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Ocracoke Light (Ocracoke Island, 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. Directions: The only was to get there is by ferry. A free ferry service is available between Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke Island and takes about 40 minutes. Other ferries travel between Ocracoke and the southern North Carolina mainland. These are longer rides and tickets must be purchased.
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All pictures are the original work of Rick Totton and are protected under copyright laws. Do not reproduce any images from this website without permission of the author. Copyright (c) 2000 Rick Totton.
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