When Robert Ellis spotted land, his heart must have skipped a beat. 

    It was July 1587. After more than two long months, their ship had finally arrived. They were in America! Back home in England, most people had only heard tales of this faraway land. 

    Ten-year-old Robert stepped ashore. In front of him was a place of great beauty. He saw golden beaches and thick forests. This was Roanoke, a tiny island off what is now North Carolina.

    Robert, his father, and about 115 other people had come on a mission. They were to start a colony—a little piece of England in America. They would build a village and farm the land. If all went as planned, they would live a rich and wonderful life.

    But Robert could never have imagined what would happen here. And if he could, he might have jumped right back on that ship.

    Soon his whole colony would vanish.

     When Robert Ellis saw land, his heart must have skipped a beat.

    It was July 1587. After more than two months, their ship had arrived. They were in America! Back home in England, most people had only heard tales of this land.

    Ten-year-old Robert stepped ashore. In front of him was a place of great beauty. He saw golden beaches and thick forests. This was Roanoke, a tiny island off what is now North Carolina.

    Robert, his dad, and about 115 other people had come on a mission. They would start a colony—a little piece of England in America. They would build a village and farm the land. If all went as planned, they would live a great life.

    But Robert could never have guessed what would happen here. And if he could, he might have jumped right back on that ship.

    Soon his whole colony would vanish.

    When Robert Ellis spotted land, his heart must have skipped a beat.

    It was July 1587. After more than two long months, their ship had finally arrived. They were in America! Back home in England, most people had only heard tales of this faraway land.

    Ten-year-old Robert stepped ashore. In front of him was a place of astonishing beauty, marked by golden beaches and thick forests. This was Roanoke, a tiny island off what is now North Carolina.

    Robert, his father, and approximately 115 other people had traveled all this way to start a colony—a little piece of England in America. They would construct a village and farm the land. If everything went according to plan, they would live a rich and wonderful life.

    But Robert could never have imagined what would happen in this promising new land—and if he could, he might have jumped right back on that ship.

    Soon his entire colony would vanish.

    For a kid in 1587, traveling to America was a thrilling idea. Just 100 years earlier, most people in Europe didn’t know it existed. Then they found out that amazing lands lay across the Atlantic Ocean. Few could have imagined the wonders of the New World, as they called it. There were thick forests, giant mountains, and bright wildflowers. All kinds of animals lived there—buffalo, beavers, bears, salmon.

    European countries sent explorers across the ocean. They were eager to bring back the riches of the New World. There were likely furs, fruits, spices—maybe even gold!

    For a kid in 1587, going to America was a big deal. Just 100 years earlier, most people in Europe didn’t know it existed. Then they learned that amazing lands lay across the Atlantic Ocean. They called this area the New World. It had thick forests, giant mountains, and bright wildflowers. All kinds of animals lived there—buffalo, beavers, bears, salmon.

    European countries sent explorers across the ocean. They aimed to bring back the riches of the New World. There were likely furs, fruits, spices—maybe even gold!

    For a kid in 1587, traveling to America was a thrilling idea. Just 100 years earlier, most people in Europe didn’t know it existed. Then they found out that amazing lands lay across the Atlantic Ocean. Few could have imagined the wonders of the New World, as they called it. There were dense forests, majestic mountains, and colorful wildflowers. A wide variety of animals could be found there—buffalo, beavers, bears, salmon.

    European countries sent explorers across the ocean. They were eager to bring back the riches of the New World. There were likely furs, fruits, spices—maybe even gold!

    By the late 1500s, Europeans started moving to the Americas. Spain had already grown rich from its many colonies there. So England decided to set up one of its own.

    London was England’s capital. At the time, it was crowded and dirty. Many families lived in tiny, cramped homes. Only very rich people had big homes with plenty of land and fresh air. 

    But if you joined England’s first American colony, you would get at least 500 acres of land. (That was an area 36 times the size of the queen’s palace!) To Robert and his father, that likely would have seemed like a dream.

    So the Ellises signed on to join the English colony. They were thrilled at the chance to start a better life in the New World.

