The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Bodie Island Lighthouse, NC

On the Outer Banks. The current one was built in 1872 to replace the one blown up by Confederates in 1861 to prevent capture by Union forces.

The new one is 95% completely restored, but work has stopped because of lack of funding. The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society www.outer-banks.com/lighthouse-society is a non-profit organization involved in this work.

The first lighthouse was built in 1947 and had a 54 foot tower. Faults began to show and within two years it began to lean. Numerous repairs were made but it couldn't be fixed and was abandoned in 1859.

The second one was 80 feet tall

Construction on the current one began in 1871. A First Order Fresnel Lens was installed and is still in place. A lighthouse keeper lived in a home on the grounds and kept the light burning until 1932 when the beacon was electrified by the Coast Guard.

All property except the tower was transferred to the National Park Service and the keeper's home is now the ranger office and visitor center. In 2000, the tower was also transferred to the NPS and it is still a functioning US Coast Guard navigational aid.

As They Said, We'll Leave the Light On. --Old Blockade-R'er

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