Mattie Midgett Store and House

The Mattie Midgett Store and House is a two-story wooden building from the early 1900s that served as both a shop and a home under one roof. Its construction shows typical features of the era with steeply pitched roofs and wooden shingle walls.

Built in 1914, the structure initially served the community as a store and was later expanded to include residential space. It became an important gathering point for commerce and daily life in this coastal settlement.

The building now houses a collection of objects that washed ashore, such as shells, glass, and bottles, showing how coastal residents lived with the sea. These finds tell stories of daily life and trade along this stretch of beach.

The building sits on South Virginia Dare Trail in Nags Head and is straightforward to locate. Visitors can explore both the exterior architecture and the indoor exhibits at their own pace.

The building takes a T-shape, a practical solution that typifies construction along the Outer Banks coast. This layout allowed the shopkeeper to connect business and home while adapting to the coastal environment.