiasm!!! Cannot recommend this tour enough! Plus it is dog friendly!! Well done !!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Beachlover7322
Jun 12, 2024
Best for hardcore history buffs (esp if you're over 65) - It's challenging to give a historical walking tour when a town has suffered multiple fires and hurricanes, leaving precious little "historical" places to see! The Chief does an admirable job, showcasing a passion for history and storytelling that serves him in good stead as a tour guide. I very much enjoyed hearing about the history and the effect of hurricanes on the area. In my opinion, he leans too had into 'local celebrity' Andy Griffin and especially the time Richard Gere stayed here while filming a movie 15+ years ago. We stood for a long time outside the (non-historical) hotel Gere stayed at, hearing a story that went on for far too long. I feel like most folks under 65 wouldn't engage with the Griffin and Gere stories. For this tour, I recommend leaving the kids at home, enjoy the guide's enthusiasm, and patiently wait out the Gere story because the final stop is a moving one.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katiesx1903nf
Jun 11, 2024
Disappointing - Actual Walking Needed - The guide was personable and all that, but a walking tour should walk. Too much time was spent standing in one spot talking about movie star visits 20 years ago. I was looking for the local history of Manteo and Currituck Sound area. The summary wrap up was good and more in line with what I wished the whole thing was. The sales plugs for the local ice cream shop and olive oil store were unwanted.
Review provided by Tripadvisor