North Carolina Lighthouses: History and Visiting

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Old Baldy, completed April 1, 1817 on Bald Head Island, is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina. Seven towers stand along the coast, and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was moved 2,900 feet inland between June 17 and July 9, 1999.

Apr 1, 1817Old Baldy completed
Dec 1, 1870Current Hatteras tower lit
1999Hatteras Lighthouse moved
1958Oak Island, the newest

Short Version
At a Glance
Early lights, 1803 to 1859
The Civil War
The big Outer Banks towers, 1870 to 1875
Saving the lighthouses
Visit
FAQ

The Short Version

From Currituck Beach in the north to Oak Island in the south, each tower has its own pattern and dates. Heights differ by source and by what is measured, so the page shows the National Park Service figure and says where the state encyclopedia differs. Climbing and closure rules change, so check each official page before you go.

At a Glance

Date	What happened	Source
1803	A light tower of some kind has stood at Cape Hatteras since 1803. The first tower was 90 feet of sandstone. In 1854 it was raised to 150 feet in brick.	nps.gov
April 1, 1817	Old Baldy on Bald Head Island was completed. It stands 110 feet and is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina.	oldbaldy.org
August 15, 1824	Ocracoke Lighthouse was completed in December 1823 and first lit on August 15, 1824. It is about 75 feet tall.	nps.gov
Spring 1848	The first Bodie Island tower, 54 feet of brick, officially opened. Its foundation sank and it was abandoned in 1858.	nps.gov
November 1, 1859	The 163-foot Cape Lookout Lighthouse was completed and lit. Its double-wall design was the first of its kind in North Carolina.	nps.gov
1859 to 1861	The second Bodie Island tower (80 feet, completed in 1859) was destroyed by Confederate forces during the Civil War so Union troops could not use it as a lookout.	nps.gov
December 1, 1870	The current Cape Hatteras tower, built 1868-1870 at a cost of about $167,500, began operating. It is 193.20 feet to the peak and 198.49 feet to the top of the lightning rod.	nps.gov
October 1, 1872	The third Bodie Island Lighthouse showed its light for the first time. It is 156 feet tall and still working. It was electrified in 1932.	nps.gov
1873	Cape Lookout Lighthouse was painted with its black-and-white diagonal checkers, called diamonds.	nps.gov
December 1, 1875	Currituck Beach Lighthouse was first lit. It is 162 feet tall with 220 steps, built of about one million bricks, and left unpainted.	obcinc.org
1958	Oak Island Lighthouse, the newest in the state, was completed and its light started. The tower is 153 feet; the light is 169 feet above the water.	oakislandlighthouse.org
June 17 to July 9, 1999	The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was moved 2,900 feet southwest. The ocean had come within 120 feet of it by 1970. It now sits about 1,600 feet from the ocean and resumed operation on November 13, 1999.	nps.gov
July 14, 2003	The Coast Guard transferred the Cape Lookout tower and remaining property to the National Park Service. The Coast Guard still maintains the light.	nps.gov
2004	The Oak Island Lighthouse and surrounding property were deeded to the Town of Caswell Beach. The Coast Guard keeps the lights; the town handles the grounds.	oakislandlighthouse.org

Early Lights, 1803 to 1859

The first lights went up to warn sailors off the Outer Banks. Cape Hatteras has had a light tower since 1803. Old Baldy at the mouth of the Cape Fear River was completed on April 1, 1817, and Ocracoke Lighthouse followed, completed in December 1823 and first lit on August 15, 1824. (source)

Old Baldy was meant to mark the entrance to the Cape Fear River, not to warn ships off the Frying Pan Shoals. Its original light used 15 whale-oil lamps. (source)

The Civil War

Lights went dark in the Civil War. The Hatteras light was put out, and the Bodie Island tower of 1859 was destroyed by Confederate forces so Union troops could not use it as a lookout. At Cape Lookout the light was put out and reestablished in 1863, and its iron staircase was damaged in a Confederate raid and repaired in 1867. (source)

Old Baldy stood inside the earthworks of Fort Holmes, which housed about 1,100 men. (source)

The Big Outer Banks Towers, 1870 to 1875

After the war the tall towers went up. Cape Hatteras (1868-1870) began operating on December 1, 1870. Bodie Island's third tower was first lit on October 1, 1872. Currituck Beach Lighthouse was first lit on December 1, 1875. Its brick was left unpainted to tell it apart from its neighbors. (source)

