June 2026 Historic Happy Hour
Join us for an evening at Old Baldy Lighthouse as part of our Historic Happy Hour series. This special event takes place on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 5:30 PM.
This month's presentation will be led by Emily Farmer, a graduate student in East Carolina University's Program in Maritime Studies. Emily's research combines archaeology, environmental science, and heritage preservation, with a particular focus on sites threatened by erosion and environmental change.
Her presentation will explore the mystery of the "Baldhead Rudder Wreck," a shipwreck site discovered at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in 1987. Long believed to be connected to the Spanish vessel La Rosa de Bilbao, which was lost off the North Carolina coast in 1804, the wreck has remained the subject of debate for decades. Through a critical examination of the archaeological evidence, historical records, and ship construction characteristics, Emily's research seeks to determine whether the wreck truly belongs to La Rosa de Bilbao—or if its identity lies elsewhere.
Bring your beach chairs, settle in, and enjoy a casual evening of history, conversation, and coastal atmosphere—complete with unlimited beer and wine included with your ticket.
This is a check-in event—no physical tickets will be issued. Your name will be on a guest list at arrival.
Come out to Old Baldy, sip, relax, and dive into one of the Cape Fear region's most intriguing maritime mysteries.
Made Possible by the Generous Support of Robert and Debra Drumheller
| Instructor: | Emily Farmer |
| Instructor Bio: | Emily Farmer is a first-year graduate student in ECU’s Program in Maritime Studies. She was raised in Suffolk, Virginia, and attended Longwood University, where she earned a BS in Anthropology and Archaeology, minoring in Environmental Science. At Longwood, she took courses in environmental science, which got her deeply involved in researching the growing environmental challenges that archaeological sites are facing. She has a strong foundation in museum collections research, geomorphological research, and fieldwork, and hopes to study heritage at risk sites with a focus on how erosion and inundation impact site preservation. Her thesis work will be looking at erosion and its impacts on archaeological resources at Micro Beach, Saipan. |
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Contact Us
- 101 Lighthouse Wynd, Bald Head Island,
North Carolina, 28461 - Email Us: adriana@oldbaldy.org
- Call Us: 910-457-7481
