Assateague Island History
One of the few places in the United States where you can see wild horses, Assateague Island, is a barrier island off the coast of Virginia and Maryland. The island is divided by the two states and the wild horses have been separated into two herds, with one herd living on the Virginia side of island and the other herd living on Maryland land. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east side and Sinepuxent Bay on the west, the island offers two miles of ocean beaches, and the bay side features secluded coves and marshlands filled with wildlife. Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, surfing and fishing while trying to catch a glimpse of the famous Chincoteague ponies.
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Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
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Established in 1943, the national wildlife refuge was established for the protection of migratory waterfowl habitat with particular emphasis on conserving the greater snow goose. Situated on the southern end of the Virginia side of the island, the refuge features more than 14,000 acres of beach, a maritime forest as well as salt marsh and freshwater marsh habitats. Home to a wide variety of migratory birds, plants and wildlife, it is one of the most visited refuges in the country.
Assateague Island National Seashore
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The National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service help to protect Assateague Island and in 1962, the Assateague Island National Seashore was established in the states of Virginia and Maryland. A resting and feeding location for migratory shorebirds, more than 320 species of birds can be found there. The Assateague Island National Seashore ensures recreational use of the island that does not endanger the perpetuation and maintenance of the seashore's natural environment.
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Wild Horses
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The wild horses on the island are descendants of domestic animals. and the most popular theory is that the original island horses were survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia coast. However, no records have confirmed the shipwreck story. It is also possible the horses were transported to the island by mainland owners during the late-17th century in an effort to avoid fencing laws and livestock taxation.
Regardless of how they arrived on the island, the horses have survived scorching heat, abundant mosquitoes, stormy weather and a lack of quality food to form a unique wild horse society. The two major herds of horses are separated by a fence at the Virginia/Maryland state line.
The National Park Service manages the Maryland herd, while the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company owns and manages the Virginia herd. The Virginia herd is allowed to graze on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge through a special use permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; those horses are often referred to as the Chincoteague ponies.
Lighthouse
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Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the first Assateague Lighthouse was built in 1833 to warn ocean travelers of the dangerous offshore shoals. In 1860, construction began on a taller, more brightly illuminated brick lighthouse, but because of the Civil War it was not completed until 1867. In 1910, a new assistant keeper's house was built, and in 1933, electric lamps replaced the lighthouse's oil lamps.
The U.S. Coast Guard transferred ownership of the lighthouse to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2004, and the U.S. Coast Guard maintains the light as an active navigational aid, while the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is responsible for preserving the lighthouse structure. Current visitors to the island will note that the assistant keeper's house is now used as a residence seasonal staff, and the old oil storage building has been converted into an art gallery during summer months.
Shipwrecks
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As coastal trade developed in the late 1800s and more ships traveled through the area, the number of shipwrecks increased. One of the most famous shipwrecks associated with the island involved President Benjamin Harrison's official yacht, the Dispatch. On Oct.10th, 1891, the yacht ran aground a little more than two miles east and 75 yards from the shore, just north of the area that is currently known as the Woodland Trail. While no one was killed when the 730 ton schooner-rigged steamship ran ashore just after 3 a.m., the ship that had been the official yacht of Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland and Harrison was damaged beyond repair.
Many ships were wrecked because of the difficulty of navigating the unpredictable offshore shoals; entrepreneurial island residents often stripped the stranded ships of their cargo. Although looting the ships was against the law, it was extremely difficult to enforce. New shipwreck sites are still discovered when storms blow through the area.
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