The Ocracoke Lighthouse, built in 1823,
is the oldest continually operating lighthouse on the NC Coast.
The lighthouse is 75 feet tall. Its diameter narrows from 25 feet at the base to 12
feet at the top. The walls are made of brick which is five feet wide at the bottom
tapering to two feet wide at the top.
The solid white exterior was made from mixing lime, salt, Spanish whiting, rice, glue,
and boiling water together and applying it, while still hot, to the exterior.
The Ocracoke Lighthouse was electrified in the early 1900s.
The present light is equal to 8,000 candlepower and casts a stationary beckoning beam.
Its beam reaches a distance of 14 miles.
Fully automated, the lighthouse no longer needs a resident lightkeeper to tend to its daily needs.
The United States Coast Guard now oversees the operation of the light.
Since the lightstation is still in operation you cannot climb the tower,
although the site can still be visited daily.
You might also like:
- Saint Augustine Lighthouse
- Polaroid Prologue to Ocracoke Island
- More info on Ocracoke Lighthouse via NPS
Hope you had a great weekend!
No I really miss the NC coast! Beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to go up to the top of a lighthouse like that. The view must be awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful lighthouse, and superb shots. Thanks for describing the composition of the white exterior. It's luminous!
ReplyDeleteFor me, that's what a lighthouse should look like,... no stripes, no crazy design,... just basic, beautiful lighthouse! Nice!
ReplyDeleteI love light houses, they are so mysterious!
ReplyDelete~ Carol ~
i love lighthouses. these shots capture exactly why.
ReplyDeletei'm definitely going to have to make it over to the east coast some day—maybe i'll wait until hurricane season is over. :)
Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love lighthouses - these are great shots of this beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteI would never have had the patience to put hot lime mix on a building. Nope.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome. I love the window and the fact that it's partially made of rice. lol
ReplyDeletesuch architectural wonders light houses are...a romantic feel
ReplyDeleteOK: rice?? cooked or raw?
ReplyDeleteLOL
totally beautiful... I have a lighthouse fetish, what can I say?
That looks great. More things in NC to add to my touristy list!!!
ReplyDeletexo
Love Gillian
Such wonderful images! I love lighthouses. You did this one proud. =)
ReplyDeletei like its name and the textured white finish.
ReplyDeleteI heart lighthouses. They are really interesting building. I think you have done this one proud. Nice shots.
ReplyDeletethe first picture looks like a postcard!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love lighthouses and hope to see this one in real life sometime in the future.
ReplyDelete