    By the late 1500s, Europeans started moving to the Americas. Spain had grown rich from its many colonies there. So England decided to set up one of its own.

    London was England’s capital. At the time, it was crowded and dirty. Many homes were tiny and cramped. Only very rich people had big homes with plenty of land and fresh air.

    But if you joined England’s first American colony, you would get at least 500 acres of land. (That was an area 36 times the size of the queen’s palace!) To Robert and his father, that must have seemed like a dream.

    So the Ellises signed on to join the English colony. They were thrilled at the chance to start a better life in the New World.

    By the late 1500s, Europeans started moving to the Americas. Spain had already grown rich from its many colonies there, so England decided to establish one of its own.

    London, England’s capital, was crowded and dirty at the time. Many families lived in tiny, cramped homes. Only the very wealthy had large homes with plentiful land and fresh air.

    But if you joined England’s first American colony, you would get at least 500 acres of land—an area 36 times the size of the queen’s palace! To Robert and his father, that probably would have seemed like a dream.

    So the Ellises signed on to join the English colony. They were thrilled to have the opportunity to start a better life in the New World.

    But the colonists were in for a surprise. The New World wasn’t new at all. The land they had been promised was not England’s to give. It already belonged to other people.

    Across the Americas, the arrival of Europeans was tragic for Native Americans. Thousands were killed in violent fights over food and land. Millions of others died from diseases spread by the Europeans.

    Some 7,000 Native American people were already living in the Roanoke Island area. Most belonged to tribes that spoke Algonquian languages. Members of these tribes had lived in the area for nearly 1,000 years. These people were expert hunters, fishers, and farmers. They called this land Ossomocomuck.    

    Most of the Algonquian did not trust the Roanoke colonists. Only one small group was willing to work with them: the Croatoans. They lived on an island of the same name, just south of Roanoke.

    But the colonists were in for a surprise. The New World wasn’t new at all. The land they had been promised was not England’s to give. It already belonged to other people.

    Across the Americas, the arrival of Europeans was tragic for Native Americans. Thousands were killed in fights over food and land. Millions more died from diseases spread by the Europeans.

    Some 7,000 Native American people were living in the Roanoke Island area. Most belonged to tribes that spoke Algonquian languages. Members of these tribes had lived in the area for nearly 1,000 years. They were expert hunters, fishers, and farmers. They called this land Ossomocomuck.    

    Most of the Algonquian didn’t trust the Roanoke colonists. Only one group did: the Croatoans. They lived on an island of the same name, just south of Roanoke.

    But the colonists were in for a surprise. The New World wasn’t new at all. The land they had been promised was not England’s to give. It already belonged to other people.

    Across the Americas, the arrival of Europeans was tragic for Native Americans. Thousands were killed in violent fights over food and land, and millions of others died from diseases spread by the Europeans.

    Some 7,000 Native American people were already living in the Roanoke Island area. Most belonged to tribes that spoke Algonquian languages. Members of these tribes had lived in the area for nearly 1,000 years. These people were expert hunters, fishers, and farmers. They called this land Ossomocomuck.    

    Most of the Algonquian didn’t trust the Roanoke colonists. Only one small group was willing to work with them: the Croatoans. They lived on an island of the same name, just south of Roanoke.

    In England, White faced one delay after another. By the time he made it back to Roanoke, three long years had passed. 

    In August 1590, White arrived on Roanoke again. He rushed to the place where the colonists had built their cottages. What he saw stopped him in his tracks.

    Almost everything was gone: the colonists’ houses, their tools. Only an empty piece of land and a tall fence remained. 

    And then he saw it: the word Croatoan carved into the fence. There was no cross to signal danger. Had the colonists simply moved to the island where their friends the Croatoan lived?

    White and his crew decided to sail there to find out. But they faced many challenges while trying to reach it. Strong winds pushed the ship farther out to sea. Their only choice was to return to Europe.

    John White would live out the rest of his life in England. He would never learn what had happened to his family or the rest of the colonists.

    White faced delays in England. It took him three years to get back to Roanoke.

