The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is normally open to the public, so you can go inside and climb the 269 steps up to the lamp room. However, the lighthouse is currently undergoing a significant renovation project and, as of the end of 2023, the re-opening date has yet to be announced. The project includes a new coat of the structure’s distinctive black and white striped paint, repaired ironwork, and a new lantern, as well as other, smaller repairs. We recommend checking the NPS website for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Restoration Project for updates on the process, especially if you’re planning a trip in 2024.
First built in 1870, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States, standing about 198 feet high. The water off the coast of Cape Hatteras is one of the most dangerous sections of the eastern seaboard, having earned the nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” A little bit away from the coast, the Gulf Stream collides with a smaller current called the Virginia Drift, forcing southbound ships directly into a 12-mile sandbar. In the past 500 years or so, about 5,000 ships have found watery graves in this spot, making the lighthouse a vital safety precaution.
Alexander Hamilton was almost another victim of the Graveyard when his ship nearly crashed into the sandbar in 1794. The first Cape Hatteras lighthouse was built in 1803 at Hamilton’s request, but it proved to be too short to be effective. The light was despised by sailors – in 1851, a US Navy Lt. described it as “without doubt, the worst light in the world.” The current lighthouse is over double the height of the first one, and its unique black and white striped pattern was designed to fix another problem with the earlier structure: its unpainted sandstone construction blended into the cliffs, making it nearly impossible to see during the day.
To learn more, check out our bundle of Self-Guided Outer Banks Driving Tours, or you can sign up for Action+ to gain access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.
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