New walkway

If you've visited Ocracoke even once (even if you just drove through on your way to the Hatteras ferry), you surely know about the Lighthouse. Odds are good that you know about the British Cemetery. And if you've visited fairly recently, you most likely noticed the historic marker commemorating the Beach Jumpers, on Highway 12 just outside the village.

But did you know that there's a Civil War marker on Ocracoke? I bet many people haven't noticed it, as it's all the way at the end of the big NPS parking lot (the one with the OPS museum at one end, and the NPS boat launch at the other). Anyway, I ate dinner at one of the picnic tables at the end of that parking lot while watching the sunset recently and noticed that a walkway is being built to the Civil War marker. I had heard about the possibility of a walkway being added, but didn't know the project had become a reality. This will surely make the marker accessible to folks with disabilities (it was previously surrounded by grass - maybe difficult to get to in a wheelchair or by someone who has trouble walking if the ground is not level). But I suspect it might have the consequence of ensuring more people notice (and visit) the marker, too. It was pretty easy to miss the marker itself, even if you drove all the way down to the end of the parking lot, if you didn't happen to look over in the direction of where it sits. The walkway is a bit more obvious and will possibly draw attention to the marker as visitors wonder what the walkway leads to. Guess we'll see. (Or not. I'm not planning to study the issue.) :)