In the summer of 1973, Carolista Fletcher Baum took on a bulldozer to help save Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head. This summer, a historical marker has been placed in her honor.
On Aug. 15, 1973, Baum positioned herself in the path of a bulldozer sent to remove sand from Jockey’s Ridge, the tallest living sand dune on the East Coast.
“Defying the machine’s progress and finally engaging in a heartfelt conversation with the bulldozer’s operator, the driver departed the dune,” the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation said in a news release.
While local organizations had previously discussed protecting the expansive dune from encroaching development, it was Baum’s determination that transformed the idea into reality. Inspired by her dramatic protest, Baum co-founded the group People to Preserve Jockey’s Ridge, rallying support through fundraising initiatives and petition drives to capture the attention of state lawmakers and local officials.
In 1973, the Division of Parks and Recreation released a report advocating for the preservation of Jockey’s Ridge as a state park. A year later, the dune received designation as a National Natural Landmark. With the General Assembly’s allocation of funds in 1975, the preservation of the dune system was secured for future generations to protect and enjoy.
Kari Pugh, [email protected]
