Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a navigation tower built from brick and reinforced concrete on the Atlantic coast of North Carolina. The structure displays spiraling black and white stripes that rise roughly 60 meters (198 feet) from base to lantern room.

The first tower rose in 1803 at roughly 27 meters (90 feet) from sandstone but proved too short for navigation purposes. The current construction was completed in 1870 and has operated ever since.

Sailors once relied on the rotating beam to navigate through fog and storms along this dangerous stretch of coast. Local fishing crews still regard the tower as a symbol of safe passage through waters where countless ships met their end.

Restoration work keeps the interior closed until 2026, though the grounds remain open for visits. The site sits on the Outer Banks in Buxton, reachable by coastal roads from Nags Head or Ocracoke.

Engineers relocated the entire structure over 880 meters inland during 1999 to protect it from coastal erosion. The move took 23 days and used hydraulic jacks along with steel rails to keep the building intact.

Location: Dare County

Inception: 1870

Made from material: brick, reinforced concrete

GPS coordinates: 35.25056,-75.52881

Latest update: December 20, 2025 02:12