Lighthouses of North Carolina

Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

Ocracoke’s lighthouse is unique in that it is a beckoning lighthouse instead of a warning lighthouse. It is on without a flash or rotating device, telling sailors to come to it and not worry about rocks. Built out of dressed stone and timber with brick and mortar surface in 1823, it stands at 75 feet or 23 meters tall, it is actually very short compared to its lighthouse brothers. It is the oldest operating light station in our state and the second oldest still standing.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bodie lighthouse, pronounced “body”, is actually the third lighthouse that has stood on Bodie Island. The other two were farther south close to Oregon Inlet which is now underwater due to the migration of the inlet. The first was built in 1847, the second was build in 1859 but was destroyed by the Confederate troops. This third construction was completed in 1872 and moved a bit Northward. It is made of brick, cast iron and stone and was made automated in 1940. It stands at 164 feet and about 50 meters tall.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

This lighthouse is found on Hatteras Island and boasts a height of 210 feet or 64 meters tall, making it North Carolina’s tallest lighthouse. It is constructed out of brick and reinforced concrete, with black and white striped lines with a red brick foundation base. Nicknamed Hamilton’s Light after Alexander Hamilton requested a lighthouse be built on Hatteras because his ship almost crashed off it’s shores in 1794. So in 1802, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was constructed.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

The only red lighthouse on our list is Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Completed on December 1, 1875, the lighthouse was not painted which left its beautiful brick facade exposed and is made of nearly 1 million bricks. It stands at 162 feet or 49 meters tall and is a conical tower. It protects the northern Outer Banks shores just before you reach Virginia.

Cape Lookout Lighthouse

Cape Lookout is a unique lighthouse because it is one of the few that actually runs during the day. This lighthouse is the second to stand tall in this location, the first was completed in 1812 but was found to be too short at only 96 feet tall. It was nicknamed “Horrible Headland” because the light couldn’t reach the treacherous Lookout Shoals and many ships perished. The current lighthouse was built and lit on November 1, 1859 and stands much taller at 163 feet or just under 50 meters tall.

Oak Island Lighthouse

Oak Island Lighthouse stands at a height of 153 feet or 47 meters in the town of Caswell Beach near Cape Fear River. Construction began in 1957 and completed in 1958, it replaced the Cape Fear Light, a steel skeleton structure on Bald Head Island which was demolished earlier that year. Its colors are the top is black, middle is white, and the bottom is gray.

Old Baldy Lighthouse

Bald Head Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse still standing in our state. Constructed in 1817, the specific date is unknown and is made of dressed stone. It stands at 110 feet or 34 meters.