LIGHTHOUSESMisty Hubbard

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Why So Many Lighthouses Along North Carolina’s Coast

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

Outer banks is known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific”

Much shipping and commerce in the 1800s

Strong currents Fierce storms Shifting shoals

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

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Bodie Island Lighthouse Present Bodie

Island lighthouse is third construction first two were detectives

Keeper’s home now serves as ranger office and visitor center

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Tallest lighthouse in

North America Striped markings

served as day makers for daytime sailors

Still functions, only now it’s totally automated

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (continued) Tallest brick

lighthouse in the world

1.25 million bricks Base measures 24

feet by 45.5 feet

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (continued) Spiraling staircase

leads to top 275 steps Over 175,000

tourists visit tower each year to climb the steps

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

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Ocracoke Lighthouse Oldest active

lighthouse in NC Shortest lighthouse

in NC Present lighthouse

made of brick Diameter 25 feet at

base, 12 feet at top

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Data on These LighthousesLighthouse7

Years Construct Height

Signal Distance

Bodie Island 1873 156 feet 19 miles

Cape Hatteras 1802 208 feet 20 miles

Ocracoke 1823 76 feet 14 miles

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

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For More Information Ardith S. Division of Historic

Preservation Massachusetts State

Historical Society 145 Backbay

Heights Road Boston, MA 02114 617-555-0654