Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, built in 1823, is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina, and is the second oldest operating lighthouse in the nation. The lighthouse is located on the east side of Ocracoke Inlet, stands 75 feet tall and has a beam seen for fourteen miles. Ocracoke was first found when an English sailing ship wrecked on the shoals in 1585 and by 1718 the island became the favorite place for Blackbeard the Pirate (Edward Teach) to anchor. In 1798 the first wooden lighthouse was built on Shell Castle Island to help ships navigate between Ocracoke and Portsmouth Islands. The light was not adequate and by 1818 the sand bars had shifted so that the lighthouse was a mile away from the inlet. Also that same year the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage was struck by lighting and was completely destroyed. When the new brick lighthouse was built it was coated with a white wash mixture of lime, salt, ground rice, whiting and clear glue. These ingredients were mixed with boiling water and applied to the bricks while still hot. During the Civil War the fourth -order Fresnel lens was dismantled by Confederate Troops but was re-installed by Union Troops in 1864. The lighthouse and the keeper’s cottage was built on higher ground and served as a refuge by locals during hurricanes. |