    He got back in August 1590. And what he saw shocked him. The colonists were gone. Their homes were too.

    The word Croatoan was carved into a fence. There was no cross to signal danger. Had the colonists just moved to the island where their friends the Croatoan lived?

    White and his crew tried to sail there. But strong winds pushed the ship farther out to sea. They had to return to Europe.

    White would live out the rest of his life in England. He would never learn what had happened to the other colonists.

    In England, White encountered one delay after another. By the time he made it back to Roanoke, three long years had passed.

    In August 1590, White arrived on Roanoke again and rushed to the place where the colonists had built their cottages. What he saw stopped him in his tracks.

    Almost everything was gone: the colonists’ houses, their tools. Only an empty piece of land and a tall fence remained.

    And then he noticed it: the word Croatoan carved into the fence. There was no cross to signal danger. Had the colonists simply moved to the island where their friends the Croatoan lived?

    White and his crew decided to sail there to find out. But they faced many challenges while trying to reach it. Strong winds pushed the ship farther out to sea. Their only choice was to return to Europe.

    John White would live out the rest of his life in England, never learning what had happened to his family or the rest of the colonists.

    For hundreds of years, people wondered where the Roanoke colonists went. Did they try to sail back to England and get lost at sea? Did they live happily ever after on Croatoan? Were they killed in fights with the Algonquian? No one can say for sure. But there have been clues.

    About 20 years after the colonists vanished, England started a brand-new colony. 

    It was called Jamestown. The Jamestown colonists heard rumors. A group of Algonquian told them about people living nearby. These people wore English clothes and lived in English-style houses. 

    The Jamestown colonists searched for months. Yet they never found the English colony they were looking for.

    More recently, archaeologists have searched areas around Roanoke. They’ve dug up many items that belonged to the Algonquian: arrowheads, bits of pottery, copper jewelry. The teams have also found items that may have belonged to colonists in the 1500s. 

    Today many experts believe the English settlers were welcomed into different Algonquian tribes, including the Croatoan. But researchers haven’t found enough evidence to say for sure. No one knows exactly where the Roanoke colonists ended up.

    It will likely remain a mystery forever. 

    For hundreds of years, people wondered where the Roanoke colonists went. Did they try to sail back to England and get lost? Did they live happy lives on Croatoan? Did they die fighting the Algonquian? No one knows. But there have been clues.

    About 20 years after the colonists vanished, England started a new colony.
It was called Jamestown. The Jamestown colonists heard rumors. A group of Algonquian told them about people living nearby. These people wore English clothes and lived in English-style houses.

    The Jamestown colonists searched for months. Yet they never found the colony they were looking for.

    More recently, archaeologists have searched areas around Roanoke. They’ve dug up items that belonged to the Algonquian: arrowheads, bits of pottery, copper jewelry. They’ve also found items that may have belonged to colonists in the 1500s.

    Today many experts believe the English settlers were welcomed into different Algonquian tribes, including the Croatoan. But there isn’t enough evidence to be sure. No one knows exactly where the Roanoke colonists ended up.

    It will likely stay a mystery forever. 

    For centuries, people speculated about what had become of the Roanoke colonists. Had they tried to sail back to England and gotten lost at sea? Had they lived happily ever after on Croatoan? Had they been killed in fights with the Algonquian? No one can say for certain—but there have been some clues.

    About 20 years after the colonists vanished, England started a brand-new colony called Jamestown. The Jamestown colonists heard interesting rumors. A group of Algonquian told them about people living nearby who wore English clothes and lived in English-style houses.

    The Jamestown colonists searched for months, but they never located the English colony they were looking for.

    More recently, archaeologists have searched areas around Roanoke. They’ve dug up many items that belonged to the Algonquian: arrowheads, bits of pottery, copper jewelry. The teams have also unearthed items that may have belonged to colonists in the 1500s.

    Today many experts believe the English settlers were welcomed into a number of different Algonquian tribes, including the Croatoan. But experts haven’t found enough evidence to say for certain. No one knows exactly where the Roanoke colonists ended up.

    It will likely remain a mystery forever.