Life on assateague island has adapted to an existence. Located on the east coast along the atlantic ocean in maryland and virginia, assateague island is the largest natural barrier island ecosystem in the middle atlantic states region that remains predominantly unaffected by human development. In 1963, the federal government proposed to block development and create a public park, the assateague island. The area where this vehicle was located was out of that off roading zone and that is restricted for vehicles, for good reason, said robert fudge, a park ranger for the assateague island national. The island is 37 miles 60 km long, and the park, established as a national seashore in 1965, occupies some 75 square miles 195 square km of land and water. Assateague island a national seashore visitors guide. Edwin bearss, published his general background study and historical base map.
For example, the famous chincoteague ponies are a presentday reminder of assateague islands past. Thus was stated the primary purpose of assateague island national seashore in its 1965 authorizing legislation. Assateague island protects chincoteague island from the atlantic ocean. It is located on assateague island, a barrier island bordered by the atlantic ocean on the east and the sinepuxent bay on the west. Commercial campgrounds are available on the neighboring island of chincoteague, virginia. Assateague island national seashore maryland the national seashore is open 24 hours and the assateague island visitor center is open daily from 9 a. Chincoteague island is separated by water from the mainland to the west and assateague island to the east source. Stop at the visitor centers to discover other ways to enjoy your park. Visitors to assateague island can stay in chincoteague or ocean city since there are no hotel accommodations on the island. Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves.
Backcountry camping is also available for campers who wish to. Rome2rio makes travelling from boston to assateague island national seashore easy. The maryland herd is managed by the national park service, while the virginia herd is owned by. Assateague island national seashore, marylandvirginia island partners in preservation also covers assateague state park md. Life on assateague island has adapted to an existence on the move. An ultimate comprehensive guide to assateague national park key features. A major departure from the spanish shipwreck legend was made when the national park service historian, mr. Assateague island is a great place to visit anytime of the year and also a great place to see wildlife. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Assateague state park is marylands only oceanfront park.
Camping at assateague island national seashore is permitted only on the maryland side of assateague. Welcome to the assateague island national seashore facebook page. A ssateague island national seashore, stretching 37 miles from virginia into maryland is one of the worlds best beaches for communing with nature. Find out more about hunting opportunities at assateague island national seashore. The national park service was able to include the entire island and surrounding waters as. A two mile portion of the maryland district is assateague state park est. We hope this will become a place where fans feel comfortable sharing information and experiences about assateague island national seashore with one another. Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Assateague island ns md unit shop americas national parks.
The story of how it got divvied up goes back a few hundred years. The national wildlife refuge system began in 1903 when president theodore roosevelt set aside a tiny island off the east coast of florida for the protection of pelicans and other species of birds from market hunters. This 37milelong barrier island along the atlantic coasts of maryland and virginia includes adjacent marsh islands and ocean waters. Only half an hour from the resort of ocean city or assateague island national park with wild ponies, and 40 minutes from chincoteague virginia, offering. Remnants of assateague islands history can still be found throughout the refuge. This book is a mustadd for your collection if you love the outdoors, animals yes, including, but not limited to assateagues famous ponies, stunning photography, conservation of our planet, or you just have a fine appreciation of maryland and its outdoor wonders. Assateague island national seashore virginia is for lovers. This is a detail map of assateague island, focusing on the roads and. The park provides visitors with plenty of recreational activities including biking, canoeing, swimming, surfing, and horseback riding. Here is the official assateague island national seashore map, showing both the maryland and virginia sections of the park.
Assateague island national seashore about facebook. Assateague island is actually part of two states maryland and virginia and has a fence line separating the two. Assateague state park is also located on maryland side of assateague and provides over 300 campsites. For more information on camping at assateague island national seashore, call 4106430. For more information contact the chincoteague chamber of commerce at 757 3366161.
Each of these tour boat operations has a commercial use authorization permit from the national park service which allows them to operate their tours within the boundary of the assateague island national seashore. Kayaking is just one of the ways to explore assateague. The bayside offers visitors the chance to explore secluded. Assateague island is 37 miles long and actually home to three separately managed parks. There is no camping available in the virginia district of assateague island. Assateague island national seashore 2020 all you need to. Purchase books, videos and more that made chincoteague wild ponies famous. Visitors also enjoy observing wild horses in their sandy maritime habitat. To avert opposition from the maryland department of forests and parks and the bureau of sport fisheries and wildlife, assateague state park and chincoteague national wildlife refuge would.
