Inventory of Historic Light Stations--North Carolina Lighthouses--Cape Hatteras Light

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
North Carolina Lighthouses

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CAPE HATTERAS LIGHT

State: NORTH CAROLINA
Location: N. OF CAPE HATTERAS POINT/OUTER BANKS
Nearest City: BUXTON
County: DARE
Year Station Established: 1797
Year Automated: 1936
Year Existing Historic Tower Constructed: 1870

NPS photo by Candace Clifford, 1994

Existing Historic Tower:

Is the Light Operational? YES; Date Deactivated: N/A
Foundation Materials: GRANITE/TIMBER/RUBBLE
Construction Materials: BRICK/CAST IRON/STONE
Markings/Patterns: WHITE AND BLACK SPIRAL/RED BRICK BASE
Shape: CONICAL W/BLACK LANTERN
Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
Tower Height: 207 FEET (10 FEET OF WHICH ARE UNDERGROUND)
Height of Focal Plane: 192
Original Optic: FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL (1870)
Present Optic: DCB-24 (1972)

Existing Fog Signal Building? NO

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1871
Number of Stories: 2
Architectural Style: VICTORIAN
Construction Materials: BRICK

Other Structures: DUPLEX ASST. KEEPERS QUARTERS (1854), CISTERNS, OIL HOUSE (1892)

Owner/Manager: U.S. COAST GUARD/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION IN NATIONAL PARK/ASST. KEEPERS IS VISITOR CENTER/MUSEUM

Open to the Public? YES; VISITOR CENTER OPEN DAILY AS MUSEUM; TOWER OPEN SPRING, SUMMER, & FALL (CALL FOR TIMES)

Access: CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE; ROUTE 12
Public Phone:919-995-4474

National Register Status: LISTED: CAPE HATTERAS LIGHT STATION

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

HABS/HAER Documentation? YES (NC-357)

Miscellaneous:
AMERICA' S TALLEST TOWER; EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE BRICK 1870S DESIGN USED THROUGHOUT THE NATION; WATCHED OVER THE INFAMOUS DIAMOND SHOALS; MAJOR TURNING POINT ON EAST COAST FOR COASTAL TRADE

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Relocation Project

Last Modified: Wed, Mar 06 2002 8:40:02 am EDT
JMP

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