lighthouses of north carolina’s outer banks
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Lighthouses of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Lucila Ojeda. Why So Many Lighthouses Along North Carolina’s Coast?. Much shipping and commerce in the 1800s Strong currents Fierce storms Shifting shoals Hundreds of ships have sunk in these menacing waters - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Lighthouses of North Carolina’s Outer Banks
Lucila Ojeda
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Why So Many Lighthouses Along North Carolina’s Coast?
• Much shipping and commerce in the 1800s– Strong currents– Fierce storms– Shifting shoals
• Hundreds of ships have sunk in these menacing waters
• Outer Banks is called the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
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Bodie Island Lighthouse• Present Bodie Island
lighthouse is third construction; first two were defective
• Electric light installed in 1932, ending need for full-time keeper
• Keeper’s home now serves as ranger office and visitor center
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse• Tallest lighthouse in North
America• Striped markings served as
“daymarkers” for daytime sailors
• Still functions, only now it’s totally automated
• Light appears to flash every 7 seconds (light actually rotates)
• Rate of “flashing” identifies the lighthouse
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (continued)• Tallest brick lighthouse
in the world• 1.25 million bricks• Octagonal brick base
sits on solid granite• Base measures 24 feet
by 45.5 feet
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
Cape Hatteras lighthouse base
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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (continued)• Spiraling staircase leads
to top• 275 steps• Over 175,000 tourists
visit tower each year to climb the steps
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse staircase
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Ocracoke Lighthouse• Oldest active lighthouse
in North Carolina• Shortest lighthouse in
North Carolina• Original lighthouse
made of wood, struck by lightning, burned down
• Present lighthouse made of brick
• Diameter 25 feet at base, 12 feet at top
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks 9
For More InformationArdith SizemoreDivision of Historic PreservationMassachusetts State Historical Society145 Backbay Heights RoadBoston, MA 02114617-555-0654