Nov 16, 2021

Aycock Brown

The Father of Outer Banks Tourism

Blog / Icons of the OBX
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The Outer Banks has evolved into a prosperous vacation destination, in part due to the storytelling efforts of Aycock Brown. A colorful writer and photographer, Aycock Brown saw firsthand how special the Outer Banks was and spent his career telling the world all about it. His voice was instrumental in putting the Outer Banks on the map in the tourism industry. 

In the 1950s and ’60s, Aycock Brown devoted his time as a photographer and publicist to promoting the Outer Banks. His energetic stories and accompanying pictures conveyed that this magical place was family-oriented, nature-oriented, and just plain fun. 

Aycock Brown served as the first director of the Dare County Tourist Bureau in the early 1950’s. His goal was to get the word out about why the Outer Banks was a great place to visit. He was often seen around town in his straw hat with several cameras around his neck, always ready to document the next story. Whether it was a record-setting catch being weighed on the dock at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center or checking out the latest shipwreck that washed up on the beach, Aycock Brown was there to get the scoop. He then mailed his photos with press releases to newspapers around the country. 

One of Aycock Brown’s most well-known photos is of the Wright Brothers National Memorial with the crescent moon in the background. The iconic photograph was taken on the evening of July 20, 1969, the same day Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. Over the course of his career, Aycock Brown took thousands of photographs of the Outer Banks. In 1976, his photos and stories were published as a much-loved book, Aycock Brown’s Outer Banks, with the memorable 1969 photo of the Wright Brothers National Memorial gracing the cover. 

He mailed his stories and pictures to publications around the country. His goal was to show how truly unique a place the Outer Banks was. Aycock Brown created the idea that the Outer Banks is a place like no other. During his time as director of the Dare County Tourist Bureau, the Outer Banks saw an uptick in visitors that wanted to experience the area for themselves. By the time he retired in 1980, the Outer Banks was a popular vacation destination that families returned to year after year.

Aycock Brown
Aycock Brown typing with cheesecake wall - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
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Aycock Brown at book signing, photo by Karen Dankin - Dare County Tourist Bureau, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
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Aycock Brown with camera - Dare County Tourist Bureau Records, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
Aycock Brown
Press Clipping Bureau, 5-26-1953, 001 - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
Aycock Brown
Spot and mullet are loaded in a truck, Aycock Browns Outer Banks, p.36 - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
Aycock Brown
Shirlie Barnett and Connie Basnaett with starfish earrings, Buxton, circa 1950s, Aycock Browns Outer Banks, p.19 - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
Aycock Brown
Models fishing, Aycock Browns Outer Banks, p.121 - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
Aycock Brown
Aycock Brown and Sarah Owens looking at Moon Landing Picture - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
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Aycock Brown, courtesy of David Stick Papers
Aycock Brown
Aycock Brown in front of Dare County Tourist Bureau sign - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
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Mollie Fearing, Aycock Brown, Cora Mae Basnight, photo by J Foster Scott - Dare County Tourist Bureau Collection
Aycock Brown
Aycock Brown's Outer Banks release, 1980 - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
Aycock Brown
John Randolph and Aycock Brown, Aycock Browns Outer Banks, p153 - Aycock Brown Papers, Courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
Aycock Brown
Little Boy-Big Fish, Aycock Browns Outer Banks, p.124 - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
Aycock Brown
Aycock Brown at desk smiling for camera - Aycock Brown Papers, courtesy of Outer Banks History Center
Aycock Brown
Old Tom and Agona in the Fisnet Scene, Aycock Brown Collection
Aycock Brown
Waterside Theatre, home of The Lost Colony, in the 1960's
Aycock Brown
Courtney Wisecarver

Courtney Wisecarver

Nov 16, 2021

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