The large number of ships that ran aground because of these shifting sandbars, including the Civil War ironclad warship USS Monitor, gave this area the nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” It also led Congress to authorize the construction of the Cape Hatteras Light. Nearby, the warm Gulf Stream ocean current collides with the colder Labrador Current, creating ideal conditions for powerful ocean storms and sea swells. Atlantic currents in this area made for excellent travel for ships, except in the area of Diamond Shoals, just offshore at Cape Hatteras. The Outer Banks are a group of islands on the North Carolina coast that separate the Atlantic Ocean from the coastal sounds and inlets. (A 50-minute documentary on the move is at the bottom of this page.Description Cape Hatteras Light Station (Lighthouse), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Buxton, North Carolina (14474900853).jpgĬape Hatteras Light is a lighthouse located on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks in the town of Buxton, North Carolina and is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. As far fetched as the plan sounds, it was carried out in 1999 in only 23 days of actual move time, though only after more than a year of preparation. A proposal to move the lighthouse was considered, with the plan being to dig out the foundation, stick a platform under it, and then roll it slowly along a track 2,900 feet (a little over half a mile) to a safer location over 4 to 6 weeks. Today the National Park Service maintains the tower and buildings, while the Coast Guard still operates and maintains the actual light.īy the 1970s, storms and tides had whittled away the beach, and the lighthouse was now just 50 yards from the water when it was built, it was 500 yards away. Oddly enough, by 1950 the beach had rebuilt itself and the Coast Guard reinstalled the light in the brick tower. The abandoned brick tower and the lighthouse keepers’ quarters were transferred to the National Park Service in 1939. The light was moved to a temporary steel tower, which served as the island’s navigational aide until 1950. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1935 because water had eroded so much of the beach that the tower was in jeopardy of being washed away. It is the tallest brick lighthouse in North America, standing at a height of 199 feet. This is the lighthouse that stands today. Construction began in 1868, and the new lighthouse began operating in December 1870. It took 50 years for anything to be done about the problem, and in 1853 60 more feet were added to the top of the existing tower.īy the early 1860s, the lighthouse required constant repairs, so the government decided to build a new one. The first was built in 1803 and was only 60 feet tall, and it was soon apparent that it was too short. The lighthouse standing today is not the original lighthouse on Hatteras Island. The lighthouse may close at any time if weather conditions are unsafe.Throwing of any object off the lighthouse is unsafe and may get you in big trouble!.Leave umbrellas, backpacks, tripods, coolers, beach bags, surfboards, fishing poles, and the like in your car.Shoes required no bare feet or heels over 1-½” (3.8 cm) high.Do not eat, drink (except water), smoke or chew tobacco.Running, jumping, or stomping on stairs and landings is prohibited.Children 11 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult who is 16 years of age or older.Each climber must be at least 42″ (107 cm) tall and capable of climbing all steps on his or her own.Visitors climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse most abide by the following rules: The schedule is given on the Lighthouse Climbs and web pages. Tickets can be reserved starting at 10 AM three days prior to the tour at. There is no limit as to how long you can stay inside the lighthouse, but for most people a half hour should suffice.įull Moon Tours are conducted once a month from May through October at 10 PM. There are 257 steps to the top, but there is a landing every 31 steps and you can take as long as you need to make the climb. I was there around 9:30 AM on a Monday in early June and had no wait at all. Only 30 people are allowed up at a time, so you may have to wait a little while before you can go. Groups are allowed up every ten minutes starting at 9 AM during the climbing season. For the exact April opening date and the latest fees, be sure to check the National Park Service’s Lighthouse Climbs web page for Cape Hatteras National Seashore. There is a fee, and tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis at the ticket booth just outside the front door of the Hatteras Island Visitor Center. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is open for climbing from mid-April through Columbus Day, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. See the Lighthouses web page for an interactive location map.
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