Chincoteague Revisited: A Sojourn to the Chincoteague and Assateague Islands

Chincoteague Revisited: A Sojourn to the Chincoteague and Assateague Islands
by Dorothy Camagna and Jennifer Cording

The book begins . . . “Surely few places on earth can rival this tiny island called Chincoteague. Whispers of its proud seafaring heritage echo in the corners of weathered fish houses and across wooden boat docks jetting into sheltered bays, before dissipating on a salt breeze . . . But there are other, newer rhythms here, too. In the mid-20th Century, a gold and white pony captured the imaginations of millions, with the release of the classic children’s book, Misty of Chincoteague. Soon visitors flocked to the island’s Pony Penning made famous by the book, and discovered Chincoteague’s other quaint charms.” Few other descriptions of the Island have captured the essence of Chincoteague so completely.

Dorothy Camagna’s gorgeous photography meshes nicely with Jennifer Cording’s text to give the reader a true sense of Island life. Separate sections of the book focus on the community of Chincoteague and on the Refuge, providing compelling stores of people, places and Island heritage. The final section – Transitions – highlights the fragile ecological balance of these and similar barrier islands.

Although we like all of the photographs throughout the book, Campagna’s aerial shots are particularly stunning. They capture the beauty and scope of the Islands in a way that those of us at ground level rarely see. If you haven’t visited Chincoteague, the images will make you wonder why you haven’t made your way here yet. For those who visit regularly, Chincoteague Revisited is a celebration of all of the reasons why Chincoteague is a special place. For more information, click here.