Along the coast of Maryland and Virginia - scarcely more than a few yards from the mainland - is a chain of barrier islands which, since their creation during the glacial and subglacial periods, have stubbornly resisted onslaughts of nature and abuse by man. They have sheltered wildlife, sustained the shipwrecked, held small settlements and offered their wealth of scientific study. From the time of the first European explorers, these islands have been available for use and misuse, and now with the aid of both state and federal funds they are beginning to receive the recognition they deserve. The island of Assateague, the outermost of these islands, is long and narrow, about 33 miles in length, and its story is for the most part an unwritten history. Little has been recorded of the islanders themselves, especially their daily lives, their activities, and their thoughts. Tales have been handed down but they are often so general and mixed up with assumptions that one is not sure whether they are truths or legends. This brief history attempts to provide a bit of background, from the Indians and early European explorers, to today's efforts to preserve for future generations the natural beauty and grandeur of this unique coastal wilderness.
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