Cape Hatteras Lighthouse facts for kids
| Coordinates | 35°15′2″N 75°31′43.7″W / 35.25056°N 75.528806°W |
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The Cape Hatteras Light is a famous lighthouse on Hatteras Island in Buxton, North Carolina. It's part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This lighthouse is easy to spot because of its unique black and white spiral pattern. Many people think it's one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the United States.
Hatteras Island is one of the barrier islands along North Carolina's coast. These islands separate the Atlantic Ocean from calmer waters inland. The ocean here has strong currents that were great for ships, but also very dangerous. Just offshore, there are shifting sandbars called Diamond Shoals. Also, the warm Gulf Stream ocean current meets the cold Labrador Current here. This mix often creates powerful ocean storms. Because so many ships crashed in this area, it earned the nickname "Graveyard of the Atlantic." To help ships, the U.S. Congress decided to build the Cape Hatteras Light. At 198 feet tall, it is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States.
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Visiting the Lighthouse
Next to the Cape Hatteras Light, you'll find the Hatteras Island Visitor Center and Museum of the Sea. The National Park Service runs this center. It's located in the old lighthouse keepers' living quarters. Inside, you can learn about the history of the Outer Banks, its sea stories, and nature. The visitor center also offers information about the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. You can also find ranger programs and a bookstore there.
History of the Lighthouse
Why Was the Lighthouse Built?
The idea for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse came from Alexander Hamilton in 1794. His ship almost crashed near Cape Hatteras, so he asked Congress to build a lighthouse there. Because of this, some called it "Hamilton's light." Congress approved money for the lighthouse, and the first one was built in 1802.
This first lighthouse was built to warn ships about the very dangerous shoals. These sandbars stretched out about 10 miles from the cape. The original tower was made of dark sandstone. It had 18 lamps and was 112 feet above sea level. Ships could see it from about 18 miles away on a clear day.
Improvements and Challenges
Over time, sailors realized the first lighthouse wasn't good enough. In 1851, a U.S. Navy officer said it was "without doubt, the worst light in the world." He explained that ships needed a much brighter light. They often mistook it for a steamer's light.
So, improvements began. In 1854, a new, brighter lens was installed. The tower was also made taller, reaching 150 feet. During the Civil War, the lighthouse was damaged. Its lens and lantern were destroyed, but the light was later fixed.
The Second, Taller Lighthouse
Sailors and Navy officers still wanted a better light. So, in 1868, Congress approved money for a brand new lighthouse. This new lighthouse was finished in just two years. It opened on December 16, 1871.
This new tower was 200 feet tall, making it the tallest brick lighthouse in the world. Its light shone from 208 feet above the water. The old tower was taken down in 1871.
In 1879, lightning struck the new tower. Cracks appeared in its walls. Workers fixed this by adding a lightning rod to protect it. In 1912, the light became even brighter.
Over the years, the ocean slowly moved closer to the lighthouse. By 1919, the water was only about 120 feet from the tower. The waves kept eroding the beach. By 1935, the ocean reached the lighthouse's base. People tried to stop the erosion with walls, but it didn't work.
So, in 1935, the light was moved. It was placed on a steel tower built further back from the sea. The old brick tower was then given to the National Park Service.
During World War II, German U-boats attacked ships offshore. The Coast Guard used the brick tower as a lookout spot. By 1950, sand had built up on the beach again. The brick tower was now far from the water. So, the light was moved back into the brick tower.
Today, the Coast Guard takes care of the light itself. The National Park Service maintains the tower as a historic building. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest in the United States. It stands 208 feet from its base to the top. To reach the light, you have to climb 268 steps. The lighthouse was built using about 1.25 million bricks. Its light is still active today. It helps protect sailors from the dangerous "Graveyard of the Atlantic."
Moving the Lighthouse
In 1999, the sea was once again getting too close. The Cape Hatteras lighthouse was only 15 feet from the water's edge. It was in great danger. So, the lighthouse had to be moved to a safer spot.
The lighthouse was moved 2,900 feet southwest. This placed it 1,500 feet from the shoreline. All the other buildings around the lighthouse were also moved. Companies like International Chimney Corp. and Expert House Movers helped with this huge task.
Moving such a tall and heavy structure was a big challenge. Some people worried it wouldn't survive the move. But the work went well. The move was completed on September 14, 1999. This project became known as "The Move of the Millennium." It won an award for outstanding civil engineering. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is one of the tallest brick structures ever moved. It weighs 5,000 tons!
Lighthouse Facts
- Building Material: About 1.25 million bricks were used.
- Height: The structure is 198.5 feet tall.
- Light Height: The light shines from 210 feet above sea level.
- Pattern: It has black double spiral stripes on a white background.
- Steps: There are 257 steps to reach the light.
- Brightness: The light is very bright, with 800,000 candle power.
- Flash Pattern: It flashes for 1 second, then is off for 6.5 seconds.
- Visibility: You can see the light from 20 nautical miles (37 km) away in clear weather. Sometimes, it can be seen from as far as 51 miles (94 km) away!
See also
- List of tallest lighthouses
