The Lost Colony of Roanoke was an English settlement founded in 1587 on Roanoke Island, in present-day North Carolina, led by John White. The colony included about 117 men, women, and children, among them White's granddaughter Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America

. When White returned to England shortly after the colony's establishment to gather supplies, his return was delayed until 1590 due to the Anglo-Spanish War and other difficulties. Upon his return, he found the settlement deserted with no sign of the colonists. The only clue was the word "CROATOAN" carved into a post, and "CRO" carved into a nearby tree, which White interpreted as a sign that the colonists had moved to Croatoan Island (now Hatteras Island)

. White was unable to follow up on this lead due to storms and damage to his ships, and he never returned to Roanoke. The fate of the approximately 112–121 colonists remains unknown. Several theories exist:

• They may have assimilated with nearby Native American tribes, as some early writings and reports from Jamestown colonists suggest sightings of European features among Native Americans

• Some reports claim the colonists were massacred by hostile tribes, but there is no conclusive evidence

• Archaeological investigations led by Scott Dawson have uncovered artifacts on Hatteras Island that potentially support the theory that the colonists relocated there and integrated with the Croatoan people

Despite centuries of speculation and investigation, the disappearance of the Roanoke colonists remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history

. The story has become a foundational legend, commemorated in cultural works such as the outdoor drama "The Lost Colony"

. In summary, the Lost Colony of Roanoke vanished mysteriously between 1587 and 1590, with the most credible theory being that the settlers moved to Croatoan Island and assimilated with local Native Americans, though definitive proof is still lacking