Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Cape 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. The lighthouse's semi-unique pattern makes it easy to recognize and famous. It is often ranked high on lists of most beautiful, and famous lighthouses in the US.
| Location | Hatteras Island, Dare County, US |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°15′2″N 75°31′43.7″W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1870 |
| Construction | brick (tower), reinforced concrete (foundation) |
| Automated | 1950 |
| Height | 210 ft (64 m) |
| Shape | conical |
| Markings | black (tower), white (tower), red (foundation) |
| Heritage | National Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places listed place |
| Light | |
| First lit | 16 December 1871 |
| Focal height | 187 ft (57 m) |
| Lens | first order Fresnel lens (1870–1970), DCB-224 (1970–) |
| Range | 24 nmi (44 km; 28 mi) |
| Original light | |
| Constructed | 1802 |
| Construction | sandstone (tower) |
| Focal height | 112 ft (34 m), 150 ft (46 m) |
| Lens | first order Fresnel lens (1854–) |
| Range | 18 nmi (33 km; 21 mi) |
| Skeleton tower | |
| First lit | 1935 |
| Deactivated | 1950 |
| Focal height | 166 ft (51 m) |
| Range | 19 nmi (35 km; 22 mi) |
Cape Hatteras Light Station | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
U.S. National Historic Landmark District | |
| Nearest city | Buxton, North Carolina |
| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Dexter Stetson |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000266 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 29, 1978 |
| Designated NHLD | August 5, 1998 |
The Outer Banks are a group of barrier islands on the North Carolina coast that separate the Atlantic Ocean from the coastal sounds and inlets. Atlantic currents in this area made for excellent travel for ships, except in the area of Diamond Shoals, just offshore at Cape Hatteras. Nearby, the warm Gulf Stream ocean current collides with the colder Labrador Current, creating ideal conditions for powerful ocean storms and sea swells. The large number of ships that ran aground because of these shifting sandbars gave this area the nickname "Graveyard of the Atlantic." It also led the U.S. Congress to authorize the construction of the Cape Hatteras Light. Its 198-foot height makes it the tallest brick lighthouse structure in the United States and 2nd in the world. Since its base is almost at sea level, it is only the 15th highest light in the United States, the first 14 being built on higher ground.