News Release

Historic Cape Lookout Lighthouse Closed Out of Concern for Public Safety

NPS photo/Nate Toering

News Release Date: March 26, 2021

Contact: BG Horvat, 252-838-8906

HARKERS ISLAND – The Cape Lookout Lighthouse at Cape Lookout National Seashore stands 163 feet tall and was designed and constructed between 1857 – 1859. Since then, there have been numerous times that the lighthouse underwent repairs and upgrades to various aspects of the tower. Most recent repairs to the tower included repairs to the cast iron flooring and rails around the gallery. These safety-oriented repairs took place in 2010 to allow visitors to tour the iconic structure.

Unfortunately, during a pre-season safety inspection in February, engineers discovered serious concerns with the flooring and rails on the gallery, separations between the iron stairs and masonry, cracks in the iron landing plates, and separation from the iron stairs and the central support.

As a result of these safety concerns, the lighthouse will not be open for climbing this season. The Cape Lookout Lighthouse Keepers Quarters Museum, located near the base of the lighthouse, will be open.

Cape Lookout Lighthouse is scheduled to begin a major renovation this fall/winter that will address these issues and many other needed repairs. As plans are finalized for the renovation, we will provide dates for the scheduled re-opening. We expect the renovation to take two years.