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Rufous-crowned Sparrow/Sandbox/CapeHatterasLight

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Location: North of Cape Hatteras Point, Outer Banks, Hatteras Island, North Carolina
Coordinates
WGS-84 (GPS)		 35°15′02″N, 75°31′43.7″W
Year first constructed: 1803 (original tower)
1870 (current tower)
Year first lit: 1870 (current tower)
Automated: 1936 (skeleton tower)
1950 (current tower)
Foundation: Granite, timber and rubble (first location)
Reinforced concrete (current location)
Construction: Brick
Tower shape: Conical
Markings/Pattern: white and black spiral bands with red brick base.
Height: 210 ft (64 m)
Original lens: First order Fresnel, 1870
Current lens: DCB-24 (1972)
Range: 20 nm (37 km)
Characteristic: Short flash every 7.5 seconds

Cape Hatteras Light is a lighthouse located on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina near the community of Buxton. The lighthouse marks the Diamond Shoals, just offshore at Cape Hatteras. The large number of ships that ran aground because of these shifting sandbars gave this area the nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” It is recognized by the National Park Service as the tallest lighthouse in America. The lighthouse is one of several on the North Carolina coast that are still operational, along with the Currituck, Bodie Island, Ocracoke, Cape Lookout, and Oak Island lighthouses.

Contents

[edit] Description

[edit] First Lighthouse

The first lighthouse at Hatteras was 112 feet tall. It was built of dark sandstone and was left its natural color. The original light consisted of 18 whale-oil lamps with 14-inch reflectors. It was visible in clear weather for a distance of up to 18 miles.

[edit] Second Lighthouse

The current lighthouse at Cape Hatteras is 207.5 feet tall (210 feet above sea level) and is painted with its distinctive black and white spiral stripes. It is the tallest lighthouse in America and is made from 1,250,000 bricks. There are 268 stairs to the top of the lighthouse. The lighthouse is still operational and has 800 kilocandela in each of its two 1000-watt lamps. It flashes a short flash every 7.5 seconds and is visible from 20 nautical miles (37 km) away in clear conditions, though it has been seen from up to 51 miles away.

[edit] History

[edit] First Lighthouse

The area known as Cape Hatteras is near the Diamond Shoals, where the Gulf Stream and Virginia Coastal Current collided [1]. Ships passing throught this area often wrecked, earning it the nickname "Graveyard of the Atlantic." In the early 1700s, North Carolina did not have the money to purchase a lighthouse, so instead they put pilots familiar with the area on inlets to help guide ships into the harbor[2]. However, the number of shipwrecks continued to increase, so after the American Revolution, Alexander Hamilton, who almost sank in a ship off Hatteras when he was seventeen [3], led the movement to put a light at Hatteras. In August 1789 he got the authorization to study building a lighthouse at Hatteras. He found the area suitable and in 1794 Congress authorized a lighthouse of "the first rate" to be built [4] along with another light at the Ocracoke Inlet. After a long search, Massachusetts congressman Henry Dearborn got the contract to build the lighthouse in October 1798. He was paid $38,450 to build both lighthouses [5].

It wasn't until August of 1799 that Dearborn reached Hatteras. He then had to cart all of his supplies one mile over sandy, marshy land to the construction site. He started by building the keeper's house to house the workers, then started on the lighthouse. By July 1800 the lighthouse had reached its second story, but an outbreak of malaria soon halted construction. It took until June 1802 to finish construction, but the lighthouse still lacked the ability to hold a light [6]. Finally, in the fall of 1803, the lighthouse became operational and Adam Gaskins became the first keeper.

In July 1851, Lt. David D. Porter, USN, reported as follows:

“ "Hatteras light, the most important on our coast is, without doubt, the worst light in the world. Cape Hatteras is the point made by all vessels going to the south, and also coming from that direction; the current of the Gulf Stream runs so close to the outer point of the shoals that vessels double as close round the breakers as possible, to avoid its influence. The only guide they have is the light, to tell them when up with the shoals; but I have always had so little confidence in it, that I have been guided by the lead, without the use of which, in fact, no vessel should pass Hatteras. The first nine trips I made I never saw Hatteras light at all, though frequently passing in sight of the breakers, and when I did see it, I could not tell it from a steamer’s light, excepting that the steamer’s lights are much brighter. It has improved much latterly, but is still a wretched light. It is all important that Hatteras should be provided with a revolving light of great intensity, and that the light be raised 15 feet higher than at present. Twenty-four steamship’s lights, of great brilliancy, pass this point in one month, nearly at the rate of one every night (they all pass at night) and it can be seen how easily a vessel may be deceived by taking a steamer’s light for a light on shore." ”

The referred to improvements in the light had begun in 1845 when the reflectors were changed from 14 inch to 15 inch. In 1848, the 18 lamps were changed to 15 lamps with 21-inch reflectors and the light had become visible in clear weather at a distance of 20 miles. In 1854, a first-order Fresnel lens with flashing white light was substituted for the old reflecting apparatus, and the tower was raised to 150 feet.

In 1860 the Lighthouse Board reported that Cape Hatteras Lighthouse required protection, due to the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1862 the Board reported "Cape Hatteras, lens and lantern destroyed, light reexhibited."

