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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in the Outer Banks
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Lighthouses in North Carolina

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

Cape Hatteras LighthouseThe Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, standing 205 feet high as the tallest lighthouse in the U.S., guards the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" where the Labrador Current meets the Gulf Stream in the swirling, shipwreck-laden waters off Cape Hatteras. Built in 1870, the lighthouse boasts two keeper's dwellings. Originally fitted with a revolving first-order Fresnel lens, it now sports an airport-style beacon in its lofty tower. The current lighthouse replaced an earlier lighthouse, built in 1803, and dubbed "the worst light in the world". Today the light can be some 20 miles out to sea, warning sailors of the treacherous Diamond Shoals, shallow sandbars which extend 14 miles out into the ocean off Cape Hatteras. The lighthouse has been nicknamed the "Big Barber Pole" for it's black and white spiral stripes.

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Bodie Island LighthouseThe Bodie Island Lighthouse guards the Oregon Inlet. The original 54 foot lighthouse was so poorly built, it tilted almost immediately and another had to be built to replace it. The 80 foot replacement lighthouse was built in 1859 but was blown to bits two years later by Confederate soldiers. The current lighthouse, built in 1872 stands 156 feet tall and still lights the skies with the original first-order Fresnel lens. Bad luck did visit the Bodie Island Lighthouse again when a flock of geese crashed into the lantern and severely damaged the lens. Repairs were made, and the Bodie Island Lighthouse stands tall and proud today.


Currituck Beach LighthouseCurrituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla, North Carolina, boasts a Queen Anne style keeper's dwelling and is located on the northern tip of the Outer Banks. Built in 1875, this 158 foot tower has never been painted and is still the original brick red. The original first-order lens still shines today. The lighthouse and keeper's dwellings were in an advanced state of decay until the 1980's, when the Outer Banks Conservationalists leased the site, and began a massive preservation effort. The Currituck Lighthouse looks out over the Currituck Sound and surrounding Corolla.

Okracoke LighthouseThe Okracoke Lighthouse on Okracoke Island, south of Hatteras, watches over Silver Lake, and the town of Okracoke itself. The island is accessible only by ferry boat and guards an old graveyard out back. Blackbeard the Pirate sifted the Okracoke sands through his toes in the 1700's and the island is almost as wild today as it was when Blackbeard sailed into the waters off its shores. The first lighthouse was built on the island in 1803. Lightening destroyed the lighthouse 15 years later, and a new one was built. The original fourth-order lens was destroyed during the Civil War but a new lens installed in 1864 is still in use today. Painted solid white, the tower watches over Silver Lake and the Village of Okracoke.

Cape Lookout LighthouseCape Lookout Lighthouse stands abandoned on an isolated section of the National Seashore, almost inaccessible. This stretch of beach is completely deserted and inaccessible by car. The only route to Cape Lookout Lighthouse is via ferry from the ranger's office on Harker's Island, or via one of several private boats which will drop you off on Cape Lookout and pick you up later. The tower is closed, but you can explore the grounds, and enjoy a very isolated corner of the Outer Banks. Cape Lookout Lighthouse was built in 1859, survived the Civil War, and was automated in 1950. A list of ferry services to the lighthouse can be found by calling the National Parks Service at (252) 728-2250. Harker's Island has no facilities, so bring whatever you need for your visit.

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The North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, North Carolina, exhibits artifacts recovered from the shipwreck believed to be Blackbeard's flagship, the QAR, discovered in 1996.

The museum has a branch on Roanoke Island, just north of Rodanthe, dedicated to maritime exhibits.

Graveyard of the Atlantic maritime museum, located in Hatteras, North Carolina, is dedicated to the myriad of shipwrecks on the coasts of the Outer Banks.

Teach's Hole Blackbeard exhibit and pirate shop on Okracoke Island offers over 1000 items relating to pirates, including pirate books, pirate toys, pirate flags, pirate t-shirts, pirate maps, and other pirate wares. The exhibit features a life-sized recreation of Blackbeard the Pirate in full battle dress.