Cape Lookout Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Cape Lookout (North Carolina), Carteret County, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°36′19″N 76°32′10″W / 34.60528°N 76.53611°W |
| Year first lit | 1859 |
| Automated | 1950 |
| Construction | brick |
| Tower shape | Conical tower |
| Height | 163 feet |
| Range | 12-19 miles |
| Characteristic | 15-second flash cycle |
The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is a tall, historic lighthouse on the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. It stands 163 feet (about 50 meters) high. Its light flashes every 15 seconds. Ships can see it from 12 to 19 miles away. This lighthouse is special because it is one of the few that operates during the day. It became fully automatic in 1950, meaning it no longer needed a keeper to operate it.
The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in the United States with a checkered pattern. This pattern, called a "daymark," helps ships tell it apart from other lighthouses. It also shows direction. The black diamonds point north-south, and the white diamonds point east-west.
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History of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse
This is the second lighthouse built at this spot. It looks very similar to the Bodie Island Lighthouse, which has horizontal stripes. It also looks like the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, which is unpainted red brick. The more famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has spiral stripes.
The First Lighthouse (1812)
The first lighthouse at Cape Lookout was finished and lit in 1812. It cost over $20,000, which was a lot of money back then. It took eight years to build. This was the fourth lighthouse constructed in North Carolina. It was 96 feet (about 29 meters) tall and made of brick. It had wooden shingles painted with red and white stripes.
However, this first lighthouse was not tall enough. It could not properly light the dangerous area known as the "Horrible Headland" or Lookout Shoals. This made it hard for ships to navigate safely.
Building the Current Lighthouse (1859)
The lighthouse you see today was completed and lit on November 1, 1859. It cost $45,000 to build. This new lighthouse used a special Fresnel lens. This type of lens made the light shine much brighter and farther.
The Lighthouse During the Civil War
On May 20, 1861, North Carolina joined the Confederacy. To prevent Union forces from using the lights, the lenses were removed from all coastal lighthouses. In 1862, Union troops captured nearby Beaufort and Morehead City. By the end of 1863, a new Fresnel lens was put into the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.
On April 2, 1864, a small group of Confederate soldiers tried to blow up the lighthouse. They did not succeed in destroying the tower. However, the explosion did ruin the lighthouse's oil supply. It also damaged the iron stairs inside. Since iron was hard to get during the war, the damaged parts of the stairs were replaced with wood. After the war ended in 1865, the original Fresnel lenses were found in Raleigh. They were sent back to their makers for repairs. In 1867, iron became available again. The temporary wooden stairs were replaced with new iron ones. The original first-order Fresnel lens was put back in place.
The Famous Diamond Pattern
In 1873, the lighthouse was painted with its unique black and white diamond pattern. Some people believe the patterns of the Cape Hatteras Light and the Cape Lookout Light were switched. This is because the Cape Hatteras Light protects ships from "Diamond Shoals." However, the patterns were chosen randomly. There is no proof that the patterns were ever swapped. A community called Diamond City, North Carolina once existed nearby. It was named after the diamond pattern on the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.
Visiting the Lighthouse Today
The lighthouse is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. You can only reach it by private ferry. During the summer, the Cape Lookout Light Station Visitor Center and Keepers' Quarters Museum are open.
Climbing the lighthouse was stopped in February 2008. However, it reopened for climbing on July 15, 2010. The climbing season usually runs from mid-May to mid-September each year. Visitors can climb the 207 steps to the top.
On March 26, 2021, it was announced that the Cape Lookout Lighthouse would be closed to public climbing. This was due to safety concerns found during an inspection. Officials found problems with the flooring, rails, and stairs. There were cracks and separations in the iron stairs and landing plates. Repairs were planned to be completed by 2025. The Cape Lookout Lighthouse Keepers Quarters Museum, near the base, remains open.
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