Sea Level tells the story of a community whose history is closely tied to fishing, processing and transportation. At the same time, the town lies in a Down East landscape more reminiscent of the islands of Ocracoke and Portsmouth than of other landscapes in the county. Visitors looking to focus their stay on culture will find a clear theme here: local maritime history, complemented by the regional history of the landscape and its transportation routes.
Landscape and transportation routes in Down East
Sea Level is one of ten Down East villages along Highway 70. Historically, the Down East communities, including Sea Level, were accessible only by water. Built in the 1920s and 1930s, Highway 70 connects them and marks a turning point in the region's transportation history. The roads around the town can also be distinguished precisely: NC Highway 12 runs from Sea Level to the ferry at Cedar Island, while the Outer Banks Scenic Byway passes just outside the village.
The section of U.S. 70 running through Down East is designated a North Carolina Scenic Byway. From there, sweeping views take in working waterfronts, wind-swept marshlands and historic fishing villages. This regional perspective complements a closer look at Sea Level: the town is part of a landscape with a distinctive character, different from other parts of the county. When planning a trip, both the town's history and the wider Down East region are useful points of reference.
Fishing, oysters and processing
In the 1930 census, the men of Sea Level were predominantly employed in fishing. The 111 households were fishing households, with the exception of a few seafood dealers, truck farmers and freight boat captains. Fishing thus shaped both the men's work and the makeup of the households. The processing and shipping of seafood were also part of the local economic history.
Valentine and Maltby Taylor's oyster cannery operated from about 1910 to 1930 and has since been demolished. There, 75 to 100 employees canned “Core Sound Brand Oysters.” The T.A. Taylor & Sons Seafood also packed and shipped soft-shell crabs. These businesses illustrate different aspects of the same maritime economy: harvesting, processing and shipping. Sea Level's history can therefore be understood not only through individual buildings, but also through the work connected with the water.
Boatbuilding and architectural history
Sea Level was also a center for sharpie boatbuilding. Another example of the local fishing history is the fish house that Monroe Taylor built around 1960 at the mouth of Cedar Creek on Styron Bay. Stories about buildings like these link work on the water with the people and places that are part of the village's history.
The residential architecture also has specific dates associated with it. In 1912, Maltby Taylor had a stylish I-house built in Sea Level. Around 1945, Almeta Taylor had a Tudor Revival-style cottage built for herself. The two houses represent different periods and design styles within the local residential architecture. Along with the half-timbered building erected by The T.A. Taylor & Sons Seafood at Nelson Bay in 1937, they add residential and working buildings to the history of fishing and processing.
Ferry history and finding accommodations
The ferry also forms part of the area's transportation history: in 1959, the Taylor Brothers of Sea Level established a ferry service for cars and passengers to Ocracoke. The state purchased the Sea Level Ferry in 1964. For route planning today, distinguish this from the road connection to the ferry at Cedar Island. If a ferry trip is part of your journey, check the schedule for the relevant service in advance. When looking for hotels in Sea Level, you can also decide whether to focus more on the town's history or on the wider landscape of Down East.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Beaufort, Harkers Island, Morehead City, Indian Beach, Emerald Isle, Newport, Cape Carteret, Atlantic Beach.
Back to the main travel overview: Carteret County.
