History & Culture

Black and white image of Beach Apparatus Drill reenactment. A group of surfmen are in the foreground pulling a rope on the sand. Another person stands in the background. — A reenactment of the Beach Apparatus Drill, used to send lines out to shipwrecks for Breeches Bouy or Life Car rescues.
NPS Photo

Although Cape Lookout National Seashore is well known for its surf fishing, wide beaches, wild horses, and shore birds, the area also boasts a rich and colorful human history. These islands have been home to fishermen, whalers, and stockmen. They have borne witness to shipwrecks and daring rescues. Take a moment to journey through the human struggles and triumphs that occurred on these islands.