Roanoke River Light
The first lighthouse we found was Roanoke River Light in Washington County, NC. In the 19th century, a dozen or more of this style lighthouse were built on open-water screw piles. They were all dismantled not long ago, except this one which is privately owned. It was moved to the Roanoke River where I shot this photo, then more recently moved again a short distance to a more accessible viewing location.
Currituck Beach Light
At the extreme north end of North Carolina's outer banks is the second light we saw; Currituck Beach Light in Corolla, NC.
Currituck Beach Light
It's one of the few historic lights that are still open to public climbing.
Currituck Beach Light
In the foreground is the Currituck Beach Light keeper's house. On the other side is a smaller building converted to a gift shop.
Currituck Beach Light
I'd love to tell you I found this shot all by myself, but the truth is, I saw this composition on a poster in the gift shop which inspired me to walk over to the bridge and shoot it myself.
Currituck Beach Light
Here are my parents climbing the Currituck Beach Light.
View from Currituck Beach Light
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View from Currituck Beach Light
Looking at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
A little further south along the outer banks and we arrived at Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills, site of the first airplane flight by the Wright brothers.
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
The shack and hangar are reproductions of the facilities the Wright brothers used.
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
Inside the shack that served as living quarters.
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
A little to the left from the prior photo.
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
This stone marker indicates the point where the Wright brothers' plane left the ground during the four flight attempts on December 17, 1903. Aww, wassa matter? Can't read the plaque? Oh, all right, move on to the next picture. 😉
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
The first successful flight of an airplane..."
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
Since there were no wheels on the plane, this wood and metal track was used for the plane's takeoff. It was not launched, however. It lifted from the ground under its own power.
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
The first flight lasted 12 seconds for a distance of 120 feet. The second, also 12 seconds, flew 175 feet. The third flight, 15 seconds, went 200 feet.
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
The first three flights weren't much more than puddle hops. The fourth and final attempt lasted 59 seconds for a distance of 852 feet.
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
The First Flight. "The flight lasted only 12 seconds, but nevertheless the first in the history of the world in which a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into full flight, had sailed forward without reduction of speed, and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it had started." —Orville Wright. The picture is of the first flight, December 17, 1903, 10:35 a.m., 120 feet in 12 seconds. Orville Wright is at the controls, lying prone on the lower wing. Running alongside to balance the machine on the monorail, Wilbur Wright has just released his hold of the right wing.
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
Kill Devil Hills. "…the sand fairly blinds us. It blows across the ground in the clouds. We certainly can't complain of the place. We came down here for wind and sand, and we got them." —Letter from Orville Wright to Katherine Wright, October 18, 1900. "The practice ground at the Kill Devil Hills consists of a level plain of bare sand, from which rises a group of detached hills or mounds formed of sand heaped up by the winds. These hills are constantly changing in height and slope, according to the direction and force of the prevailing winds." —Wilbur Wright, lecture of June 24, 1903
Kitty Hawk First Flight area
This monument now adorns the top of the sand dune (the grass came many years after the Wright brothers' flight) which Orville and Wilbur used to launch their gliders prior to flying the powered airplane.
Kitty Hawk Monument
A closer view of the monument. My parents are posed in front.
View from monument hill at Kitty Hawk
From the top of the sand dune, if you look closely at the distance, you can make out the launch point and the four landing markers.
Bodie Island Light
I took three shots of the Bodie (pronounced "body") Island Light on Bodie Island, NC. They're all virtually the same angle, though, and this one is my favorite, so just one will suffice.
Earthen fort buildup
On Roanoke Island is the Lost Colony historical site. This picture is an earth buildup used as a fort. Read more about the lost colony at this North Carolina Library site or the official Lost Colony web site.
Lost Colony theatre
Here's the outdoor, oceanside theatre where the Lost Colony play is held. We were going to watch it but we were in this area on Sunday—the one day the troupe doesn't perform. 🙁
Campground ducks
The campground on Roanoke Island where we stayed for two nights was home to a large family of ducks and geese.
Cape Hatteras Light
Cape Hatteras Light in Buxton, NC, was moved in the summer of 1999. The seashore had eroded the beach to the point that the water was only about 150 feet from the tower.
Cape Hatteras Light
Obligatory photo spot.
Cape Hatteras Light
Hatteras' uniquely identifiable base.
Cape Hatteras Light
Yeah, it was a pretty yucky day. Even rained pretty heavy while we were stuck in the store. I'd hoped to climb this lighthouse, but just a few days before, it was closed because bricks/plaster was falling inside the tower.
Cape Hatteras Light original location
This is the original site of the tower. The beach is just over the sand dunes on the left. The brick ring contains keepers' names.
Ocracoke Island ferry
Squeezing our rented RV onto the ferry to Ocracoke Island was a fun exercise in logistics. The ferry personnel are used to it, though. They regularly load semi trucks on these ferries.
