Protecting People and Ships - Harkers Island NC
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 34° 41.118 W 076° 31.566
18S E 360203 N 3839204
The 1859 Cape Lookout Lighthouse warns ships about the dangerous Cape Lookout Shoals—sandbars that jut out over 10 miles into the ocean.
Waymark Code: WM174DP
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 12/08/2022
Views: 1
TEXT ON THE HISTORICAL MARKER
Protecting People and Ships
The 1859 Cape Lookout Lighthouse warns ships about the dangerous Cape Lookout Shoals—sandbars that jut out over 10 miles into the ocean.
Replacing a short, 107-foot 1812 lighthouse, the new lighthouse has double walls. This design supports the taller 163-foot structure and a Frensnel lens improved the light, casting it nearly 30 miles at night in good weather.
(captions)
(upper left) Much of Cape Lookout’s history is tied to federal efforts to protect ships and people at sea. This maritime legacy included the US Lighthouse Service, the US Life-Saving Service, an establishment of the US Coast Guard Station on the cape in 1916.
(upper center) The lighthouse’s diagonal checkerboard pattern was added in 1873 as unique daymark. This design and a unique light flash pattern enables sailors to identify the lighthouse, day or night.
Group that erected the marker: National Park Service
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Island Road (County Route 1335)
Grounds of the Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitor Center.
Harkers Island , NC United States
28531
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