Chincoteague Island Drawbridge

This bridge was demolished in January of 2011. The current bridge replaced an old swing bridge that online records say was built around 1940. The number of photographs and paintings of the old bridge may equal the number of people who passed over the bridge during the 70 years it served Chincoteague Island. Assateague Island is a Barrier Island which lies to the east of Chincoteague Island. Assateague Island protects Chincoteague Island from the Atlantic Ocean. Assateague Island is approximately 38 miles long. The entire Island is a wildlife sanctuary, protected from development. The northern portion of Assateague Island is in Maryland, the southern portion is in Virginia. Visitors can access the north end of Assateague Island near Ocean City, MD. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) is located at the southern end of Assateague Island, near Chincoteague Island. A short bridge connects Chincoteague Island to Assateague Island. Entering Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, visitors are immediately surrounded by the splendor of unspoiled nature. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge includes more than 14,000 acres of beach, maritime forest, saltmarsh, and freshwater marsh. The Refuge is home to a spectacular variety of migratory birds, plants, and other animals. Chincoteague Na