In 1967, Henry Pigott sold his North Carolina island home to help create Cape Lookout National Seashore; a life estate let him stay until his death as Portsmouth Village’s last male resident

In 1967, Henry Pigott sold his North Carolina island home to help create Cape Lookout National Seashore; a life estate let him stay until his death as Portsmouth Village's last male resident

When the federal government began bringing the windswept barrier islands of eastern North Carolina under protected parkland, a quiet property deal near Pamlico Sound helped bring the story of a once-thriving coastal community to an end. In 1967, Henry Pigott agreed to sell his property on Portsmouth Island to help create Cape Lookout National Seashore. … Read more

In the early 1960s, developers sold 5,850 lots for a private resort on Assateague Island; one five-day storm wiped out nearly every house and helped turn it into a national seashore

In the early 1960s, developers sold 5,850 lots for a private resort on Assateague Island; one five-day storm wiped out nearly every house and helped turn it into a national seashore

The island was protected as a National Seashore in 1965. (Picture: NPS) Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland is known for its undeveloped beaches, wildlife and natural coastal habitats. But plans were once in place to turn large parts of Assateague into a resort community with homes, roads, commercial areas and other infrastructure.The island’s story … Read more