First Lit: 1803; Rebuilt: 1854, 1870; Automated: 1934; Deactivated: 1936-1950 (2);
Aid No. 625/J2396 at Position: N 35° 15.3', W 75° 31.2' Nautical Chart
2.5 miles north of Cape Hatteras Point, Outer Banks, North Carolina

- Existing 2-story Brick Victorian 1871 Keeper’s House -

National Historic Landmark
Designated August 5, 1998

National Register of Historic Places
Cape Hatteras Light Station

Notes: (1) Cape Hatteras Light was built to mark the hazardous Diamond Shoals.  Numerous shipwrecks occurred as ships circumnavigated the Diamond Shoals nicknamed the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”  The Lighthouse also provided a visible landmark to guide mariners near the low-lying Outer Banks.       On July 10, 1797, Congress authorized a Lighthouse at Cape Hatteras and a 90-foot octagonal masonry Tower and Keeper’s House was completed in 1803.       As important aids to transatlantic commerce, the Light House Board determined that first-class Coastal Lights built on low-lying coastlines required additional height to extend the Light’s range to a maximum of 24 nautical miles (28 miles)* in 1852.  In comparison, Northeast Primary Seacoast Lights only needed short Towers due to the elevated landmarks.  For example, Cape Cod Light’s Tower was 45-feet high built on a 125-foot cliff exhibiting a light visible from 160-feet above sea level in 1797.       In 1824, a lightship, named CAPE HATTERAS, was anchored at the outer edge of Diamond Shoals about 13 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras Light which was damaged by British attacks during the War of 1812 and the tower height wasn’t tall enough for its light to be seen far out at sea.  CAPE HATTERAS Lightship was retired in 1827.       On March 3, 1853, Congress authorized raising the Tower with a first-order Fresnel lens and the original Tower was increased to 150 feet.  The rebuilt tower, completed in 1854, became the First “Tall Tower” Lighthouse.  During the Civil War, Confederate forces removed the new lens from the lighthouse and Union forces prevented a Confederate plan to destroy the lighthouse.  The Lighthouse was restored to operation in 1862.       On March 2, 1867, Congress authorized a new Lighthouse using a 150-foot Tower yet the Light House Board determine 180-foot would serve maritime commerce better.  On December 16th 1870, the 198-foot high, tallest Lighthouse in the nation was first lit after 25 months of construction.       In 1871, the original tower was demolished and new Head keeper’s house was completed. In 1873, the tower was painted in spiral bands of alternating black and white; a total of four bands, two white, two black, each one making 1.5 revolutions about the tower to improve the daymark.       In 1892, Congress redirected $79,000 of the appropriation for a failed Diamond Shoals Lighthouse whose caisson foundation was destroyed by sinking caused by the swift scouring action of the currents around Diamond Shoals on July 8, 1891 to build a new Light Vessel to assist Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in the marking the treacherous shifting shoals. From 1897 to 1966, 6 Diamond Shoal Lightships were On Station at Diamond Shoal (NC) 14 5/8 mi. SE 3/8 E from Cape Hatteras Light: LV69: Sep 30,1897-1901: LV71 was placed there March 9, 1898 and alternately relieved LV 69 on Diamond Shoal every 3 months.  LV71 was destroyed by German submarine U-104 on Aug 6, 1918 for warning American ships of the presence of the U-boat which had sunk a passing freighter. LV72: 1900-1922 LV 105 (WAL 527): 1922-1942; During WW2, the station was marked by a buoy LV 114 (WAL 536): 1945-1947 WLV 189: 1947-1966; WLV 189 was replaced when Diamond Shoals Light Tower was activated (see Note 4)       In 1913, the illuminant was changed to incandescent oil vapor increasing the Light’s intensity from 27,000 to 80,000 candlepower.  In 1934, the illuminant was converted to electric power and the Light was automated.       In 1999, Cape Hatteras Light was temporarily extinguished March 1st to move the endangered tower 2,900-feet inland.  On November 13, 1999, the relocated Tower was relighted. *Due to the curvature of the Earth’s surface, a Light’s visible range is limited to 24 nautical miles for observers at sea.  A range of 50 to 70 miles for coastal Lights can only be observed from the air! (2) Due to coastal erosion, the light was temporarily relocated atop a steel skeletal tower about 1 mile northwest and Cape Hatteras Light was abandoned. On January 23, 1950, Cape Hatteras Light was returned and reactivated after beach erosion control measures took effect. (3) Original 1803 Optic: 18 Lamps with 14" Reflectors 1815 Optic: 18 Lewis Patent Lamps with Reflectors, 1854 Optic: First-order Fresnel Lens 1862 Optic: Temporary Second-order Fresnel Lens was exhibited on June 1, 1862 1863 Optic: First-order Fresnel Lens, Revolving 1870 Optic: First-order Fresnel Lens (4) Diamond Shoals Light Tower, 13 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was erected in 1966 to mark the outer edge of Diamond Shoals. Aid No. 640/J2400 at Position: N 35° 09.1', W 75° 17.9' Nautical Chart Public Access: Characteristic: Original optic: Day-mark: Tower Height: Fog signal: First Keeper: Current Use:    No Fl W 10s [Flashing White every 10 seconds] Aerobeacon? Square Orange tower on White square Texas-style super-structure ? feet;   Height of focal plane: 125 feet;   Range: 18 nautical miles 1 blast ev 30s (3s bl) ? Light is not operational, The light failed in December 2001 On March 28, 2003, Diamond Shoal Lighted Buoy was deployed to mark remaining structure of Diamond Shoal Light.  The Coast Guard has plans to demolish the Light Tower in 2004 and the corroded structure will serve as an artificial reef for marine life.  Afterwards, the Lighted Buoy will remain to mark the dangerous shoals. (5) Directions to North Carolina Lighthouses:       Along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, there are five Lighthouses, listed from North to South: Currituck Beach Light Station Bodie Island Light Station Cape Hatteras Light Station Ocracoke Light Station Cape Lookout Light Station Outer Banks Road Map       Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is 45-miles south of Bodie Island Light Station by driving NC-12.  Cheryl Shelton-Roberts, Outer Banks Lighthouse Society, has a web-site driving tour guide from north to south along coastal North Carolina.  For driving directions to Outer Banks Lighthouses, visit Lighthouse Tour and Directions Cape Hatteras Light Road Map

Noteworthy Lighthouse Links

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Live Cam Shots

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Relocation

Custom Crafted Cape Hatteras Lighthouse by Sea-Lites
A 4-feet to 20-feet high replica of Cape Hatteras Light
for residential or commercial landscaping

Copyright ©2000 to 2003 by Debbie Dolphin.

Document Updated: Saturday, November 01, 2003, 07:52:00am Eastern Standard Time (-5GMT)