Keeping History Alive at the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum in Manteo

The Outer Banks is filled with history, yet some of the region's most remarkable stories remain unfamiliar to many visitors — and even some locals. That's why the work of the Pea Island Preservation Society, Inc. (PIPSI) is so important.

At Collins Park in Manteo, PIPSI operates the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum and Herbert M. Collins Boathouse, preserving the legacy of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station, the only station in the United States Life-Saving Service staffed entirely by African Americans. Under the leadership of Keeper Richard Etheridge, the crew earned a reputation for excellence and courage, most famously during the heroic nighttime rescue of the crew of the E.S. Newman during a hurricane in 1896. The crew was never recognized for its bravery during the rescue. However, 100 years later, in 1996, thanks to a 14-year-old girl, two authors, a U.S. Congressman and a Coast Guard officer, the 1896 Pea Island Life-Saving Station crew was bestowed the Gold Lifesaving Medal, posthumously. Only two former Pea Island surfmen were alive at the time to see this century-old wrong corrected: Herbert M. Collins and William Charles Bowser.

Photo: Inside the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum, paintings bring to life the surfmen of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station.

To keep this story alive, Manteo resident and former Mayor Pro Tem Dellerva Collins had the idea to move the Pea Island cookhouse from Rodanthe to Manteo, where many descendants of the Pea Island station reside. Moving the building did not happen in her lifetime, but her son, Darrell Collins, took over the project. PIPSI obtained the cookhouse and found a place for it to be located in Manteo in 2006. The museum opened in 2008. 

Photo: A bronze statue of Pea Island Life-Saving Station Keeper Richard Etheridge is found on Sir Walter Raleigh Street in Manteo.

The Pea Island Cookhouse was the first stage of the Collins Park Project. Through grants from the N.C. Department of Transportation, a life-sized statue of Richard Etheridge was commissioned by sculptor Steven Smith and located near the museum in a roundabout on Sir Walter Raleigh Street at Collins Park. Then there was the dedication of the Herbert M. Collins Boathouse (Herbert Collins was the last surfman stationed at Pea Island in 1947). A restoration of an original early 1900 surfboat is housed in the boathouse.

The primary purpose of the site is to preserve and interpret the history of the Pea Island Life Saving Station and its keeper, Richard Etheridge, as well as to honor the men who served at the Pea Island Station.

But the story of the Pea Island Cookhouse is about much more.

"It has always been the Newman rescue and Etheridge that people know," says Manteo resident Joan Collins, whose father served at the Pea Island Life-Saving Station. "But there's so much more to the story."

For generations, descendants of some of the Pea Island surfmen, including those with the names of Collins and Berry and others, built a legacy of service through the Life-Saving Service and later the U.S. Coast Guard. Joan Collins and her cousin, Frank Hester, who have worked tirelessly to preserve their family history, note that their own family has accumulated more than 400 years of combined U.S. Coast Guard service. Their ancestor Joseph Hall Berry began his career at the Pea Island Station under Etheridge, and more than 20 family members followed in his footsteps, including Frank Hester.

PIPSI has helped bring greater awareness to Pea Island Life-Saving Station's legacy, local families' Coast Guard legacies and other important elements of local African-American history through exhibits, educational programs and partnerships throughout the region. PIPSI's "Freedmen, Surfmen, Heroes" initiative shares the story of Etheridge and the Pea Island station with local schoolchildren, visitors and community groups, highlighting not only the heroism of the surfmen but also the remarkable cooperation between Black and white lifesavers during a challenging period in American history.

The society hope to continue to grow. Plans include opening the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum on a regular basis, additional museum facilities, expanded educational programming and the development of the Dellerva Collins Memorial Gardens. But those goals and the future of the museum depend on community support.

Photo: Cousins Joan Collins and Frank Hester, who have volunteered to run PIPSI for years, are looking for volunteers and future board members to help run the nonprofit organization.

How can you help?

Volunteer

PIPSI is seeking volunteers to help staff the museum, which is currently only open for special events and tours, or to present their programming.

PIPSI also welcomes individuals interested in serving on its board of directors. Those with nonprofit, fundraising or education experience are especially encouraged to get involved. The organization is actively looking for new energy and ideas to help preserve this important chapter of Outer Banks history for future generations.

Those interested should email friends@peaislandpreservationsociety.com.

Financial Support

Financial support is equally important. Donations and memberships help fund museum operations, educational outreach, travel expenses for presentations and future expansion plans. You can donate to PIPSI here.

PIPSI is also raising money through limited-edition giclée prints by artist James Melvin of PIPSI founder and President Emeritus Darrell Collins. Proceeds from the sale of these prints supports museum staffing and an aviation science scholarship in Darrell Collins' name at Elizabeth City State University. Learn more about the prints here.

Photo: The Pea Island Cookhouse Museum decorated for the Juneteenth celebration.

Attend an Event

Experience the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum, the Herbert M. Collins Boathouse and the statue of Richard Etheridge at an event, and you’ll see what a unique historical site this is. A special annual event is coming up this week.

The Sounds of Freedom: Juneteenth Celebration at the Cookhouse

Friday, June 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Pea Island Cookhouse Museum at Collins Park, 622 Sir Walter Raleigh Street, Manteo

Juneteenth is held to celebrate the liberation of the last of the enslaved persons in Galveston, Texas, in 1865, more than two years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The free event in Manteo will feature music by Manteo native Tshombe Selby, K Soul & Company and the MACK Jazz Band, along with U.S. Colored Troops reenactor Edward Gantt. Surfin' Spoon will provide free ice cream sandwiches, including vegan options. The evening celebrates Juneteenth while honoring the history and resilience of the local African American community.

The Pea Island Cookhouse Museum tells a story of courage, service, family and community that deserves to be better known. Whether you attend Juneteenth, volunteer a few hours, join the board, become a member or make a donation, you'll help ensure that these inspiring stories of Outer Banks history continue to be told.

For more information, visit the Pea Island Preservation Society website and discover a piece of history that helped shape the Outer Banks we know today.  If you can help, email friends@peaislandpreservationsociety.com.