North Carolina Lighthouses

Outer Banks ... from north to south

Carrituck Beach Lighthouse

The Carrituck Beach lighthouse is in the town of Corolla, about 30 miles north on Nags Head.  We have not yet visited it.

Roanoke Marshes (Replica) Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in the harbor at Manteo.  We have not yet visited it.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bodie Island is the northernmost island in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  We have not yet visited it.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located on the southeast corner of Hatteras Island, not far from the town of Buxton.  We have not yet visited it.

Ocracoke Lighthouse

The Ocracoke Lighthouse is located in Ocracoke Village on Ocracoke Island, the southernmost island in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  We have not yet visited it.

Cape Lookout Lighthouse

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is located about five miles southeast of Harkers Island on Cape Lookout, the most southeastern island in the chain of islands comprising the Outer Banks.  It can only be seen by boat.  We have not yet visited it.

Inland lighthouses ... from north to south

Roanoke River Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in Edenton and is not functional.  A number of years ago it was moved to its current location.  It is still on the I-beams and trailer wheels it was taken there on,  awaiting restoration.  You can walk right up to it, but it is not open to the public.

Roanoke River (Replica) Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in Plymouth.  It is not an operating lighthouse, but has been constructed, as a replica, to allow the public to view an example of the many lighthouses that used to line the Roanoke River in that area.  It is owned by the town of Plymouth and is open to the public.  There is a nominal charge for entering the structure.  On the day we were there, there was a tour guide giving a tour/lecture and we were not charged.

Southern end ... from north to south

Cape Fear Lighthouse

The remains of the lighthouse that formerly stood at this location are on the southeast corner of Bald Head Island.  Although we did take the ferry to Bald Head Island and these grounds are open, since the lighthouse no longer exists, we did not take the time to visit this structure.

Price's Creek Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located near where Price's Creek enters the Cape Fear River.  It is on private property and you can not get a close-up view unless you take a ferry that takes you there.  We took a ferry from Southport Landing to Bald Head Island and were not able to see it on this ride.

Bald Head Island Lighthouse

The Bald Head Island lighthouse (Old Baldy to the locals) is on Bald Head Island, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River.  Bald Head Island is actually part of Smith Island, which is a group of islands containing many creeks and inlets.  You must take a ferry boat from the 9th Street ferry dock in Southport.  It was $15 per person for the ferry and then $3 per person to tour the grounds, which included a museum, gift shop and a climb to the top of the tower.  Golf carts can be rented or island tours arranged but the lighthouse was within a short walk and much could be seen on foot.

Our apologies for the pictures.  It was heavily overcast and drizzling at times the day we were there and the lighting was not good.  Some of the shots are of the surrounding area from the top of the light.

Oak Island Lighthouse

The Oak Island lighthouse is located on an inlet just south of Wilmington NC, not far north of the South Carolina state line.  It was completed in 1958 and, as such, is one of the newest American lighthouses.  It is accessible by car.  In fact, you can park in a small parking area right near the base and walk right up to it.  It is not, however, open to the public.  One of the shots of this lighthouse was taken from the ferry boat we took to Bald Head Island and another was taken from the top of Old Baldy Lighthouse.

Again, our apologies for the quality of the pictures.