1965 Official NC 12 initial routing

1976 Official NC 12 on the mainland

1990-91 Official NC 12 extended north

In July 1987 (NCDOT), NC 12 was extended north replacing US 158 Business and then as new primary routing up to Corolla. This replaced SRs 1200 and 1400. NC 12's endpoint was defined as 0.3 miles north of SR 1185.
In Dec 1988 (NCDOT), NC 12 was removed from SR 1402 Albacore, SR 1400 Corolla and SR 1409 Shad Sts in Corolla.
In May 1989 (NCDOT), NC 12 was removed from today's Pelican Watch Way and abandoned routing and placed on its modern configuration near US 158 in Kitty Hawk. NC 12 absorbed SR 1203 in the process.

1986 Currituck County NC 12 initial Corolla routing

1990 Currituck County NC 12 initial Corolla routing

In Oct 2018 (aaroads forum), NC 12 was placed on a new bridge over Oregon Inlet, replacing the Bonner Bridge.
In July 2022 (aaroads forum), NC 12 north out of Rodanthe was placed on a bridge to the west over Pamlico Sound. 0.57 miles of the south end in Rodanthe became SR 1558 while the other 1.78 miles that was frequently overrun by sand and ocean was completely abandoned.

The first NC 12 was an original state highway. It initially began at NC 10-11 (today's US 70-258 Bus, NC 11-55) Kinston, running to Snow Hill via Hookerton, Farmville, Tarboro, Scotland Neck via Speed and Hobgood; then northwest to end at NC 40 (current US 301) near Halifax.
The first change to 12 was an interesting legal case study. The 1931 book, The State Highway System of North Carolina: Its Evolution and Present Status by Cecil Kenneth Brown relayed the story of how the highway department wanted to give NC 12 a direct routing from Tarboro to Scotland Neck. However, residents of Speed and Hobgood objected to losing the state highway and pointed to the 1921 Legislative Map showing 12 going through their towns. The courts ruled the highway department had the right to move 12 and so they did. The routings can be seen in the next two scans below.
1925 brought two changes to NC 12:

(1) NC 12 was rerouted at Scotland Neck to continue northeast to NC 48 (current US 158) near Murfreesboro. This was a renumbering of NC 128 to Rich Square and new primary routing north of that. The old route to Halifax became part of NC 125 - note that a lot of old NC 12 is today's "old NC 125" in this area.

1922 Auto Trails NC 128's brief existence

1925 Official NC 12 replaces NC 128

(2) NC 12 was extended southeast from Kinston to end at NC 30 (current US 17) Pollocksville. This was a replacement for NC 303.

1924 Official NC 485 north of Murfreesboro

1925 Official NC 12 replaces NC 303

In 1927, NC 12 was extended through Murfreesboro, then north to the Virginia Line (becoming VA 108), replacing NC 485.
Also in 1927, US 117 was added to the northern few miles of NC 12.

1926 Official NC 485 north of Murfreesboro

1930 Official NC 12 replaces NC 485

In 1932, US 117 became US 158 and US 258 was added to NC 12 from Murfreesboro south to Kinston. Thus, NC 12 was dropped from this routing in the Great Renumbering. Only Kinston to Pollocksville remained intact as NC 12.
NC 12 was renumbered as NC 58 between 1956-58.

1954 Official NC 12 Kinston to US 17

1958 Official NC 58 replaces NC 12

"The Outer Banks" from a point opposite Roanoake Island to Ocracoke is traversed by a sandy trail over which an automobile can be driven with partially deflated tires. However, unless one is familiar with this mode of travel, local guide service is recommended.
Also described are the various ferries required. To reach Ocracoke from Hatteras one took a passenger ferry then used a bus. A separate ferry was available some years from Swanquarter to Ocracoke