Beacons of the Coast

Over a century ago, mariners travelling along the Atlantic coast encountered dangerous shoals an treacherous storms. Their guides were the beacons of light produced by lighthouses which helped mariners navigate the perilous coastline. For marinders traveling along the North carolina coast, seven lighthouse beacons were constructed to guide them through an area known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic". Hundreds of shipwrecks occurred due to the dangers of this area.

Today, the ships traveling the coast use modern tools such as radar and sonar. The beacons continue to operate, standing as a reminder of the hardships encountered by our ancestors to help settle the country.

These seven lighthouses found on the North Carolina coast stand as pieces of our past.

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For more information:
Cape Lookout National Seashore
131 Charles Street
Harkers Island, NC 28531
252-728-2250
www.nps.gov/calco/

Outer Banks Lighthouse Society