Oregon Inlet is a natural channel on the Outer Banks of North Carolina that separates Bodie Island from Pea Island and joins Pamlico Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. A hurricane that sliced through the area in 1846 formed the inlet, which even has a legend behind it.
The legend says that in September 1846, a trading ship named the Oregon sailed from Bermuda to Edenton. Suddenly, the boat found itself surrounded by dark grey clouds. The wind picked up violently, and the sailors on board knew it would be a long night.
The ship was rocked back and forth by the violent waves as the crew fought back. Suddenly, a tremendous surge came from the sea, lifting the boat high into the air. The crew feared all was lost as they felt the deck tilting beneath them, but out of nowhere, the rocking stopped.
Crewmembers quickly realized that the hurricane and surge had deposited the small boat onto a sandbar. The following day, the crew discovered another miracle. Beside the sandbar was now a wide channel, forming a new passage in the Outer Banks.
The crew found their coordinates on the charts they were using, and when they reached Edenton, they alerted the entire town of the new passage. Since the Oregon was the first ship to discover the new waterway and pass through it, it was named the Oregon Inlet.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
