It's been a wet and rainy few weeks here - but we're not letting that slow us down! Part of our mission here at Outer Banks Forever is to help you re-discover your OBX national parks by exploring the stories and wonders you may not be as familiar with. We are excited to be working with your park rangers to bring you new ways to learn about these stories and feel connected to your parks whether you are at home or here for a visit. To celebrate Black History Month, we had a chance to talk to park ranger Frank Toland about the impact and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. Your park rangers also worked with our local CurrentTV to give you an inside look at the other colony Fort Raleigh is known for - the Freedman's Colony - which played an important role in the lives of over 3,000 freed slaves and their families after the Civil War. If you'd like to learn more about these stories that shaped our OBX community and beyond, I encourage you to check out our Black History in OBX series on our website. Thank you,

Jessica Barnes Green Director, Outer Banks Forever

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The Tuskegee Airmen: A Legacy of Excellence and Perseverance

The Wright Brothers may have been first in flight, but many brave men and women have influenced the world of aviation since then. Recently, Ranger Ashley had the opportunity to interview Frank Toland from Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site about the first Black military pilots in the United States who, in spite of facing racism and prejudice, changed the course of history.

Watch the Interview

Note: A transcript of this interview is also available on our website here.

Meet Your Ranger: Amy Thompson

Earlier this month we celebrated Women in Science Day on social media with a Meet Your Ranger feature of park biologist Amy Thompson! Amy works down south in Cape Hatteras National Seashore's Ocracoke District, where she leads a team in protecting some of your favorite park inhabitants - sea turtles, shore birds and lots of marine mammals. Amy also helps us each summer by providing the information you get when you Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest. Read on to learn how Amy fell in love with marine science - and also found love while working here at the Seashore!

Meet Amy

Remembering and Honoring The Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island Your OBX national park staff teamed up with our friends at CurrentTV to share the story of The Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island, the first of its kind in the United States. Watch the Video

Photo Credits: National Park Service

Outer Banks Forever is an official partner of the National Park Service and your national parks of the Outer Banks. Learn more at www.obxforever.org

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