Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Maritime navigation lighthouse in Buxton, United States
Description
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.
History
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.
Culture
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.
Practical
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.
Did you know?
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.
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Historic lighthouses around the world tell the story of the way ships have been guided for hundreds of years. From the rocky coast of Norway to the cliffs of the Pacific, these towers have helped sailors since ancient times. The Tower of Hercules in Spain has been shining over the sea since the...
Lighthouses tell the history of sailing with their shapes and building styles. Some go back to Roman times, like the Tower of Hercules in Galicia, a structure from the second century still working today. Others are from the Middle Ages, such as the Hook Lighthouse in Ireland, with its...
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