Fall Visitor Center-Lighthouse Schedule and Hours Announced

Date: August 22, 2011
Contact: Outer Banks Group, 252-473-2111

The parks of the National Park Service Outer Banks Group (Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Wright Brothers National Memorial and Cape Hatteras National Seashore) will soon begin a fall schedule of interpretive programs and hours of operation for the parks' visitor centers and the Cape Hatteras National Lighthouse.

Starting September 6^th, visitor centers at all park sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will be open for climbing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; tickets are sold from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Children must be at least 42" tall to climb the lighthouse.The last day to climb the lighthouse is October 10^th.

During the fall season, the Outer Banks Group parks will offer a variety of ranger-led programs. All programs are free.

From August 21^st to October 30^th, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site will be offering a program at the Earthen Fort on the History of Roanoke Island every day at 1 p.m.This program will be offered as staff is available and weather permitting.By completing a booklet and attending a program, kids can become a Junior Roanoke Ranger.Booklets are free and available at the visitor center.

From August 21^st to October 30^th at the Wright Brothers National Memorial learn about the Wright brothers, their flight experimentation, and their success by attending a Flight Room Talk at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., or 3 p.m. daily.By completing a booklet and attending one program, kids can become a Junior Flight Ranger.Booklets are free and available at the visitor center.

Programs are offered on all three island areas of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

From August 21^st to October 10^th, there are three programs offered at the Bodie Island Visitor Center.The Bodie Island Marsh Discovery Walk (1 hour) is offered Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., the Graveyard of the Atlantic talk is offered on Monday, Thursday, and Friday at 10 a.m., and the Sentinel of the Shore (30 minutes) is offered on Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m. and Monday, Thursday, and Friday at 11 am.

The summer program schedule will be in effect on Hatteras Island through September 5^th-check the park website for program information, www.nps.gov/caha.From September 6^th to October 10^th there will be three 30-minute programs offered daily at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Pavilion; Outer Banks History at 11:30 a.m., Barrier Island Nature at 2:30 p.m., and Sentinel of the Shore at 3:30 p.m.Beach Walk is offered at 10 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (1 hour), meet at the Old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse site.Morning Bird Walk is offered on Tuesday at 8 a.m. (1 hour), meet at the fish cleaning tables near Ramp 44.

From August 21^st to October 10^th, there are four 30-minute programs offered at the Ocracoke Island Visitor Center; Barrier Island Nature is offered Monday and Wednesday at 11 a.m., Ocracoke History is offered Tuesday at 11 a.m. and Wednesday at 2 p.m.The 1 hour Morning Bird Walk is offered Thursday at 9 a.m., meet at the parking lot across from the Hatteras ferry dockThe 30-minute Banker Ponies program is offered Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m., meet at the Pony Pens.

By attending programs and completing a workbook, kids can become a Seashore Ranger.Booklets are free and available at any seashore visitor center.