Ocracoke in Hyde County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
A Light for Ocracoke Inlet
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 18, 2017
1. A Light for Ocracoke Inlet Marker
The first lighthouse at Ocracoke Inlet was the 1798 Shellcastle Rock lighthouse located on an island in the inlet. In such a location—defenseless against storms, tides, and winds—the lighthouse was often inoperative when needed most. Thus, in 1823, it was replaced by this light, the Nation's second oldest still in use. The non-rotating light is 75 feet above sea level and can be seen a full 360 degrees to a distance of fourteen miles. The walls are five feet thick at the base and are made of brick with a mortar surface.
The two story structure on your right originally housed the lighthouse keeper and his family. Today it is a private residence. The small block building formerly provided storage for lamp fuel. Whale oil, porpoise oil and kerosene have all served as fuel for the light. Today the light is electric building houses an auxiliary generator.
The lighthouse is owned and maintained the United States Coast Guard and is closed to the public.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1823.
Location. 35° 6.518′ N, 75° 59.16′ W. Marker is in Ocracoke, North Carolina,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Living at the Light (a few steps from this marker); Ocracokes Silent Sentinel (within shouting distance of this marker); Growing More Resilient (within shouting distance of this marker); Springers Point Preserve (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ocracoke Lighthouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Island Inn Park Restoration Project (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lake Company (approx. 0.3 miles away); USRC Mercury (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ocracoke.
Also see . . .
1. Ocracoke Island Lighthouse. Outer Banks website entry:
The Ocracoke Island Lighthouse may not be the most imposing of the Outer Banks lighthouses, but as North Carolina's oldest lighthouse in operation, (and the second oldest in the United States), it is certainly one of the most beloved. It is by far the smallest lighthouse on the Outer Banks, but it still towers over the 4 square miles of Ocracoke Village, and its beacon can be spotted up to 14 miles into the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. (Submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 18, 2017
2. A Light for Ocracoke Inlet Marker (wide view; marker center foreground on right side of path)
2. Ocracoke Light Station. National Park Service Cape Hatteras National Seashore website:
Ocracoke Inlet was first placed on the map when English explorers wrecked a sailing ship there in 1585. Two centuries later, this was one of the busiest inlets on the East Coast. Ocracoke Inlet was the only reasonably navigable waterway for ships accessing inland ports such as Elizabeth City, New Bern, and Edenton. Ocracoke Village, then known as Pilot Town, developed as a result of the inlets use. Pilots, hired to steer ships safely through the shifting channels to mainland ports, settled the village in the 1730s. (Submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 18, 2017
3. Lighthouse Keeper's Residence (view from marker)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 18, 2017
4. Ocracoke Lighthouse & Fuel Storage Building
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 18, 2017
5. Welcome Sign by Parking Lot (on Lighthouse Road)
Park here to access marker and lighthouse.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 519 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