Issued in april 1963, the report recommended establishment of an assateague island national seashore under the park service, encompassing the entire island. These history books cover everything from famous americans, travel guides to our national parks, histories of. As nps pursues endtoend science and adaptation projects in sequoia national park, assateague island national seashore, and other areas, changes in climate, ecological response, and future emissions will necessitate changes in adaptation measures. Complete offline map and offline data camp ground details. Mark hendricks debut photo essay on assateague island is a case study in nature photography with soul, purpose, and mission. Campsite reservations are recommended, call 877 4446777. Assateague island national parks conservation association. On the virginia side of assateague island, chincoteague national wildlife refuge is owned and managed by the u. Click the image to view a full size jpg 450 kb or download the pdf 1. National park service provides bayside and oceanside campsite year round. Available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. In a kid and adult friendly manner, it talks about assateague island, ponies and the history of assateague and its ponies. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection.
Sights on assateague island assateague island national seashore. Boston to assateague island national seashore 3 ways to. This book is a mustadd for your collection if you love the outdoors, animals yes, including, but not limited to assateague s famous ponies, stunning photography, conservation of our planet, or you just have a fine appreciation of maryland and its outdoor wonders. In this rather amorphous chapter, encompassing some of the major visitor pursuits and those park functions aimed at serving and regulating them, we touch upon what the seashore is most about. The entire island is a wildlife sanctuary, protected from development. Enjoy their beauty from a distance, and you can help make sure these extraordinary wild horses will continue to.
The national park service offers guided walks, talks and special programs. It has a lot of really interesting facts and it is a great find whether you are sitting at home reading about it or actually visiting the island. Assateague island national seashore, assateague state park. Assateague island national seashore, natural area including assateague island a barrier island and several nearby islets off the atlantic ocean coast of southeastern maryland and eastern virginia, u. The anniversary provides an opportunity to recall the islands rich and colorful history, from plans in the early part of the last century to preserve assateague as a national park to intense. The 10 best assateague island hotel deals may 2020.
Assateague island marking 50 years as national park. Dedicated on september 21, 1965, assateague island national seashore sits off the coast between maryland and virginias eastern shores. Assateague island national seashore national seashore. Its two miles of ocean beaches offer swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, surfing and fishing. Assateague island is a barrier island which lies to the east of chincoteague island. Anyone who wanted to go stargazing should go to the national park side of assateague because that is the darkest part of the island a great spot for doing that and the further. The book collection at americas national parks features american history books, educational books, and more to broaden your understanding of americas nuanced history. While this is an open forum, it is also a family friendly one, so please keep your comments and wall posts clean. Visit the park wildlife lighthouse birdwatching map fishing. The park offers an extraordinary beach experience that allows visitors to enjoy wildlife and outdoor activities in a beautiful natural setting. Assateague island national seashore by barry mackintosh, 1982, history division, national park service, dept. Here youll find windswept beaches, maritime forest, coastal bay waters and nature at its best on one of americas last.
Assateague island national seashore is a unit of the national park service system of the u. Although no one is certain when or how the ponies first arrived on the island, a popular legend tells of ponies that escaped from a shipwrecked spanish galleon. Assateague island national seashore 1982 edition open. There are multiple boat tours that leave from chincoteague island and explore the back bays and marshlands of assateague island. Tourists are fascinated by them, children dream of them, but science is painting a less romantic portrait of the wild horses that roam the national seashore here. Pictures aside, my favorite part is how informative it is. See more ideas about chincoteague island, island and chincoteague ponies. Assateague island national seashore chincoteague u. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. The maryland side of assateague and waters surrounding the entire island became a national seashore on september 21, 1965 for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Find all the transport options for your trip from boston to assateague island national seashore right here. Fish and wildlife service fws, with the exception of 448 acres in national park service nps holdings. History and culture assateague island national seashore. Assateague island national seashore assateague island is divided between the states of maryland and virginia.
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