First Light

Color Photograph

Standing 208 feet above mean seal level, The Cape Hatteras Light is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. There are 269 steps from the sidewalk to the lantern room, and visitors climb 257 steps to the balcony. The 800,000 candle power rotating beacon has a range of 24 nautical miles. Approximately 1,250,000 bricks were used during the construction of the lighthouse, whic was completed in 1870. In 1999, the tower was moved 2,900 feet to the southwest to save it from the encroaching Atlantic Ocean. It now stands about 1,600 feet from the surf.

Photo available in a variety of sizes and styles including notecards. Please select print from the scroll down menu.