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Cape Lookout Lighthouse
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The original Cape Lookout Lighthouse was established in 1821 at a price of $21,000. This lighthouse stood along side the present day Cape Lookout for several years until it was destroyed. The present Cape Lookout lighthouse was built in 1859 at a cost of $45,000. The need for a lighthouse in this area of the Outer Banks was mandatory due to many ships wrecking. The surrounding area is referred to as Lookout Shoals and is known for its shifting sands making the shoreline unpredictable to mariners. The lighthouse is 163 feet above sea level and was equipped with a 1st-order Fresnel lens. The powerful beacon could be seen from several miles away. After its construction, Cape Lookout became the model for all lighthouses constructed on the Outer Banks from that point on. Currently, the Coast Guard owns and operates the lighthouse, and the National Park Service owns the surrounding area. The tower is not open to the public, but they do have a visitor center and small museum.
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