Ocracoke Lighthouse

The Ocracoke Lighthouse is a 75-foot sturdy, whitewashed tower built of brick with a concrete veneer exterior. The walls of the lighthouse are five feet thick at the base. Work on the lighthouse was actually completed in 1823. The total cost for the lighthouse and other buildings around its base was less than $12,000.00. For more than 175 years, its beacon has shown out across this remote island and across the treacherous waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It has braved countless storms and weathered many hardships. Its bright light is visible 14 miles at sea. It has led generations of sailors home and has become a symbol of the independent islanders who have made Ocracoke their home for more than 200 years. The interior of the lighthouse is not open to the public but wonderful photo opportunities are available on the grounds. Historic Ocracoke is on the Historic Albemarle Tour. The lighthouse is also one of 10 historic sites on the Hyde County Talking Houses and Historic Places driving tour. These sites are equipped with am radio transmitters which you can tune to from the convenience of your car to learn the history of the area.