In 1859, only ten years after being constructed, Bodie Island Lighthouse had deteriorated so much that it had to be condemned.Īlthough this project was overall a failure, Mr. The lighthouse used not a Fresnel lens-like its future versions, but instead, a revolving lighting apparatus made up of fourteen lamps and reflectors that frequently did not operate as intended. Apparently, the foundation had not been designed to accommodate the soils upon which the structure had been built, causing it to settle unevenly. Soon after the tower was completed, it was apparent something was amiss as the lighthouse began to lean to one side. In addition, a home for one lighthouse keeper was built out of wood as well as a brick cistern and two outhouses. The structure consisted of a brick tower that was 54-feet high and crowned with a lantern 10 feet in diameter. The final cost of the construction of the lighthouse was $8,750. Francis Gibbons was the head contractor responsible for overseeing the construction of the first version of Bodie Island Lighthouse which began in 1847 and was completed the following year. Problems with the location and design of the lighthouse resulted in a ten-year delay in construction. A resident of Baltimore, MD named Mr. In 1837, Congress appropriated $5,000 ($139,000 in today's dollars) to be used for the construction of a lighthouse on Pea Island which would aid ships as they navigate the tremulous waters directly off the coast of North Carolina that is sometimes referred to as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." You may nor may not know this, but the current Bodie Island Lighthouse that you and I can visit today is the third that has stood in this vicinity on the Outer Banks.īelow is a brief history of the three different structures followed by a timeline to help connect the dots. Nags Head, NC 27959 History of Bodie Island Lighthouse Once you traverse over the Bonner Bridge heading north to the central beaches, you'll spot Bodie Island Lighthouse on your left - just past Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. Travelers who head south on NC 12 from the town of Kill Devil Hills will easily be able to spot Bodie Island Lighthouse that’ll appear out of nowhere on the sound side (right side if driving south). This roadway will take you clear from Corolla to the foot of the ferry to Ocracoke Island – some 200+ miles in totality. If you have spent any amount of time vacationing on North Carolina’s Outer Banks which is commonly referred to as "OBX", then you have no doubt traveled along NC 12, or “beach road” as the locals commonly refer to it. There are a total of five lighthouses along the Outer Banks. Where is Bodie Island Lighthouse Located? Tens of thousands of visitors from the East Coast and Midwest stop by the National Park Service managed facility to snag a photo or two of the lighthouse. Its light pattern is characterized by 2.5 seconds on, 2.5 seconds off, 2.5 seconds on, and then 22.5 seconds off.Īpart from the assistance for sailors, the structure is an important landmark for the area's tourism industry. Over the years, the power source for the light changed from oil to electrical, but few other changes were made to Bodie Island Lighthouse. Even with precise satellite instruments available to those steering smaller vessels, some boat captains still rely on the black and white striped tower for assistance while approaching Oregon Inlet. Since inception, the beam emitting from the top of the structure has been shining nightly to use as an aid to navigation. The current structure is the third lighthouse constructed at this general location - the other two crumbled due to very different circumstances. No question about it, North Carolina's Outer Banks is home to some world-class lighthouses including Bodie Island Lighthouse, a majestic black and white striped structure that's hard to miss while traveling from the central to southern branches of the barrier islands.īodie Island Lighthouse was built in 1871 - 1872 by the United States Lighthouse Board for use as a nighttime aid to navigation to help guide sailors as they traversed the treacherous waters off the coast of North Carolina.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |