Cape Hatteras Lighthouse - Dare County, North Carolina.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse - Buxton, North Carolina

The Lighthouse at Cape Hatteras is the tallest in the nation.  It is a point of pride for the state of North Carolina.  The visitor center is open to the public all year although the lighthouse itself is open from early April - mid-October.

The "Big Barber Pole" with its black and white striping is constructed of 1,250,000 bricks that were baked in kilns along the James River in Virginia and loaded on scows into Cape Creek where they were hauled by oxen the one mile to the original building site in Buxton. The walls at the base are 14 feet of solid masonry and narrow to eight feet at the top of the lighthouse.  It weighs 6,250 tons and was built with no pilings under it, just a foundation of heart pine.  It stands a regal 196 feet from the base to the top brick and on top of that is an iron superstructure reaching 208 feet which makes it the tallest in the nation.  At the time of construction it costs $155,000.  Can you imagine what the cost of such a structure, made in the same manner would cost today?

Because of the ever-encroaching waters of the Atlantic Ocean the Cape Hatteras Light was moved from its original location in 1999.

Sitting close to the lighthouse are the framed buildings that served as quarters to the keepers of the light.  All of them are still standing although only one has been totally restored to its original condition and is now used as the visitor center and museum.  The only day this visitor center is closed is on Christmas Day.  There is a nominal admission charge to enter.

Bring along your picnic lunch and enjoy eating in the picnic area.  Then take a hike on the nature trail, winding through fresh water marshes and wooded dunes.  During the summer months the visitor center hosts an excellent program of activities ranging from history talks on storms and shipwrecks and pirates to the discussions of ecology, geology, and wildlife of the island.  There is also an opportunity to go snorkeling in the sound, enjoy bird walks, sit around a camp file or join in with the art activities for the children.

You can climb the lighthouse from the third Friday in April through Columbus Day from the hours of 9 am through 4:30 pm in the spring and fall and from 9 - 5:30 in the summer. 

There are 248 iron spiral stairs to the top which is like climbing a 12 story building so it is not for the weak or faint of heart.  The stairs have a handrail on one side only and there is a landing every 31 steps.  If you need air-conditioning then don't even think about trying this climb because there isn't any!  There is two-way traffic on the narrow stairs so be prepared to share the space.

Climbing tour tickets are $7 for adults and $3.50 for senior citizens (62 or older), children (12 and under, and at least 42" tall), and those holding a National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Access Pass. Tickets are available on a first come/first served basis and can only be purchased in-person at the site the day of the climb. There are no advance ticket sales.

Ticket sales begin at 8:15 a.m.  Climbing tours will begin at 9 a.m. and will run every 10 minutes with a limit of 30 visitors per tour. Ticket sales close at 4:30 p.m. in the spring and fall, and 5:30 p.m. June 8, 2008 through Labor Day. Ticket holders should arrive at the lighthouse gate five minutes prior to their ticketed tour time.

The lighthouse may close at any time if weather conditions are unsafe.

The following safety rules apply:

Children must be at least 42” tall and capable of climbing all steps on their own.
Children under 12 must be escorted by an adult.
No person may be lifted or carried.
Running, jumping, or stomping on stairs and landings is prohibited.
Do not eat, drink, smoke or chew tobacco.
No pets, other than service animals.
Do not arrive in heels over 1 ½ inches high or in bare feet.
Leave umbrellas in your car.
Backpacks, tripods, coolers, beach bags, surfboards, fishing poles, etc. also need to be left in your car.
Throwing of objects, including Frisbees, boomerangs, etc, off the lighthouse is unsafe and may get you in big trouble!

Did You Know?
The beaches along Cape Hatteras National Seashore sparkle at night. When you kick the sand, you disturb tiny dinoflagellates like seasparkle, magnified in the picture to the left. A chemical reaction causes them to glow with a blue-green light.

Location: Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive
Manteo, NC  27954

Phone: (252) 473-2111