NC 12 : gateway to the Outer Banks /

Carr (The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: Sentinel of the Shoals) tells the background of North Carolina Highway 12 (NC 12), which connects the Outer Banks to the mainland. The title is not a guidebook to the area; those looking for a comprehensive history might refer to David Stick's The Outer Banks of North Carolina. Was the highway a threat, or the savior of the region? With extensive research the author examines how NC 12 came into being, the effects of its construction, how it's endured, and what the future holds for the road and the region. For years, the residents lived in isolation, cut off from the mainland. It was only when the Wright Brothers tested their plane at the town of Kitty Hawk in 1903 that the rest of the county became aware of the Outer Banks. The area remained secluded during World War II, and the U.S. government considered using the location as an atomic test site. When Cape Hatteras National Seashore was designated in 1953, tourism increased, and government finally felt pressure to combine 130 miles of local roads and bridges to form Highway 12. VERDICT This book will appeal to readers of North Carolina history and those who want to know more about the effects of development on fragile ecosystems in general.--Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., WI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.