Cape Hatteras

Cape HatterasStanding as a towering guardian over North Carolinas Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has been guiding mariners through the treacherous waters of the Graveyard of the Atlantic since it was first illuminated in 1870. Built to replace an earlier structure that was deemed inadequate, the lighthouse was designed to warn sailors of the shifting sandbars and powerful currents that have claimed countless ships along this hazardous stretch of coastline.

Standing as a towering guardian over North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has been guiding mariners through the treacherous waters of the Graveyard of the Atlantic since it was first illuminated in 1870. Built to replace an earlier structure that was deemed inadequate, the lighthouse was designed to warn sailors of the shifting sandbars and powerful currents that have claimed countless ships along this hazardous stretch of coastline.

At 200 feet tall, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States and one of the tallest ever relocated. In 1999, to protect it from an encroaching shoreline, the entire structure was carefully moved inland—a remarkable engineering feat that preserved its role as a vital navigational aid. Despite constant environmental challenges, it continues to shine, serving as a lasting testament to maritime safety and coastal resilience.