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Surf City is The largest
Town on Topsail Island. Topsail has a rich and varied history. Local folklore claims the name, Topsail (pronounced Tops'l)
originated during the 1700's when pirate ships roamed the coastal waters. Historians explain that marauding pirates hid their
ships in the channel behind the island and waited for passing merchant vessels loaded with goods. The Pirates would pursue
and attack the merchants claiming the cargoes as their own. Eventually the merchants became aware of this infamous hiding
place and began watching for the tops of the pirate's sails showing over the rolling dunes, hence the name Topsail.
Prior to WWII the only access to Topsail Island was by boat. Area residents frequently made this short trip and picniced
on the beautiful sandy beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Local farmers often drove their livestock across the waterways to graze
on wild grass. Treasure hunters searched for Blackbead's infamous buried treasure throughout the maritime forests covering
the island.
During the war the US Navy Deptartment took over the island and in cooperation with
Johns Hopkins University began operation Bumble Bee. Operation Bumble Bee was the beginning of the US space program for the
US Government. An arsenal was built for assembly and storage of rockets on the sound side of the island while Launching pads
were constructed on the oceanfront. Concrete observation towers were built throughout the island to moniter the experimental
scram jet powered vehicles. Over 200 launchings took place between 1946 and 1948. When the program was discontinued the government
sold the island to the public. Many of the original military structures remain today.
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