Cape Lookout National Seashore protects fifty-six miles of North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks between Ocracoke Inlet and Beaufort Inlet, including North Core Banks, South Core Banks, and Shackleford Banks. Unlike more developed resort areas, these barrier islands remain largely undeveloped and are known for the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, historic villages on Core Banks, and wild horses on Shackleford Banks. Authorized in 1966 and further recognized in 1986 for its natural significance, the seashore preserves dunes, marshes, and maritime habitats. Storms have repeatedly shaped this exposed Atlantic coast landscape, while ongoing preservation work supports its historic districts and remote, intact character.