Designed and constructed in 1868-70, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest traditional lighthouse in the United States, and it is an iconic symbol of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1998. Threatened by coastal erosion, the lighthouse and associated buildings were moved inland 2,900 feet to a new site in 1999.
Approximately 500,000 people visit the Cape Hatteras Light Station annually and approximately 1,500 people climb the lighthouse daily between April and October.
The lighthouse is located on a barrier island along the Atlantic coast and is exposed to salt air, high winds, and intense sunlight. Consequently, repairs are needed to maintain the integrity of this national treasure. The National Park Service has received funding for a major repair project that will address the findings from a 2014 Comprehensive Condition Assessment Report and a 2016 Historic Structure Report. The project will include repairs to deteriorated masonry, metal components, windows, marble flooring, and the lantern. Important architectural components, including missing pediments over the lighthouse windows and missing interior doors will also be restored. Additionally, the project will include new paint coatings on the interior and exterior of the lighthouse.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is proud to be entrusted with the stewardship of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It is the mission of the National Park Service to preserve cultural resources such as this lighthouse for the benefit of current and future generations.
This page will be updated at least on a monthly basis, if not sooner due to major accomplishments. Follow our Flickr album to see images of the lighthouse restoration over the coming months.
Summary of Restoration Project:
During the 18-month project, Stone & Lime Historic Restoration Services, Inc. will perform extensive restoration work inside and outside the lighthouse, and improve the landscape for a better visitor experience. Read the Summary Report for a detailed list of projects. Hightlights include:
Fresnel Lens Replica:
Under this project, the current spotlight/beacon will be replaced with a replica of a first-order Fresnel lens. The lens will include a fabricated pedestal, working clockwork, and a replica counter-weight system. The workings of the pedestal will be visible to visitors at the top of the lighthouse during lighthouse climbs.
Repainting:
The exterior and interior of the Lighthouse will have the existing paint removed and new paint applied.
Restoring the Ironwork:
Over the last 150 years, the salt air has greatly impacted the intricate ironwork of the lighthouse. This is most noticable in the lantern room, on the watch deck, in the window structures and on the stairs. The restoration project will repair the iron where possible, and provide for accurate recasting where ironwork has to be replaced. The historic iron fence surrounding the lighthouse will also be replicated and restored.
Restoring Missing Defining Features:
Window pediments (ornamental structures above the windows) are no longer present. If you look closely, you can see where these features used to be. These will be restored, along with a replica of the metal ornamental fence surrounding the light house.
Landscape Enhancements:
The Cape Hatteras Light Station attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. This project will improve pedesterian flow by expanding walkways, improving viewsheds, and providing expanded historical interpretation along the paths. The defining fence along the principal and double keepers' quarters will also be restored, and the Keepers' Stones will be relocated along the path to allow for better interpretation and enjoyment.
View of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse with exterior paint removed.
NPS Photo
Restoration Project Status
Updated: March 27, 2025
Scroll to bottom of page to link to previous updates
The National Park Service is continuing its work to repair the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, fabricate a replica Fresnel lens, and rehabilitate the landscape.
Paint has been removed from the entire inside and outside of the lighthouse, hundreds of metal components are being repaired or re-cast, new windows are in fabrication, and significant masonry repair and repointing efforts are underway.
Many new landscape components have been installed, including about half of the new concrete and brick pathways, a new arrangement of the keepers' stones, turf landscaping and native vegetation. A new fence that will surround the Double Keepers' Quarters and Primary Keeper’s Quarters is under construction.
There is always the potential for unknown conditions to surface during repair projects for historic structures, and the Cape Hatteras lighthouse project is no exception. The contractor's work to remove and fix masonry near the gallery decking, the deck that one walks on at the top of the lighthouse, revealed significant corrosion and cracking of most support brackets and an additional structural component that ties the brackets together called a tension ring. The degraded condition of these components was previously unknown because they were concealed under layers of bricks. Currently, structural engineers and historic architects are developing alternative designs and cost estimates to repair the degraded brackets, tension ring, and other associated components. It is likely that the work to fix these damages will delay the completion date for the lighthouse repair project, but it's too soon to forecast a new completion date.
