Cape Hatteras National Seashore

One of the most distinct and spectacular aspects of the Outer Banks is the natural, scenic and remote condition of so much of a vast coastal area that is close to major population centers along the East Coast. The fact that this pristine wilderness still exists and is publicly accessible is largely due to the 1937 establishment of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, America’s first national seashore. History also played a role, as the National Park Service was given responsibility for preserving historic areas shortly before the creation of the seashore, which The New York Times called “one of the most important conservation measures ever voted upon by Congress.” 

The seashore preserves and protects more than 28,000 acres, including 75 miles of pristine beaches, historic sites and quaint beach communities. The narrow barrier islands of Cape Hatteras National Seashore have been witness to Civil War battles, the life and death of the pirate Blackbeard, thousands of shipwrecks, the advent and demise of the US Lifesaving Service, and even World War II U-Boat attacks. These tiny strips of land, some 20 miles out in the ocean, are constantly changing by tide, storm, current and wind, and remain remote and unspoiled.