Q: How was the Ocean City inlet formed?
The Ocean City Inlet was formed during a significant hurricane in 1933, which also destroyed the train tracks across the Sinepuxent Bay. The inlet separated what is now Ocean City from Assateague Island. The Army Corps of Engineers took advantage of nature's intervention and made the inlet at the south end of Ocean City permanent. The inlet eventually helped to establish Ocean City as an important Mid-Atlantic fishing port as it offered easy access to the fishing grounds of the Atlantic Ocean.
Q: What is the history behind the Bethany Beach totem pole?
Bethany Beach's landmark sculpture of "Chief Little Owl" was officially dedicated during a 45-minute ceremony Monday, July 15, 2002.
The statue, depicting a Nanticoke Indian chief with a north-facing eagle atop his head, was unveiled by a town staff member.
Remarks from Peter Toth, the sculptor who carved Bethany Beach's first "Whispering Giant" in 1976 as well as the new one, were followed
by comments and a dedication ritual by Charles Clark, former assistant chief of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe.
Clark expressed appreciation to Toth, who carved the first "Chief Little Owl" in 1976 as part of a project in which he has now placed a totem pole in each of the
50 states and another 15 in Canada. His purpose in doing so, he said, was to promote unity among all people.
The new Whispering Giant is carved from a red cedar log from Alaska, which Toth said he personally selected.
The sculpture it replaced was carved from white oak and showed signs of serious damage after seven years.
The red cedar sculpture is expected to last from 50 to 100 years.
Q: How did the ponies arrive at Assateague?
There are two theories; the shipwreck and the settlers. The ponies arrived over 300 years ago and there are no records to confirm either theory.
Shipwreck survivors:
Local folklore describes the Assateague horses as cargo survivors from the wreck of a Spanish galleon that sank near the coastline.
Settlers' horses:
During the 17th century free-roaming horses, cows, sheep and pigs caused expensive crop damage to local farms. Farmers were required to pay taxes on all mainland livestock and fence them in. These resourceful coastal residents looked for ways to avoid paying this tax. They turned to nearby Assateague Island with its abundance of food, shelter and a natural “corral” made of water to solve their problem.
