North Carolina is home to a number of lighthouses – each one as fascinating as the next. But in terms of back stories, one of them stands out above the rest. In 1999, with the sea quickly encroaching upon the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the decision was made to pick it up and move it 2,900 feet to the southwest.
Constructed in 1870 for a cost of $167,000, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest light in the U.S. at 210 feet high. But it hasn’t always been in the spot where visitors find it today.
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By the 1990s, erosion along the coast put the structure at dire risk. The lighthouse was a mere 15 feet from the high tide mark. It was time to make a change.
NPS There were several schools of thought for preserving the light. One group wanted to construct a steel and concrete base around the light and just let the sea move in, creating a barrier island with the light and the new sea wall. This would have stranded the lighthouse at sea. Ultimately, the decision was made to pick it up, literally, and move it to a safer distance from the ocean.
The first structures to be moved were the accompanying buildings. Each was raised six feet in the air so that the foundation could be secured before the big move.
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Then, Expert House Movers stepped in to relocate each ancillary building. Seen here is the light keeper’s residence (at right) in the process of being moved.
NPS
A road was constructed creating a straight shot from the old location to the new location a little more than a half mile away.
Karen Kasmauski / Corbis Documentary Collection via Getty Images
To move the lighthouse, a special foundation was constructed and placed underneath the light.
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Constructed of steel beams placed on a wooden mat, this sturdy base allowed the whole thing to be carefully raised up into the air with the use of hydraulic jacks.
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The first move was accomplished on June 5, 1999 when the light was successfully moved a mere five inches.
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Reaching the new location would eventually take 23 days of moves so small they were barely noticeable. In the end, not even a crack was detected in the then 129-year-old brick structure.
Karen Kasmauski / Corbis Documentary Collection via Getty Images Do you recall this fascinating part of North Carolina’s recent history?See more of the move in this short video from youtube user CURRENT TV:
You can learn more about the lighthouse, including dates when it’s open for visitors, from the official website of the National Park Service. Have you climbed to the top of America’s tallest brick lighthouse? What’s your favorite lighthouse in the North Carolina? Join the discussion in the comments!
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NPS
There were several schools of thought for preserving the light. One group wanted to construct a steel and concrete base around the light and just let the sea move in, creating a barrier island with the light and the new sea wall. This would have stranded the lighthouse at sea. Ultimately, the decision was made to pick it up, literally, and move it to a safer distance from the ocean.
Karen Kasmauski / Corbis Documentary Collection via Getty Images
Do you recall this fascinating part of North Carolina’s recent history?See more of the move in this short video from youtube user CURRENT TV:
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Address: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 46379 Lighthouse Rd, Buxton, NC 27920, USA
