LIGHTHOUSE INFORMATION

Welcome to the Lighthouse information page. Enjoy taking a quick tour of the lighthouses found on the Outer Banks of North Carolina by viewing pictures and reading information and history of each lighthouse.

Lighthouses are a signature of America's Maritime History; it is the symbol of the United States Lighthouse Service and a memorial to hundreds of caring professional men and women who made this coastline safer for venturing mariners and travelers.

The U.S. Lighthouse Establishment, as it was first named, was created and given the responsibility for all aids to navigation by the ninth act of the first congress in 1789. U.S.L.H.E. was placed under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, who had been appointed by President George Washington. The "Lighthouse Service", the common name for this organization, built the tall coastal lights along North Carolina's shores, as well as the smaller sound and river lights. In 1939, the Lighthouse Service was merged into the U.S. Coast Guard. The history of the Lighthouse Service is one of dedication in keeping the lights burning on American coasts, lakes, and inland waterways.

Information about North Carolina's eight lighthouses:

Bald Head Island

The first lighthouse structure here was completed in 1795 and was ordered to be destroyed due to erosion along the river. Funds were approved for a new light station.

This new octagonal tower was completed in 1818 and is affectionately known as "Old Baldy". Bald Head Island got its nickname from the dunes, as they were worn down they looked like a bald head.

This lighthouse retains its importance today as one of the oldest historic structures in North Carolina. Built from the old eight-sided plans for lighthouses prevalent prior to the Civil War called "federal octagonals," the exterior appears mottled because of a cement coating. It is the only known federal octagonal that is built of brick instead of stone. Following the Civil War, American lighthouses became designed in a conical shape to render them less resistant to wind.

This lighthouse is no longer in service but is still an Aid to Navigation and is maintained by the Old Baldy Foundation.

Popular folklore says that the island got its name because of the many bodies that were found around it, washed up from shipwrecks.

There were two lighthouses built prior to the current structure. The first lighthouse stood 54 feet tall and was positioned just south of the Oregon Inlet. Unfortunately this lighthouse had structural shortcomings and the poorly constructed foundation started developing cracks and leaks. It settled off-center and began to sink, so the decision was made to rebuild and not try to attempt to repair it.

Eleven years after the original lighthouse was built, the Army Corps of Engineers designed another tower. This new tower was eighty feet tall with white washed brick. It was equipped with a third order Fresnel lens. Two years after the lighthouse went in service, The Civil War began. The Confederates lost control of the Outer Banks. In order to keep the Union soldiers from using the lighthouse, the Confederates blew it up.

The current lighthouse was completed in 1872. This slender, conical-shaped tower was built with leftover materials from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Not currently opened to the public; its first-order Fresnel lens, continues to warn against the uncertain sands of Oregon Inlet.

Cape Hatteras

Now safely away from the water's edge, the 198-foot lighthouse was moved in 1999. The tallest brick lighthouse in North America, it warns seafarers of a deadly stretch of shoals with its first-order Fresnel lens.

The original tower was completed in 1802 but wasn't lit until 1803, due to not having a keeper. Shortly after construction, it appeared that the light wasn't enough to reach the treacherous shoals. So between 1845 and 1854, a series of repairs, modification and additions were made. However, the modifications made were still not adequate to light the Cape.

Nothing further was done until the Civil War. During the war, the lighthouse served as a lookout post. Before the Union army arrived, the lighting system was removed to prevent the use of the lighthouse. What happened to the Frensel lens is one of the mysteries of the Outer Banks.

The current lighthouse is equipped with a first order Frensel lens and was lit on December 18, 1870.

For more information and pictures of the moving of the lighthouse see the book written by Cheryl Shelton-Roberts "Moving Hatteras: Relocating the Cape Hatteras Light Station to Safety" in our selection of books.

Cape Lookout

The first lighthouse was built in 1812 and was constructed of two towers (one was constructed inside of the other). This tower was 96 feet tall and had numerous problems. Its light wasn't bright enough and the tower had cracked. Attempts were made to renovate the new tower. The lighthouse stood next to the present day lighthouse well until after the Civil War.

During the Civil War, like most lighthouses this light became important. The area surrounding the Cape served as a Confederate military stronghold. Before leaving the lighthouse, the Confederates attempted to blow up both beacons so they could not be used by Union soldiers. The original lighthouse was almost destroyed and the blast severely damaged the lens on the new tower.

