The year of 1650 marks the first land grant issued on Chincoteague Island, for 1,500 acres (6.1 km2). Daniel Jenifer became the first English landowner. In 1671, settlers came to the island, and by 1672 there were large farms by Bishops, Bowdens, Jesters and Tarrs. By 1838, there were 36 houses on the island, and in 1861 the island voted 132-2 not to secede from the Union and against slavery. The town saw minor action in the war via the Battle of Cockle Creek fought in the bay in 1861.
The Native American name for the island is Gingoteague, and the name of the town "Chincoteague" first appeared in the Decisions of the United States Board on Geographical Names in 1943.
In 1962, a major nor'easter winter storm, the Ash Wednesday Storm, struck the coast. The town was completely underwater, and went for days without electricity. The storm destroyed almost all structures on Assateague Island, where development was just beginning. Following this, most of the island was preserved from development as Assateague Island National Seashore in 1965.
Legend has it that the feral ponies on Assateague are descendants of survivors of a Spanish galleon that sank on its way to Spain during a storm in 1750 off the east coast, but the likelihood is that they are actually descended from domesticated stock, brought to the island by Eastern Shore farmers in the 17th century to avoid fencing requirements and taxation.
In the Pony Penning, which has been held annually since 1925, horses swim across the shallow water between the islands. If any animal is too small or weak to make the swim, they are placed on a barge and ferried over. All the horses are herded into large pens after running through the middle of town and down Main Street. Pony Penning takes place on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. The actual swim occurs on Wednesday, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company auctions that year's foals on Thursday, and on Friday the remaining ponies swim back to Assateague. - wiki
The Assateague Lighthouse is located on the Virginia portion of Assateague Island. The Coast Guard has maintained the lighthouse for many years. Ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the Fish & Wildlife Service from the Coast Guard in 2004. While the U.S. Coast guard still maintains the light as an active navigational aid, the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is responsible for preserving the lighthouse. The top of the lighthouse is accessible to the public (see the visitor schedule). It is still operational and one of the most impressive landmarks in Virginia. If you are a visitor that desires a panoramic view of the Assateague Lighthouse, then consider the Assateague cruise or kayak trip from the neighbor island of Chincoteague, Virginia.
The Assateague Lighthouse is approximately 1/4 mile away from Chincoteague Island and visitors can drive there from Chincoteague in about 5 minutes. You can ride a bicycle or walk on the trail that leads from Chincoteague over to Assateague Island. The trail is maintained by the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service at Assateague Island. Visitors to the Maryland side of Assateague can drive to this area in about an hour. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is home of the lighthouse.
The original lighthouse was constructed here in 1833 at a cost of approximately $55,000. In 1860, construction on a taller, more powerfully illuminated brick lighthouse began, but was delayed by the Civil War. After the war, work resumed and the lighthouse was completed in 1867. Assateague's lighthouse has twin rotating lights that flash one after the other from a height of 154 feet above sea level. The lights can be seen 19 miles out to sea. The Assateague Lighthouse stands 142 feet high, its base over 27 feet in diameter.
The Assateague Lighthouse is an active navigational aid and is in the National Register of Historic places. In 1933 the lighthouse was converted to be electrically operated, and its first light was a candle lantern. The Assateague Lighthouse has warned passing ships and local waterman of the shallow waters off Assateague for many years. Approximately 1,182 people traveled through this historic lighthouse at Assateague Island during Wildlife Refuge Week 2000 and visitors continually visit this special part of Virginia to see the lighthouse.
The National Wildlife Refuge System reached its 100th Anniversary in 2003. The National Wildlife Refuge at Assateague is an excellent place for birdwatching and outdoor activities after you visit the lighthouse. The Wildlife Refuge provides a great place to learn about history and increase understanding of the ever changing environment. When the Assateague lighthouse was first built, it was on the southern most end of Assateague Island. The land now south of the lighthouse is actually new land, that has grown out about 2 miles since the lighthouse was first built.
3 окт 2024
