historic bath

Town has less than 300 people but lots to see. There are historic houses in this oldest town in North Carolina as well as a lovely park with a bench from which to view the harbor

I had wanted to see Bath mainly because it is the oldest town in NC, also the oldest port, and has the oldest church. That alone makes it historically significant. Pick up a brochure at the visitor center for the walking tour. It has a map with numbers and explanations of each. It is an easy walk, and you can stop and look at the houses and markers which also have explanations. Some of the items described are no longer there (disappointing), and many of the houses are not as old as I had assumed they would be considering that this is NC's oldest town.Most interesting were the Palmer-Marsh house (1751), the Joseph Bonner house (1830), and St. Thomas Episcopal Church (1734). Worth a visit to say you have seen the oldest town in NC.

If history is your thing, then Bath--as the oldest incorporated town in North Carolina-- is a great place to be. Due to its small size, everything is supremely situated for a nice self-guided walking tour. Be sure to stop in at the visitor's center, right in the middle of town, to pick up some helpful brochures and a map of the area, and hit the pavement. To see all the sights, it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours at a decent pace, and being able to enjoy some of the beautifully restored historical homes and old churches are a thrill. Conversely, if you're a huge history buff, you might be disappointed in some of the offerings, as the tour stops aren't as in-depth as other historical attractions scattered throughout the state. Either way, I'd say Bath is a worthwhile stop for a half-day excursion.

We discovered Bath in 1999, looking for a marina to dock our small sailboat. The surroundings were so lovely and the people so friendly that we moved to Bath in 2005! The town is welcoming new businesses and renovating a National Register landmark - Bath High School. Come for visit, start a business and enjoy the first town in North Carolina's peaceful streets, lovely waterways, yummy local food and historic sites!

The self guided tour was excellent. I plan to return and take the guided tours. It was worth the side trip.

Bath is a lovely small town with a rich history. We came to Bath to explore places connected with Blackbeard the pirate and we were not disappointed. The visitors center is very well done with lots of information on the town & its relationship to the pirates history. The best part is this town can be explored by foot, everything is within walking distance. I recommend taking the tours of the historic homes. We did the Palmer Marsh house and learned tons of interesting information from our guide. Its only $2/person and $1 for kids. The guide was very attentive to my 7 year nephew and included facts that he was interested in hearing.

Historic Bath Site is a great place for anyone to visit! It has both 18th and 19th century history. You can tour two Historic Homes for the cheaper price of $2 per house and the guides are fantastic - one house is 18th century and the other is a 19th century house. They have a special traveling exhibit with artifacts from Blackbeard's ship until July 26th. There's a small exhibit building, a wonderful vegetable garden tended by volunteers and graveyards. They also give you great information on local lore and information for places to eat, stay, ferry rides, etc. Everyone should make a visit to this little gem of North Carolina History!

Bath Historical Site - Bath NC - a Small historic Town dating back to 1690's - it was a Haunt of the Pirate Black Beard - they have various Archeology projects and houses to tour. A Small walking tour through time - neat and well kept and by the water. You can spend 1 to 2 hours at this site. The State of NC Manages the historic site and has an Office and Visitor Center which has a full time staff on site. During the year they have various events related to Black Beard the Pirate and for children - end of June through July a Children's Pirate Day Camp where they learn about Pirate's life.