Cape Hatteras National Seashore is an acknowledged national treasure, a sun-bleached strip of land along the Atlantic coast of North Carolina's Outer Banks [OBX] that contains some of America's most pristine beaches. Contemporary visitors to the barrier island chain tend to come for its adventure sports, lighthouses, surfing and world-class fishing, but Cape Hatteras also has a storied history. Historic Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a modern abridgement of Historic Resource Study: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina by Louis Torres. Author Torres [1921-2017] enjoyed a long and productive career as a historian with the federal government. During his tenure, Torres also wrote authoritative studies on Fort Stanwix National Monument in New York and the Washington Monument in Washington, D. C., among other works. Torres' original study of Cape Hatteras was first published by the Department of the Interior in 1985. The original work has been abridged, meticulously edited and is now made available to contemporary readers with digitally enhanced annotations, illustrations and page navigation. Historic Cape Hatteras National Seashore begins with the geography of the Outer Banks, describes the area's early indigenous populations, revisits the Revolutionary and Civil War periods, and reflects upon the modern era through the latter part of the 20th century. Readers of Historic Cape Hatteras National Seashore with come to appreciate the Cape as more than just the sum of its beaches. A Note on Spelling: Readers will find place-names like Chicamacomico, Hatteras, Kinnakeet and Ocracoke spelled in various ways throughout the text. This reflects the breadth of original sources Torres references in his study.

This study is a narrative history about the creation and establishment of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the major characters involved, and the key decisions they made.4 It follows a straightforward historical methodology. Park documents likely to provide factual information or to shed light on important events have been reviewed and presented in a chronological fashion. Where appropriate, the chronology is subdivided by topic as represented by various chapter and section headings. This method makes the document both easier to read and to reference. Major sources of information include park annual reports, official NPS correspondence relating to the park, newspaper clippings, and oral history interviews. Various NPS studies and publications are also used. All sources are carefully cited by notes. Where bias is obvious or points of view differ, sources are weighed against each other. The author's intent is to minimize speculation and to let the record speak for itself, although inferences and conclusions are stated where appropriate.