Since the earliest days of European exploration, mariners have heard tales and relayed their own stories of North Carolina's perilous shoreline. With bold capes jutting into the ocean, sandy shoals extending miles offshore, fickle weather, and treacherous currents, it is no wonder that the coastline of the Old North State came to be known as the "The Graveyard of the Atlantic." The inherent dangers of traveling North Carolina's coast long ago gave rise to a fascinating and world-renowned strand of lighthouses and lifesaving stations from Currituck to Cape Fear. For more than two centuries, these bright beacons of safety have guided ships into busy harbors, signaled dangerous navigational obstacles, and warmed the hearts of homesick travelers. Their unique shapes and stoic beauty, as well as the adventures and lore that surround them, have elevated North Carolina's lighthouses to a legendary level far beyond their practical purposes. Indeed, they have become symbols of a brave and triumphant way of life. As the use of satellite navigation increases, many of the lighthouses along the coast are being phased out of operation. Not surprisingly, a new wave of travelers have begun making pilgrimages, whether by land or sea, to visit these famous landmarks. Tourists from all over the world now make the journey to lighthouses at Currituck Beach, Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, and others. North Carolina Lighthouses and Lifesaving Stations presents to readers the tales behind the lighthouses, illuminating their past in both word and image.

No marine predator receives as much popular attention as the great white shark, yet this fascinating creature is still not well-known in all parts of its range. Author John Hairr brings some light to the travels of this species along the Florida coastline and in the Gulf of Mexico, through historical records and interviews with those divers, fishermen, and marine biologists fortunate enough to have encountered great whites in this region. Several photos of sharks captured by marine scientists and fishermen in southeastern waters are included.

For centuries they have been nature's perfect killing machines, trolling the seas for their prey in a never ending and terrifying ballet. When men have encountered them, they have provided the stuff of nightmares. In popular fiction, they are portrayed as being without pity, utterly efficient killers that can even sink boats and shatter cages designed to protect humans sharing the waters with them. But the reality, while having more than a little in common with how great white sharks are portrayed in fiction, is something quite different. Great white sharks are terrifying, yet majestic kings of their domain. In this book, author John Hairr tells the stories of those who have matched wits with these great beasts of the deep off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The Caribbean monk seal was once a thriving and significant part of the tropical marine ecosystem of Florida, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Today, it is believed extinct. John Hairr relates the history and fate of this fascinating and charismatic marine mammal, showing the reciprocal impact between man and seal. This story does not end happily, but it gives us good reason not to procrastinate in conservation efforts for other endangered species.

In March of 1781, Nathaniel Greene's militia and cavalry withstood a punishing frontal assault by Cornwallis at Guilford Courthouse deep in North Carolina territory. Although the British won the battle, fought on March 15, 1781, it left the British so weak that the Americans' road to victory at Yorktown began there.Da Capo's new "Battleground America" series offers a unique approach to the battles and battlefields of America. Each book in the series highlights a small American battlefield-sometimes a small portion of a much larger battlefield-and tells the story of the brave soldiers who fought there. Using soldiers' memoirs, letters and diaries, as well as contemporary illustrations, the human ordeal of battle comes to life on the page.All of the units, important individuals, and actions of each engagement on the battlefield are described in a clear and concise narrative. Detailed maps complement the text and illustrate small unit action at each stage of the battle. Then-and-now photographs tie the dramatic events of the past to the modern battlefield site and highlight the importance of terrain in battle. The present-day historical site of the battle is described in detail with suggestions for touring.