Ocracoke Light
Ocracoke Light is located on Ocracoke Island, NC, where Edward Teach (better known as Blackbeard the Pirate) was finally cornered by British troops on November 21, 1718.
Ocracoke Light
Here I go with more creative composition.
Ocracoke Light
More creative composition on what was, again, a yucky day.
Ocracoke Light
One last shot. I take a bunch because I use these shots for computer desktop wallpaper images which can be found (mine and other people's) at ATPM.
Cape Lookout Light
The day we travelled to Cape Lookout Light on the Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC, was much nicer. The only vehicles on this remote island belong to the nature tour folk. The island is only accessible by boat.
Cape Lookout Light
Back to the creative composition.
Cape Lookout Light
Weather started to get cloudy and we got concerned about a storm, but it never came. No, the tower isn't leaning. Wide angle photography plays tricks on you.
Cape Lookout Light
A shot back to the tower as we were leaving. By the way, the tower's diamond daymarks do align with north, south, east, and west compass positions.
USS North Carolina
In Wilmington, NC, we took a detour from the lighthouse sightseeing to tour the WWII battleship, USS North Carolina. I'll bow out on extensive comments and let you visit the official site instead.
USS North Carolina
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USS North Carolina
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USS North Carolina plane launch
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USS North Carolina's very big guns!
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Info sign on USS North Carolina's big guns
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USS North Carolina turret launcher
Yep, you can go inside the turret to see how they worked. (Quit laughing at the flat man loading a fake shell into the turret!)
USS North Carolina turret loading bays
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Another flat man loading fake shells
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USS North Carolina mess hall
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USS North Carolina engine room
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USS North Carolina engine room
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USS North Carolina piston
This piston connected to one of the ship's propellers.
USS North Carolina kitchen
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USS North Carolina rudder mechanism
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USS North Carolina printing press
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USS North Carolina laundry room
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USS North Carolina laundry room
Wonder if those shirts would make the flat man more handsome.
USS North Carolina washing machine
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USS North Carolina bunk
If you think these bunks look cramped, wait till you see the main bunk area.
USS North Carolina barber shop
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USS North Carolina mail room
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USS North Carolina wishing well
The "Wishing Well." This shaft leading down the engine decks goes down about 4-5 decks. If your coin makes it into the bucket at the bottom, your wish will be granted. 😉
USS North Carolina main bunk area
Here's the main bunk area I mentioned earlier. Sure, the room is bigger, but it wouldn't feel that way when all these bunks are filled with sailors!
USS North Carolina navigation room
Antique computers used for plotting weapon trajectories and navigation.
USS North Carolina radio room
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USS North Carolina navigation room
More computers and a circuit panel on the back wall.
USS North Carolina conduit shaft
This conduit shaft doubled as an emergency escape route. The space isn't much wider than an average man's shoulders, and goes several decks straight up to the top.
USS North Carolina gun power magazines
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USS North Carolina operating room
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USS North Carolina captain's office/quarters
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USS North Carolina bridge
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USS North Carolina bridge view
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USS North Carolina bow
Standing on the ship's bow. Well, if you ignore the guard fence keeping tourists away from work areas, and turn around 180 degrees, you could hear me scream, "I'm the king of the world!!!"
Oak Island Light
Okay, back to lighthouses. Oak Island Light on Caswell Beach, NC, is relatively new, built in 1958. You can't climb the lighthouse without an advance reservation, but two days a week, you can generate some enthusiasm from a bored Coast Guard worker by letting him take you to the first level of the lighthouse to look up and give you the Coast Guard station tour.
Funny sign inside Oak Island Light
Prior to the controls being moved to the Coast Guard building (you'll see it in the next photo), this panel was used to switch from the upper light bank to the lower bank in case of "out of character operation." Why did I take a picture? I'm sure "EM" is an acronym for something, but I'll let you figure out the irony on your own.
Oak Island Light
The bored-but-freshly-enthused Coast Guard worker/tour guide said this was the best photo spot.
Unidentified sea creature
Would someone please tell me what the heck this thing is? This alien-looking life form was swimming around the Coast Guard boat the tour guide was all too eager to show off, even though he had no idea how all the GPS equipment worked. This creature had wing-flap things kinda like a stingray, but too short of a tail, and more the size of a cuttlefish (maybe about 6 inches long).
Unidentified sea creature
Another shot of the alien with it's "wings" opened up.
Oak Island Light
The Oak Island Light never needs painting. The top section had black paint mixed into the concrete. The bottom two sections are two different types of concrete, naturally different shades of grey.
Amphibious vehicle at Oak Island Light
You've probably seen an amphibious vehicle before, but this one amused me enough to demand a photo.
Bald Head Light
Another ferry took us to Smith Island (also known as Bald Head Island), NC, where we took a small hike to reach Bald Head (Cape Fear) Light, nicknamed "Old Baldy." To our surprise and delight, you can actually climb this tower. Just make sure you can fit through the tiny hole at the top to enter the dome. Not for the claustrophobic.
