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Watching Over the Waters
Lighthouses of the Outer Banks of North Carolina
By Mary Snyder
The coast of Bodie Island remained dark for several years after the end of the Civil War as a replacement was considered. This last lighthouse was completed in 1872. The lighthouse keeper's quarters have been completely restored and are now used as a visitor's center complete with a bookstore and gift shop.
As you leave Bodie Island and travel south on Highway 12, you will travel about 45 miles to the village of Buxton to reach the Cape 
Hatteras Lighthouse. Possibly the most famous east coast lighthouse, the black and white spiral striped structure is a symbol of maritime history of America. The current lighthouse was built in 1870 on a small hill that was 1,600 feet from the ocean's edge, replacing the original lighthouse that was built too close to the sea. Within 50 years, the ocean had advanced more than 1,300 feet to within 100 yards of the base of the lighthouse.
The lighthouse seemed doomed, again. Jetties were built to slow the advance of the ocean, but they were only temporary fixes – something permanent was needed. Then the unbelievable was suggested: Move the 208-foot tall lighthouse, intact, 1/2 mile. Many thought the task impossible. How can you move a 200-foot tall, 4,800-ton, 120-year-old lighthouse? But the impossible was accomplished when International Chimney Inc. and Expert House Movers, two companies that specialize in moving large and unusual objects, moved the lighthouse 2,900 feet southwest of its original location. This national treasure is safe from the sea, at least for a while.
Want to see more?
- The Outer Banks: Explore the Outer Banks of North Carolina
- Hilton Head Island: 3 Reasons You'll Love This Island off the Coast of South Carolina
- The Lighthouses of Traverse City: Sentinels of the Golden Coast of Michigan
- South Carolina's Seabrook Island: Magic Happens Near and in Charleston
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