In the 1800s, Shackleford Banks and South Core Banks were one island. A 1933 hurricane cut them in two, creating Barden Inlet. Although the inlet might have closed naturally, it has remained open because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers keeps it open through dredging for navigation. Because Barden Inlet remains open, tidal currents erode this shore and threaten historic structures. During Hurricane Isabel in 2003, high water destroyed the coal shed. The shoreline moved several hundred feet closer to the Keeper’s Quarters between 1978 and 2004, reflecting an ongoing dilemma over whether to try to save the historic light station or let natural processes continue.