Bald Head Light
More creative composition. I took a bunch of shots of this one. Very photogenic tower.
Bald Head Light
The golf cart (no other cars are allowed on this island) finally moved out of the way so I could get a shot with the flag.
Bald Head Light
And the pregnant lady with a stroller holding an older baby finally moved out of the way so I could get this angle.
Bald Head Light
Even the base, alone, is photogenic.
Sign above Bald Head Light entrance
R. Cochran Found. - AD 1817 - D.S. Way Builder (in case you care)
Lower interior of Bald Head Light
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View from Bald Head Light
That's Bald Head Island Chapel down there.
Oak Island Light as viewed from Bald Head Light
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Parents inside Bald Head Light
Hi Mom. Hi Dad.
Bald Head Light
My Dad called me over and said the sun made it look like the tower (which has long-since been dark) was shining. You decide.
Creative planter at Bald Head Light
This planter is outside the Old Baldy museum. Very unique.
Creative planter at Bald Head Light
Side view of the planter, in case you couldn't quite tell what it was.
Bald Head Island Chapel
Here's the church I saw from the top of the tower. Beautiful building.
Cape Romain Light
Next, we (barely) saw Cape Romain Light in McClellanville, SC. It's only accessible by boat, and we didn't have time to go there. This is the closest unobstructed view you can get, otherwise; and I even cheated a little for this shot. I held the digital camera up to my Dad's binoculars.
Charleston Light
While it looks pretty weird, Charleston Light (a.k.a. Sullivan's Island Light) on Sullivan's Island, SC, has the distinction of being the only lighthouse in the United States with an elevator. It's a relatively new tower, built in 1962. While it typically operates at a much dimmer intensity, it is capable of generating an unthinkable 28 million candlepower. At that intensity, there is danger of burns and eye damage.
Charleston Light
Here we go with the creative composition again.
Charleston Light
This one marked the beginning of my stint of combining sea oats with lighthouse photography!
Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter
Not far from Charleston Light is Fort Moultrie (foreground) and the island where Fort Sumter (distant) is located. I intend to return here someday to visit Fort Sumter.
Morris Island Light
The long-abandoned Morris Island Light on Morris Island, SC, had its sandy shores washed away around 1900. Unfortunately, it will most likely topple someday soon. Oh yeah, more sea oats!
Morris Island Light
Another through-the-binoculars shot.
Hunting Island Light
The last lighthouses we were planning to see were the Harbour Town Light (privately built and not an official/historic lighthouse, though it is listed on U.S. Coast Guard maps, the crazy thing even has a gift shop at the top) and Hilton Head Rear Range Light, both on Hilton Head Island, SC. We nicknamed Hilton Head "Snooty City" because they don't permit large trucks (including RVs) into many areas of the exclusive residential areas. Couldn't even go into the shopping district. If we'd been in a car, we could've arranged permission to drive to the Range Light. So, instead, Hunting Island Light in the Hunting Island State Park, SC, was the last tower we saw on this trip. It's worth mentioning that this island was also the site of what I considered the best campground we stayed at.
Hunting Island Light
Since it's the last lighthouse, I'm allowing myself a lot of creative composition. 😉
Hunting Island Light
Good desktop wallpaper candidate.
Hunting Island Light
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Hunting Island Light
You can climb this tower for just 50 cents (at least that was the price in 2001).
Stairs inside Hunting Island Light
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Stairs inside Hunting Island Light
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Hunting Island Light keeper's house ruins
This is where the keeper's house was located before it was destroyed by a fire. Only the foundation and a few original bricks remain. Most of the bricks seen now were placed just to show the layout of the duplex house.
View from Hunting Island Light
The State Park's beach, viewed from the top.
Dolphins viewed from Hunting Island Light
One more shot through the binoculars. These dolphin were following behind a net fishing boat, swiping anything that fell out.
Hunting Island Light
I believe this is my favorite shot of the Hunting Island Light.
Hunting Island Light
I came back that evening to try some more shots. I saw this angle in the southeastern lighthouse book I bought from the camp store (and used to provide much of the information in this photo album).
Hunting Island Light
I'd nearly believe this clearing was intentionally created to view the tower, except that the spot off from the parking lot where you have to stand to see this angle isn't the most easily-accessible position.
Hunting Island Light
And here we go with some dusk shots.
Hunting Island Light
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Hunting Island Light
A very close runner up to the favorite shot I indicated before. Definately my favorite dusk shot.
Hunting Island Light
Maybe someday I'll think of something other than trees to frame lighthouse shots with.
Hunting Island Light
The beacon finally lit up. This lighthouse really isn't a navigational aid anymore. The park put a weak beacon up there probably just because the visitors think it's neat. Actually, a ranger told me that just a few years ago, the lantern room was filled with new two-way radio tranciever equipment used by the park staff.
Hunting Island Light
Here's the last one. Kinda came out blurry. Oh well. Thanks for looking through.
