Bald Head lighthouse

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Bald Head Lighthouse, or "Old Baldy," is the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina, completed in 1817. Standing 110 feet high and containing 108 steps, it served as an active lighthouse until 1935 and as a radio beacon until 1958. It was used mostly to guide ships through the perilous Frying Pan Shoals. After the construction of the Oak Island Lighthouse in 1958, "Old Baldy" was placed out of commission. It still stands as a symbol of Bald Head Island and is open to the public.

[edit] Hurricane Fran

When Hurricane Fran struck the southern North Carolina coast on September 5, 1996, there were a few residents remaining on Bald Head Island. When wind speeds climbed past hurricane strength, may islanders fled their houses and sought shelter inside the Bald Head Lighthouse. When the winds subsided, many buildings on the island were left in ruin; yet, the lighthouse suffered minimal damage. It is possibly one of the safest structures on the island; its construction of brick and plaster five feet thick ^[1] coupled with its aerodynamic design is now known to withstand at least Category 3 hurricanes.