Captain America Patterns
Where to Find the Lighthouses of North Carolina
Due to the dangerous coastline, which earned it the nickname the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”, the North Carolina lighthouses are beautiful and necessary part of the Eastern coastline. Their powerful lights have guided ship captains for more than two centuries. Be sure to take some to visit these important landmarks and learn the stories behind the eight North Carolina lighthouses.
As you make your trek along the North Carolina coastline, you cannot help but notice the beauty and uniqueness of its lighthouses. Spaced approximately 40 miles apart, each of the North Carolina lighthouses is an important part of the landscape. Their job of warning ship captains of the treacherous coast of North Carolina is vital. The North Carolina boasts some of the oldest, newest and brightest lighthouses in America.
The Eight North Carolina Lighthouses:
Old Baldy- On Bald Head Island is North Carolina’s oldest (1878) lighthouse. There are self-guided tours and an observation deck that provides a sensational view of the islands 14-mile coastline.
Ocracoke-Built in 1823, the 75-foot tall lighthouse built by Noah Porter, is the oldest continued use lighthouse on the East coast; however, it is not open for tours. There is a graveyard memorial on site for the crew of the HMC Bedfordshire.
Cape Lookout Lighthouse-As one of North Carolina’s most recognized lighthouses, many are familiar with the black and white diamond pattern of Cape Lookout’s Light. Built in 1812 (reconstructed in 1859), this lighthouse is still being used today.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse- Called “America’s Lighthouse”, the 208-foot tall lighthouse with its spirals of black and white has been on the cover of many books, magazines and postcards. The lighthouse was built in 1870, but due to erosion, was moved half mile inland in 1999.
Bodie Island Lighthouse-Just 6 miles of Whalebone Junction is the black and white striped, 56 foot tall Bodie Island Lighthouse. Although closed to the public, there are exhibits in the Visitor’s Center, a keeper’s cottage tour, and nature trails.
Currituck Lighthouse-On Corolla Island is the 158 feet tall, red brick Currituck Lighthouse. It was built in 1857 but after automation, and no longer needing lighthouse keepers, it was allowed to fall into disrepair. In 1980, the Outer Banks Conservationist began restoring it. Today, visitors are welcome and can climb the stairs to its top.
Oak Island- Although one of North Carolina’s more recent (1958) lighthouses, this 158 foot tall light is not open to the public.
Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse-Opened in 2004, this is not a “traditional tower” lighthouse, rather, it is a light keeper’s cottage with a tall beacon at its peak. There is a museum with exhibits on Roanoke Island’s maritime history.
Since their establishment by President George Washington in 1789, lighthouses have been protecting the coastlines of the Eastern shore. Today, North Carolina lighthouses are not only beautiful reminders of our history but they are a light for the present. Take some time to tour these impressive lighthouses, it is worth the trip.
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GK – Serpentine Pattern