Completed in 1859 the 165-foot guardian at Cape Lookout served as the North Carolina architectural model for lighthouse construction following the Civil War.

Cape Lookout is still in service but is no longer maintained by the Coast Guard but comes under the Cape Lookout National Sea Shore. By day, its diamond-shaped, black-and-white pattern continues to warn mariners of the sandy fingers of Lookout Shoals and cautions them by night through the dangerous waters with its flashing aero beacon.

Currituck Beach

The only red-head in the family, the 162-foot lighthouse at Corolla still wears natural brick-all 1 million of them-to distinguish it from its neighbors to the south.

The lighthouse was approved by Congress in the 1860's but due to the Civil War construction was delayed. It was decided by the Lighthouse Board to leave Currituck unpainted so that it would not resemble the other lighthouses further south.

Activated on December 1, 1875, the first-order Fresnel light marks the northernmost lighthouse along North Carolina's 301-mile coastline.

Oak Island

The 169 foot tower was one of the last lighthouses built in America. There were 2 other lighthouses prior to the current one, constructed in 1849. However there isn't much information on them. They were destroyed during the Civil War.

In 1879, two more lighthouses were built. They were referred to as the front light and rear light. In 1893, the front light had to be rebuilt due to damage from a hurricane. This lighthouse as completely later destroyed by fire. No one knows for sure how the rear light was destroyed.

Another lighthouse was constructed in 1903 and served its purpose until a more accessible light was constructed. Established on May 15, 1958, it boasts the brightest light in the United States and was the last lighthouse built in our state. At 155-feet, it is flexible-capable of swaying up to three feet to endure gale-force winds.

The tower is currently in the care of the US Coast Guard.

Ocracoke

It is believed that an Indian village once existed at the site of the first lighthouse built here. The lighthouse was in the shape of a pyramid, placed on a stone foundation and was made of wood. It served its purpose until 1818, when it was destroyed by lighting. It was not rebuilt until many years later.

By the 1820's Ocracoke Island had become a major shipping point, so it was considered putting another lighthouse on the island. Standing in Blackbeard's old stomping ground, the white stucco concrete lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse on the North Carolina coast. The charming tower, activated in 1823, stands 65 feet tall and flashed a constant, white light.

Price's Creek

In 1848 funds were appropriated to build a series of eight range lights that were built to guide ships up the 25 mile stretch of the Cape Fear River to the port of Wilmington.

At the beginning of the Civil Was the lighthouses were discontinued and used as signal towers by the Confederate States Signal Corp. They were used to aid the blockade runners up the Cape Fear River. Before leaving the lighthouses the Confederates destroyed the lights hoping to prevent or make navigation more difficult for the Union troops.

The current lighthouse according to some sources was built in 1855. The smallest of the NC lighthouse it stands 20 feet tall and is constructed of brick. It is on private property owned by Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM), and is not accessible to the public. However, it can be seen when taking the ferry between Fort Fisher and Southport as the ferry approaches the Southport landing.

For more information on the lighthouses of North Carolina or ways that you can help preserve our heritage go to

www.outerbankslighthousesociety.org

We would like to thank the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society, Our State magazine, Cheryl Shelton-Roberts and Bruce Roberts for the pictures and information they provided.

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Please visit our retail store to shop our over 184 lighthouse items for every age. For an idea of the items we carry see the paragraphs below. Click on the link below to start shopping:

https://www.outerbankstreasures.com/categoryNavigationDocument.hg?categoryId=43

We hope you enjoy shopping with us and find "Secret Treasures" to purchase. Our "Book" section covers everything from lighthouse ghosts to stories about lighthouse families to books covering the moving of Cape Hatteras. We also have a book with wonderful pictures written by local authors, who are considered to be the foremost authority on NC lighthouses, Cheryl Shelton-Roberts and Bruce Roberts - a must have for all lighthouse enthusiast.

On the "Collectible" page we feature the Scaasis Original series of all of NC lighthouses in sizes: large, medium and miniature along with pull chains and finials. We have gifts for every lighthouse lover to be found under "Crafts", "Gifts", "Jewelry" and "Scrimshaw". (If you are not familiar with scrimshaw be sure to read "Art Scrimshaw" to learn about what scrimshaw is and how the artwork is created.)

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