Cape Lookout got its black-and-white diamonds in 1873. The newest of the state's lights, Oak Island, did not come until 1958. (source)

Saving The Lighthouses

By 1970 the sea was only 120 feet from the Cape Hatteras tower. In the summer of 1999 it was moved 2,900 feet southwest, starting June 17 and ending July 9, and its light came back on November 13, 1999. (source)

Today several lighthouses have new owners or caretakers: Cape Lookout belongs to the National Park Service, Oak Island to the Town of Caswell Beach, and Currituck Beach is run by Outer Banks Conservationists. Cape Lookout is closed for a stabilization project. (source)

Stories and Legends Tied to This

Where to Visit

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (Buxton): 46379 Lighthouse Road, Buxton. About 193.2 feet to the peak, 198.49 feet to the rod; 269 steps. Closed for climbing in 2026 because of restoration; outdoor areas are open 24/7 and a virtual tour is online.
Bodie Island Lighthouse (Nags Head): 156 feet, about 200 steps. In 2026, open for climbing late April to early November (Tuesday to Thursday only from October). $10 adults; $5 seniors 62+, children 11 and under, and people with disabilities. Tickets only at Recreation.gov, same day, from 7 a.m. Must weigh under 260 lbs and be at least 42 inches tall; no one carried; pets not allowed.
Ocracoke Lighthouse: About 75 feet; not open for climbing. In summer the base is open limited hours; check with the Ocracoke Discovery Center. Lighthouse Road, Ocracoke.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse (Corolla area): 162 feet, 220 steps, self-guided climb. The operator's page lists a season of March 22, 2025 through November 30, daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $13 per person ages 4 and up, paid at the door. Check the operator for 2026 dates.
Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Light Station: 163 feet. The lighthouse is closed to visitors during a stabilization project that the NPS expects to take two to three years. The islands are about three miles offshore and are reached by boat. Keeper's House museum open mid-March through October.
Old Baldy Lighthouse (Bald Head Island): 110 feet, 108 steps. The island is reached by ferry. Contact the Old Baldy Foundation for hours and fees: 910-457-7481.
Oak Island Lighthouse (Caswell Beach): 131 steps by ship's ladders to the lantern gallery. Tower tours run through the year; top tours need advance reservations.

On this site: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Outer Banks, Outer Banks Long Weekend.

Still Unconfirmed

Heights vary: the Park Service gives Cape Hatteras as 193.20 feet to the peak and 198.49 feet to the lightning rod, the state encyclopedia rounds to 198, and Bodie Island is 156 feet on Park Service pages but 150 on the encyclopedia.
Currituck Beach step count is 220 on the operator's page and 214 on others, and its season dates and fee come from that page and may be out of date.
Ferry times, hours and fees for Old Baldy were not on the pages we read. The Oak Island tower's tour reservation rules should be checked before you visit, and we did not confirm it is officially called the Cape Fear light.
The Bodie Island visitor center is closed through mid-summer 2027 after a fire in January 2025, per the Park Service. Cape Hatteras is closed for climbing in 2026 and the Cape Lookout tower is closed for stabilization work that a project page expects to take two to three years.
No cost for the Hatteras move is given because the Park Service pages we read did not state one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which North Carolina lighthouses can I climb?

In 2026, the NPS lists only Bodie Island among the three Outer Banks park lighthouses as open for climbing (late April to early November). Cape Hatteras is closed for restoration and Ocracoke is not open for climbing. Cape Lookout is closed for stabilization. Currituck Beach and Old Baldy run their own climbs; check each operator.

How tall is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse?

About 193.2 feet from the ground to the peak, or 198.49 feet to the top of the lightning rod.

Why was the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse moved?

Shoreline erosion. By 1970 the ocean was only 120 feet away. It was moved 2,900 feet southwest between June 17 and July 9, 1999.

What is the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina?

Old Baldy on Bald Head Island, completed on April 1, 1817, is the oldest still-standing lighthouse in the state.

How do I buy tickets to climb Bodie Island Lighthouse?

Only at Recreation.gov, first come, first served, for same-day climbs. Tickets go on sale at 7 a.m. Adults pay $10; seniors 62+, children 11 and under and people with disabilities pay $5.

More North Carolina History

Sources

Read on October 27, 2026. Secondary sources are labelled in their titles. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? tell us.

Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “North Carolina Lighthouses”, itsnorthcarolina.com/history/lighthouses/ (updated 2026-10-27). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.