Limited Edition Tornado Print by
Walter V. Gresham, III

July 31, 1978: It was a hot lazy summer day on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Then, without warning, the tranquility of the day was violently shattered. A huge waterspout developed just off the shore of Kill Devil Hills. Over a period of about 10 minutes it wobbled slowly northwest toward shore and hundreds of terrified fleeing beach goers.

As it made landfall the funnel turned from a light blue color to black. It proceeded to cross the dune line and in its path was the Wilbur Wright Motel, which was destroyed. Then crossed the beach road just north of the Stop 'N Shop on Collington Road. At this point continued generally west down Collington Road destroying a number of homes in its path. Unfortunately there was one person killed in that area, but could have been many more. As the tornado was nearing the By-Pass it finally dissipated and went back up into the clouds."

This limited edition print is a 16 X20 black & white photograph of this stunning natural phenomenon. The photo appeared in newspapers worldwide and is now being released as a limited edition of only 1,000 prints, each one signed and numbered by the photographer, Walter V. Gresham, III.