Last updated: April 6, 2023
Place
Cape Hatteras Light Station
Quick Facts
Location:
Buxton, NC
Significance:
Tallest brick lighthouse in North America
Designation:
National Historic Landmark
Amenities
6 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Parking - Auto, Parking - Boat Trailer, Parking - Bus/RV, Restroom - Accessible
Since 1870, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse-the tallest brick lighthouse in North America-has protected one of the most hazardous sections of the Atlantic coast. Offshore of Cape Hatteras, the Gulf Stream collides with the Virginia Drift, a branch of the Labrador Current from Canada. This current forces southbound ships into a dangerous twelve-mile long sandbar called the Diamond Shoals. Hundreds of shipwrecks in this area have made this stretch of the Atlantic coast known as The Graveyard of the Atlantic .
Lighthouse Climbing
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is closed for an extensive restoration project. No climbing is available for the 2023 season.