The Currituck Beach Lighthouse shined its first beacon on December 1, 1875. It’s job was to fill the forty miles of dark space on the North Caroline coast between Cape Henry Light, to the north, and Bodie Island Light, to the south.
The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is 162 feet tall. The walls at the base are 5 feet 8 inches in thickness with a diameter of 28 feet.
I put some coins into this wishing well in hopes of a safe trip to the top.
There are 214 hops-I mean steps to the top. It’s a really good workout.
At the top!
Currituck Beach Lighthouse originally housed a seven Fresnel lens, an oil lampwith five wicks; the largest was four inches in diameter. It operated on a system of weights powered much like a grandfather clock. The keeper had to handcrank the weights every two and a half hours. It was automated with electricity in 1939. Even now the beacon cycles for 3 seconds on and 17 seconds off from dusk to dawn.
Yes, those are people down there. You can also see part of the Lighthouse Keepers' House.
This is the southward view from the platform. You can see the Atlantic Ocean on the left and the Currituck Sound on the right.
This double lightkeepers’ house is unique in many ways. First, it was shipped pre-cut and labeled on barges to be assembled on site. It is a duplex; housing two keeper’s families separately. There is also a third house to the right which housed the principal keeper. These residences were used until 1939.
Double Keepers' House
The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is free to access and child friendly. Here is one of the displays that I saw at the center. Toward the left is a large freshwater fish display with many live fish.
This humpback whale head was discovered in 2009.
This bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It leads across “the ditch” of water heading from the boathouse to the Currituck Sound.
The Whalehouse Club was build by Edward and Marie-Louise Knight in 1925. They brought many guests to their get away home to entertain and hunt waterfowl. The next owner leased it to the U.S. Coast Guard in the 1940s. Afterwards, it was a private school for boys. Then, it grounds became a testing site for a solid rocket fuel for NASA. After much neglect, it has been restored to its original elegance.
Here is the Whalehead Club and Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education with the Currituck Sound behind.
Tags: Polly 35
August 17th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
That #35 sure does get around. It looks like all of you had a great summer. Thanks for sharing your stories and pictures. They’re really good!
August 17th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
The lighthouse is awesome and the view from the top is even better!
August 18th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
I love your pictures. You are really getting into the froggy spirit!
August 18th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Beautiful pictures…thanks for posting!
August 20th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Take me with you next time!! I haven’t been anywhere lately!!!!!
August 21st, 2010 at 11:31 am
Where do you think you’ll go next? This was a really good post!
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:23 pm
I actually am working on “going green” at home. Look for a new post soon.