Topsail is steeped in maritime and military history. Visitors can retrace Blackbeard the Pirates travels in the local waters during the 1700s. Today, many visitors bring metal detectors, snorkel and scuba gear to explore the inlets and beaches in search of 18th century pirate booty.
Following World War II, Topsail Island was used by the US Government for a secret missile test site. This project, Operation Bumblebee, was among one of the early developments of the nations missile program. The Ram jet engine, as significant to jet travel as the first-flight is to propeller driven travel, was developed on Topsail Island.
Topsail Island is located five miles east of US Highway 17 via North Carolinas Route 210 and Route 50. Travel across a landmark swing bridge on Route 50 to Surf City and the center of the island or by Route 210 over a high-rise bridge to North Topsail Beach, the northern-most town on the island.
