A Return Visit to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Eric & I visited the Cape
Hatteras Lighthouse in
1981, in its previous
location.

At that time, the lighthouse
was much closer to the sea.

White Tailed Deer stand

in a nearby field.

Parking is spacious here.

There are only four parking
spots at the
Ocracoke Lighthouse.

Eric's awesome...

He always poses for

pics, when I ask.

The lighthouse is closed today.

Eric & I won't be paying $8.00

per person to climb its

248 stairs.

We didn't climb the lighthouse steps in 1981.  Eric wanted to drive on the beach instead.  We got our mid 70s Chevy Vega station wagon stuck in the sand.... buried it to the axles.  A tow truck came and pulled us out for $35.00.  Climbing the stairs would have cost less.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

is 208 feet tall.

The first lighthouse was built in 1803 and was 90 feet tall.  The lighthouse wasn't tall enough and 60 feet were added in 1853.  Heavy storms damaged it.  The new, 208 foot lighthouse was built in 1870 and stood 1,500 feet from the Atlantic Ocean.

By 1970, beach erosion took over 1,000 feet of beach from the area in front of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  To preserve the lighthouse, it and its outbuildings were moved to higher ground, 2,900 feet away, in 1999.

The former Lighthouse
Keepers' Quarters.

The Visitors Center

A stuffed Osprey
sits on its nest.

This collection of Seashells

is going to help me identify

the shells Eric & I collected

yesterday.

Souvenirs of all
shapes & sizes

I like the boat shaped

shelving.

Eric and I bought some post cards before returning to the motorhome and continuing north.