Ocracoke Lighthouse
Ocracoke, North Carolina

Ocracoke Island is part of a barrier island chain known as the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The island of Ocracoke is just south of Cape Hatteras. The Ocracoke lighthouse is located near Ocracoke Village and is the second lighthouse to be built on the island. 

In 1789 Alexander Hamilton was given authorization to investigate the feasibility of constructing a lighthouse to aid mariners sailing around or to the Outer Banks. The result was a recommendation to construct two lighthouses, one on the island of Ocracoke to guide ships into the Ocracoke Inlet and the other on Cape Hatteras as a light to warn ships away from the land and the dangerous Diamond Shoals. Authorization was granted in 1794, however, due to numerous delays primarily caused by weather and sickness, it wasn’t until 1803 that a lighthouse was completed. The first lighthouse was not built on Ocracoke Island but on Shell Castle Island inside the Ocracoke Inlet. This original light was built by Henry Dearborn. It was a 55-foot tall wooden structure. In 1818 the lighthouse was struck by lightning and burned down. 

The current lighthouse on Ocracoke Island was built in 1823 by Noah Porter. It is a brick lighthouse that is covered with masonry and painted white. A fourth-order Fresnel lens was initially installed. The smaller lens was used since the lighthouse was considered a harbor light. The larger first-order Fresnel lens were used for the taller coastal lights. Even so, the light could be seen from about 14 miles away. 

During the Civil War the lens was removed by the confederates so the northern troops would not benefit from its light. The tower survived the war and the lens was put back in and has shone ever since. This lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse that is still in operation in North Carolina. 

Changes have been made over the years. The wooden tower stairs were replaced after WW II with steel stairs and a second story was added to the keeper’s dwelling.

The Lighthouse was automated in 1946 by the U.S. Coast Guard. Today, the National Pack service owns all the property with the Coast Guard responsible for the light. The grounds next to the lighthouse are accessible to the public but you cannot enter the lighthouse. 

My grandchildren visited this lighthouse on a trip to Virginia.  Although I would like to visit this lighthouse myself, I bought it for remembrance of their trip.

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