It's a Beautiful Morning

Topsail Island Beach Pier at sunrise, North Carolina
Local folklore claims the name, Topsail (pronounced Tops'l), originated during the 1700s... more

by Marcia Colelli

Title

It's a Beautiful Morning

Artist

Marcia Colelli

Medium

Photograph - Photographs

Description

Topsail Island Beach Pier at sunrise, North Carolina
Local folklore claims the name, Topsail (pronounced Tops'l), originated during the 1700s when pirate ships roamed the coastal waters. Historians explain that marauding pirates hid their ships in the channel behind the island and waited for passing merchant ships loaded with goods. The pirates would pursue and attack the merchants, claiming the cargoes as their own. Eventually the merchants became aware of this infamous hiding place and began to watch for the tops of the pirates' sails showing over the rolling dunes - hence the name Topsail Island.
Prior to World War II, the only access to Topsail Island was by boat. Area residents frequently made this short trip to picnic and search for the pirate Blackbeard's rumored buried treasure.
During World War II, the U.S. Navy took over the island and began a joint venture with Johns Hopkins University known as Operation Bumblebee. The waterway was dredged, roads were built, and fresh water was piped onto the island. Operation Bumblebee was the beginning of the space program for the United States Government. An arsenal center for the assembly and storage of rockets was built on the sound side of the island, and launching pads were constructed on the oceanfront. Concrete observation towers were built throughout the island to monitor the experimental launchings. Over 200 rocket launchings took place on the island between 1946 and 1948. When the testing program was dismantled, the government sold the island to the public. The Town of Topsail Beach was incorporated in 1963. Many of the original military structures still stand today. Many of the concrete observation towers have since been converted into private residences and places of business.
Canon 5D II

Featured:
Canon Full Frame Camera
Pleasing To The Eye
Shadows Silhouettes And Reflections Outdoors
Sunrise And Sunset Seascapes
Sunsets Sunrises Night And Moon Shots
USA Photographers Only
Seashells And The Seashore
Light Marvels 10-8-2022
Beach Moments 10-8-2022
Scenes From A Beach 10-9-2022
Water Forms 10-9-2022
SunriseSunsets 10-9-2022
Over 5000 Views 10-9-2022
If The Image Excites You 10-10-2022
Fine Art America Professionals 10-10-2022
Fine Art Exploration Photography 10-10-2022
Greatest Of All Time 10-10-2022
Art District 10-10-2022
Ocean Photography Only 10-12-2022 Pick of the Week' October 2022
1000 views Special Feature 10-13-2022
Art And Photography Submissions to PKA 10-13-2022
Art-It Is Good For You 10-15-2022
Light Marvels 10-16-2022
Your Very Best Photography 10-20-2022

Uploaded

July 24th, 2016