North Carolina’s lighthouses inspire awe as much for their history as for their majestic stature. Standing at 210 feet tall, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest in the U.S. and has a history that makes the allure of this beacon even more enticing. It’s one of three lights located in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and one that’s definitely worth the haul all the way to the top.

The present day Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the second such structure built here for the purpose of navigational aid to ships off the coast of North Carolina.
Flickr/scott1346
Additionally, it serves as a beacon over the treacherous area off the North Carolina coast known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," due to the shifting sandbars and the powerful storms that seem to plague the Outer Banks. To get a real sense of the size of this light, take a look at how small the double doors in the photo below seem compared to the girth of the light.
Wikimedia/Andrew
Many people don't realize that, in 1999, the lighthouse was moved more than a half mile from its original spot. The 5,000 ton structure was carefully relocated by an expert house moving company and team of engineers. Prior to its relocation in 1999, the sea had encroached to just 15 feet from the base of the light, putting it in great jeopardy. You can see below the light is secured upon a moving platform very similar to the platforms used to move homes. At the time, many skeptics feared the light wouldn't survive such a long move, but it did.
Wikimedia Commons/RadioFan at English Wikipedia

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For some, climbing the light is nearly as much of an accomplishment as that move. It's a whopping 267 steps to the top.
TripAdvisor/robertocardosojr
Reaching the top is the equivalent to climbing a 12-story building. The spiral staircase has nine landings before it opens up onto the observation deck — where the views are never-ending.
TripAdvisor/robertocardosojr
Have you climbed to the top of America's tallest lighthouse?
TripAdvisor/Britney987

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located at 46379 Lighthouse Rd, Buxton, NC 27920. It is open seasonally the third Friday in April through Columbus Day for self-guided climbs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. All climbs are at your own pace and the National Park Service currently allows 30 people into the light every 10 minutes. (Note: this doesn’t mean you only have 10 minutes inside the lighthouse.) When you purchase a ticket, you’ll be given a “climb time” so you can enjoy the grounds while you wait for your time to arrive.

The cost to climb the light is: $8 for adults, $4 for senior citizens (62 or older), and $4 children (11 and under, and at least 42″ tall), and the disabled. Full moon tours are also available! For more information, see this page on the official website of the National Park Service.

Want to see more lights in the Tar Heel State? Check out this lighthouse road trip on the North Carolina coast.

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