National Lighthouse Day

Little bit of bizness here.  I'll share my vet visit results on Thankful Thursday..

let me just say we were quite gleeful...

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Thank you for joining us today to celebrate

We thank Rosy SassyPants, Arty, Jakey and their mom for setting up the hop.

We thank everyone who pawticipates too by posting and visiting 'cause w/o you it would be lonely.

Madi pictured with 2 of my collectible lighthouses.

North Carolina is famous for her lighthouses

Click here to see a list of all the lighthouses in NC some are on rivers

My peeps have visited and climbed (when allowed) 7 of them.

Oak Island the peeps have been to it but have not climbed it. It is by appointment only.
131 steps up a series of ship ladders.  I don't allow the peeps on ladders taller than 5'

Cape Hatteras is Mom's favorite...check out the close up its RED base

Cape Hatteras 208' tall, 250 steps...

We climbed all the way to the top

Officially completed and lit in 1870

It is the 2nd of 3 that have been constructed in Buxton, NC

In 1803 the first Cape Hatteras light house was built it was sandstone it was 90'

the light from the Argand lamps and reflectors were not sufficient.  

It was modified to a new height of 150' in 1854 and first order Fresnel lens were installed

they were the most powerful of that time. In 1861, during the Civil War, the Fresnel was removed by retreating Confederate soldiers to keep it out of Union hands. Shell damage during the war and structural deterioration prompted construction of a replacement lighthouse in 1870.  In 1871 the original light house  was demolished

In 1999 Cape Hatteras lighthouse was moved 1/2 mile to save it from the encroaching Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse was cut from it original base, hydraulically lifted onto steel beams and traveled along

railroad tracks to is present location this took 23 days.  
In the picture below in the upper right hand corner you can see approximately where it sat before it was moved.  This photo was taken from the top looking down into the parking lot

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is my favorite!! Who knows why?

Currituck Beach Light house stands 158'  ~ 220 steps depending on who you asked.  It is located in Corolla, NC
It has a first order Fresnel lens which began flashing on December 1, 1875.
It is visible for 18 miles
Her beautiful natural bare brick makes her most unique...
The 'crazy peeps' climbed to the top of this beauty too

Mom likes this photo looking up through the trees

Bodie (pronounced body) Island Light Station
150', 214 steps
Located just south of Nags Head, NC
Built in 1847 on the south side of the Oregon Inlet known today as Pea Island.
Due to a poor foundation it was rebuilt in 1859 in the same location.

However, it was blown up in 1861 by retreating Confederate troops who feared the Union would use it to their advantage for navigation.

Today's Bodie Island Lighthouse was completed in 1872 this time on the north side of the Oregon Inlet.  It isn't far from Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  It has a first order Fresnel lens that flashes its 160,000 candlepower beacon 19 miles.  It is an architectural twin to Currituck Lighthouse except for being painted with black and white horizontal stripes


Bald Head Island Lighthouse aka Old Baldy

 It was the first lighthouse structure in North Carolina and was completed and lit in 1795.  It was built too close to the Cape Fear River which caused erosion issues. The new octagonal tower was completed and first illuminated in 1817.  The cost of the new tower was $16,000.00.  The base is 36' wide, it is 109' tall and is made of brick and coated with cement.

Cape Lookout the peeps have visited this one but have not climbed it

It is only open for climbing 207 steps May-September.

It is on it's own island which is accessible only by private boat or by Ferry.

You have a 360 degree view of pristine beaches and gorgeous ocean

 Cape Lookout at night

My peeps have been inside all of the above lighthouses except Oak Island.

Here is a list of all the lighthouses or beacons in NC

Bald Head Island (Climbed)
Bodie Island (Climbed)
Cape Fear structure like a TV station antenna cannot climb

Cape Hatteras (Climbed)
Cape Lookout (visited)
Croatan Shoal*
Currituck (Climbed)
Diamond Shoal*

Frying Pan Shoal*

Laurel Point*
Hatteras Beacon*
Neuse River*
Pamlico Point Shoal*
Price Creek(below) is in partial ruin but you can walk up to it.

Roanoke Marshes (you can walk it pictured directly above list)
Oak Island (visited)
Oracoke (Climbed)
Wade Point*
*all of these are either out a bit into a sound or the Atlantic

We end this tour with a most beautiful poster of
Nine Lighthouses which are some unusual designs.

This is a Lighthouses around the World Blog hop on below