[edit] Second Lighthouse

Between 1867 and 1870 Congress appropriated $167,000 in three annual sums for rebuilding Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The new tower, from which the first-order light was first exhibited December 16, 1871, was the highest brick lighthouse tower in the world. It was 193 feet above ground and the focal height of the light was 191 feet above water. The old tower "being no longer of any use and in danger of falling during some heavy storm" was demolished in February 1872.

In the spring of 1879 the tower was struck by lightning. Cracks subsequently appeared in the masonry walls, which was remedied by placing a metal rod to connect the iron work of the tower with an iron disk sunk in the ground. In 1912 the candlepower of the light was increased from 27,000 to 80,000.

Ever since the completion of the new tower in 1870, there had begun a very gradual encroachment of the sea upon the beach. This did not become serious, however, until 1919, when the high water line had advanced to about 300 feet from the base of the tower. Since that time the surf had gnawed steadily toward the base of the tower until 1935, when the site was finally reached by the surf. Several attempts were made to arrest this erosion, but dikes and breakwaters had been of no avail. In 1935, therefore, the tower light was replaced by a light on a skeleton steel tower placed farther back from the sea on a sand dune, 166 feet above the sea, and visible for 19 miles. The old tower was then abandoned to the custody of the National Park Service.

The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration erected a series of wooden revetments which checked the wash that was carrying away the beach. In 1942 the Coast Guard resumed its control over the tower, and manned it as a lookout station until 1945. The old tower was now 500 to 900 feet inland from the sea and again tenable as a site for the light, which was placed in commission January 23, 1950.

The new light consisted of a 36-inch aviation-type rotating beacon of 250,000 candlepower, visible 20 miles, and flashing white every 15 seconds. The skeleton steel tower was retained to guard against the time that the brick tower may again be endangered by erosion and thus require that the light again be moved.

The National Park Service acquired ownership of the lighthouse when it was abandoned in 1935. In 1950, when the structure was again found safe for use, new lighting equipment was installed. Now the Coast Guard owns and operates the navigational equipment, while the National Park Service maintains the tower as a historic structure. The Hatteras Island Visitor Center, formerly the Double Keepers Quarters located next to the lighthouse, elaborates on the Cape Hatteras story and man's lifestyle on the Outer Banks. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, tallest in the United States, stands 208 feet from the bottom of the foundation to the peak of the roof. To reach the light, which shines 191 feet above mean high water mark, a Coast Guardsman must climb 268 steps. There were approximately 1,250,000 bricks used in its construction.[7]

The lighthouse beacon was supported by the 175 foot tall Diamond Shoals light tower, which is 12 miles off of the Hatteras coast. The light tower was put in place in 1967 and lightships were present before then dating back to 1824, including one lightship sunk by a German submarine during World War I. The light tower has recently been decommissioned by the United States Coast Guard, as maintenance on the structure proved too expensive in light of increasing reliance on GPS.

The Cape Hatteras lighthouse is still considered operational as a navigation aid and is maintained by the United States Coast Guard and the National Park Service. However, the need for the lighthouse has been reduced by modern day GPS and other electronic navigational devices.

[edit] Relocation

July 1, 1999 - National Park Service photo
July 1, 1999 - National Park Service photo

Due to erosion of the shore, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse was moved (by Expert House Movers and documented on the Mega Movers episode "900 Ton Building") from its original location at the edge of the ocean to safer ground 2870 feet inland. The move was controversial at the time with speculation that the structure would not survive the move, resulting in lawsuits that were later dismissed. Despite some opposition, work progressed and the move was completed between 1999 and 2000 in a massive operation. Rededicated in 2000, the lighthouse is fully open to the public at its new location further inland.[8]

[edit] Tourism

The National Park Service permits climbing to the top of the lighthouse. For a number of years, this was not possible due to repairs to the lighthouse.[citation needed] The lighthouse is open for tours from the third Friday in April to Columbus Day. The climb is considered strenuous because the climb is equivalent to 12 stories. There is a handrail on only one side of the stairs, and there is two-way traffic on the stairs.[9]

[edit] Keepers

[edit] References

  1. ^ Yocum, T.: "Cape Hatteras", page 5. Cumberland House, 1999
  2. ^ Yocum, T.: "Cape Hatteras", page 6. Cumberland House, 1999
  3. ^ Yocum, T.: "Cape Hatteras", page 7. Cumberland House, 1999
  4. ^ Yocum, T.: "Cape Hatteras", page 8. Cumberland House, 1999
  5. ^ Yocum, T.: "Cape Hatteras", page 9. Cumberland House, 1999
  6. ^ Yocum, T.: "Cape Hatteras", page 12. Cumberland House, 1999
  7. ^ North Carolina Light Stations (English). United States Coast Guard. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
  8. ^ Mike Booher and Lin Ezell, Out of Harm's Way, Eastwind Publishing, Annapolis, MD, 2001, ISBN 1-885457-15-4.
  9. ^ Climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (English). National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.

[edit] Cited Texts

  • Yocum, Thomas, Bruce Roberts, and Cheryl Shelton-Roberts. Cape Hatteras: America's Lighthouse- Guardian of the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Nashville, TN: Cumberland House, 1999.


[edit] External links