Bodie Island Light Station and Visitor Center in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore
ca. 1995-2013
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In 1937, Congress designated Cape Hatteras, a portion of the Outer Banks in North Carolina, as the first National Seashore.
Driven by locals wishing to protect the recreation area, North Carolina residents partnered with the National Park Service to designate it as a no-development area, preserving the beaches for visitors. In the Outer Banks, 70 miles of shoreline was protected in order to maintain the scenic beach region of Cape Hatteras and its wildlife, including sea turtles and many species of birds.
The creation of the first National Seashore coincided with the expansion of the National Park Service beginning in the 1930s. During this period, NPS aimed to protect more natural resources and make them accessible to the public.
In the 1950s, studies of beaches showed how valuable seashore land had become, especially as an increasing number of beaches were becoming privately owned. Shortly after, there was an initiative to create more National Seashores, and by the end of the 1970s, Congress had established 10 National Seashores.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Federal Highway Administration.
National Archives Identifier:
7720856Full Citation: Outer Banks Scenic Byway - Bodie Island Light Station and Visitor Center in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore; ca. 1995-2013; Digital Photographs Relating to America's Byways, ca. 1995 - ca. 2013; Records of the Federal Highway Administration, Record Group 406; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/bodie-island-light-station-and-visitor-center-in-the-cape-hatteras-national-seashore, May 9, 2024]