31st, 1949 which made it the last horse-drawn railway in Germany. In 1981, upon construction of the new harbour, the diesel train was put out of service. At the same time, the horse-drawn railway was reinstated for tourists and continues to operate to this day. Tourism Spiekeroog was a frequent vacation destination for various German presidents. Gustav Heinemann, Richard von Weizsäcker and Johannes Rau (who got married on the island) spent their holidays here. As a North Sea coastal resort the island is home to various health institutions including a wellness centre, a mother/child health centre and an island spa. Spiekeroog has a capacity of 3,500 beds for guests - counting all hotels, pensions, private rooms, vacation apartments and health and leisure centres. According to a 2003 survey, 64,000 tourists visit the island yearly, with 554,000 overnight stays and 81,000 daytime visitors. The average stay on the island is 5.8 days. Beside hotels, pensions and vacation apartments, there is a campsite on the western part of the island. It is open from May to September. Places of interest The "Old Island Church" (Protestant) was built in 1696 and is therefore the oldest of all the churches on the East Frisian Islands. The portrait of the Virgin Mary within the church is supposed to have come from a ship of the Spanish Armada that was stranded on Spiekeroog in 1588. Drinkeldodenkarkhof, also known as "Cemetery of the Homeless" is the graveyard for the 84 victims from the sinking of the ship Johanne in 1854. The Island Museum shows historical artefacts from the island, the development of the coastal resort and the nature on the island. The Shell Museum at Kogge House has an exhibition of 2000 shells from all over the world. Since 2007 the Bronze sculpture „De Utkieker“ (Height 3,50 m) by the German sculptor Hannes Helmke is standing on a dune, looking over the sea. It is a symbol for preserving the island as a natural jewel. The National Park Center Wittbülten is situated at two kilometres East from Spiekeroog village, surrounded by sand dunes and salt marshes covered with Sea Lavender. The exhibition displays a Sperm Whale skeleton and many interactive and multimedial objects explaining the island's habitats. The tidal flats tours are other of the main attractions of the island. From April to September (depending on holiday times), a horse-drawn railway operates between the old railway station