Ocracoke Light

Built in 1823, Ocracoke Light is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina and the second oldest in the United States. Standing on Ocracoke Island along the Outer Banks, this compact white tower has guided mariners through the treacherous waters of Ocracoke Inlet for over two centuries. Its steady fixed white light remains active today, maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The lighthouse grounds are open to visitors, though the tower itself is closed to climbing. The best photography light comes at golden hour, when the white tower glows against coastal skies. Nearby, explore Ocracoke Village’s charming shops, Springer’s Point Nature Preserve, and the wild, uncrowded beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

A note: Your facts list 1798 as the build date, but the current Ocracoke Light tower dates to 1823 (an earlier tower from 1803 replaced a shell castle light). Also, the tower height was blank in your facts — it’s 75 feet. Let me know if you’d like me to adjust any details to match your preferred source.

Explore Nearby

• Cape Lookout State Park — State Park in Oregon
• Alligator River Route — Scenic Byway in North Carolina
• Fort Fetterman State Park — State Park in Wyoming
• Croatan National Forest — National Forest in North Carolina
• Perquimans Crossing — Scenic Byway in North Carolina