Nags Headers: Historic Cottages of the Outer Banks and Their People by Rountree, Susan Byrum

A lively history of the historic beach cottages on the Outer Banks and the families that have inhabited them.

Nags Head's Historic Cottage Row District--on the National Register of Historic Places--stretches a mile along North Carolina's Outer Banks, forming a pattern of angles and lines the color of driftwood. These structures have survived hurricanes, a world war, generations of children, and the tides that creep ever closer.

This book-a blend of oral history, narrative, and old photos-tells the story of the families who helped settle one of North Carolina's oldest beaches. The story traces the history of the summer life of Nags Head's oldest families through successive generations, from early settlement before the Civil War through the turn of the new century and the emergence of modern times.

The book is complemented by historical photographs, personal photographs from private family collections, and contemporary black-and-white photographs. Since this book was first published in 2000, the Atlantic Ocean encroaches ever more on the original cottages known as the "Unpainted Aristocracy," and many of the elders originally interviewed have since passed away. This 25th anniversary edition, with a new chapter that updates the status of these important houses, is an important addition to the cultural history of North Carolina.

Author: Susan Byrum Rountree
Publisher: Blair
Published: 09/15/2026
Pages: 145
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.84lbs
Size: 8.50h x 8.50w x 0.44d
ISBN: 9781958888933

About the Author
Susan Byrum Rountree has loved the stories of the Outer Banks since she first encountered the mystery of Virginia Dare as a small child. The stalwart silhouettes of the Unpainted Aristocracy captured her interest many years ago, and she's delighted to prop open the history of these enchanting great ladies. A native of northeastern North Carolina, Susan makes her home in Raleigh.