Editing Harkers Island, North Carolina (section)

===The National Seashore===
The [[Shackleford Banks]] played an important economic role for the people of Harkers Island throughout much of the 20th century. Islanders continued to use the Banks for livestock grazing, including sheep, goats, cattle, and horses. Harkers Island fishermen first built seasonal camps and later cottages on the Banks. A herd of [[wild horse]]s on the Shackleford Banks provided new colts every spring to those from Harkers Island who rounded them up. The islanders viewed the improvements of cottages, horse [[pen (enclosure)|corrals]], and campsites as an extension of their economic livelihood on Harkers Island.<ref name="prioli"/>

All of that would change with the government determination to acquire the barrier islands for public park land. The state of North Carolina began purchasing land on the Core Banks and Shackleford Banks in 1959 with the intention of creating a state park. The federal government became interested a few years later, and envisioned the Outer Banks of North Carolina being included in a string of national seashores stretching the length of the United States Atlantic coast. After negotiations between the state of North Carolina and the [[United States Department of the Interior]], the [[United States Congress]] passed a law authorizing the creation of a [[Cape Lookout National Seashore]], which was signed into law by President [[Lyndon Baines Johnson]] on March 10, 1966.<ref name="calo">National Park Service (2007). [http://www.nps.gov/calo/ Cape Lookout National Seashore]. Retrieved Mar. 20, 2007.</ref>

Conversion of the Banks to a national park brought much turmoil to Harkers Island. Many Harkers Island fishermen discovered that cottages and other improvements they had made on the Banks were on land that would be [[eminent domain|condemned]]. Many land [[deed]]s had recording errors, some had been poorly surveyed, and natural changes to the shorelines affected many claims. Few of the cottages that had been built were on land that the builders owned. Legal eviction and condemnation proceedings lasted into the 1980s. The creation of the park also ended the open grazing of livestock on the Banks by December 31, 1985. A herd of wild horses, allegedly descended from Spanish horses that swam to shore from [[shipwreck]]s in the 16th century, was allowed to remain on the Banks. In late December of that year, a series of arson fires destroyed most of the major structures on the Shackleford Banks, including a recently constructed park visitor center. An inquiry by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] failed to discover the arsonists.<ref name="prioli"/>

The creation of the National Seashore marked the end of a lifestyle practiced by many Harkers Island residents. Fishing and boat building remain important components of the community's economy, but are increasingly augmented with [[tourism]]. Visitors arrive at Harkers Island seeking access to the National Seashore, for [[sport fishing]] opportunities, and to experience the local cultural heritage of the islands.