<P> Roanoke Island was the site of the Roanoke Colony , an English settlement initially established in 1585 by Sir Walter Raleigh . A group of about 120 men , women and children arrived in 1587 . Shortly after arriving in this New World , colonist Eleanor Dare , daughter of Governor John White , gave birth to Virginia Dare . She was the first English child born in North America . Governor White returned to England later that year for supplies . Due to impending war with Spain , White was unable to return to Roanoke Island until 1590 . When he arrived , the colony had vanished . The fate of those first colonists remains a mystery to this day and is one of America 's most intriguing unsolved mysteries . Archaeologists , historians , and other researchers continue to work to resolve the mystery . Visitors to the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site can watch The Lost Colony , the second - longest - running outdoor theatre production in the United States , which presents a conjecture of the fate of Roanoke Colony . </P>
<P> Roanoke Island was the site of the Roanoke Colony , an English settlement initially established in 1585 by Sir Walter Raleigh . A group of about 120 men , women and children arrived in 1587 . Shortly after arriving in this New World , colonist Eleanor Dare , daughter of Governor John White , gave birth to Virginia Dare . She was the first English child born in North America . Governor White returned to England later that year for supplies . Due to impending war with Spain , White was unable to return to Roanoke Island until 1590 . When he arrived , the colony had vanished . The fate of those first colonists remains a mystery to this day and is one of America 's most intriguing unsolved mysteries . Archaeologists , historians , and other researchers continue to work to resolve the mystery . Visitors to the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site can watch The Lost Colony , the second - longest - running outdoor theatre production in the United States , which presents a conjecture of the fate of Roanoke Colony . </P>
who sponsored or started the colony at roanoke
who sponsored or started the colony at roanoke
Sir Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh