| The early twenties, called "the roaring twenties," | | | | corduroy walls and cork flooring. Rooms carved |
| were a time of excess and decadence. Beach | | | | with water lilies and morning glories, with door and |
| towns up and down the United States' | | | | window hardware to match capture the moving |
| mid-Atlantic coast boasted vacation homes and | | | | beauty found throughout the house. |
| private resorts for wealthy industrialists, bankers | | | | Today, tourists visiting the Whalehead Club are |
| and politicians. These private residences and | | | | escorted through sparsely decorated bedrooms |
| resorts were a place to take in the salt air and to | | | | and dining room, through the colorful servants' |
| get away from the fast-paced life in a world | | | | quarters and then down into the basement. In the |
| where out of control industry grew exponentially. | | | | basement visitors can see exhibits that reflect the |
| The barrier islands in North Carolina boasted one | | | | area's history, such as a replica of a duck decoy |
| of the most opulent private residences, known | | | | maker's shop, antique canoes and gun displays. |
| today as, "The Whalehead Club." | | | | This was the first home on the Outer Banks to |
| Construction of the Whalehead Club began in | | | | have an elevator, a basement and a swimming |
| October of 1922 when northern industrialist | | | | pool. The original owners, named it "Corolla Island." |
| Edward Collings Knight, Jr. and his wife, Marie | | | | After the Knights passed on in the late 1930s, the |
| Louise LeBel moved into their new temporary | | | | home was sold for $25,000. During World War II, |
| winter residence, the Lighthouse Club. The | | | | it served as a base of operations for the US |
| Lighthouse Club served them for three years | | | | Coast Guard. It was renamed the Whalehead Club |
| during construction of their new winter home. | | | | by its next owner, Ray T. Adams in the early |
| During the twenties, Knight was perhaps one of | | | | 1950s, where it served as overnight |
| the wealthiest people who frequented the Outer | | | | accommodations for waterfowl hunters. |
| Banks, having made his fortune with the | | | | Slowly, the crown jewel of the Northern Outer |
| Pennsylvania Railroad and the American Sugar | | | | Banks faded from neglect. Currituck County |
| refinery. Knight and his wife had a passion for | | | | purchased the mansion and surrounding 40 acres |
| waterfowl hunting and the location for the new | | | | of land in 1992. The Whalehead Preservation |
| residence on the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic | | | | Trust was formed to oversee the major |
| flyway was the perfect place for then to indulge | | | | restoration project that began in 1999. The |
| this passion. Upon its completion in 1925, Edward | | | | exterior was painted bright yellow and the roof |
| and Marie Louise moved into their 21,000 square | | | | replaced. Now, visitors can begin to imagine the |
| foot "cottage" on the sound. | | | | house in its glory days. Volunteers are |
| This historic hunt club was the Northern Outer | | | | meticulously recreating the original interior of the |
| Banks' crown jewel. Inside, this building exemplifies | | | | home with old photographs and journals providing |
| Art Nouveau style, with a number of signed and | | | | clues as to how the house originally appeared. |
| numbered Tiffany and Co. lighting fixtures, | | | | |