Article • Cape Hatteras Lighthouse - Panoramic Tour

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Panoramas - Upper Levels

Cape Hatteras Landing 8

At night while the light was lit and operating, a lighthouse keeper had to be at the top with of the lighthouse at all times in order to keep watch for ships in distress and to make sure the light was relit immediately if it were to ever go out.

HDP/Paul Davidson

Cape Hatteras Top Landing

The circular interior walls are constructed from white-painted, load bearing brick. The black-painted cast iron door with red-painted cast iron frame is open and leads to the lighthouse balcony. The remaining spiral stairs painted gray lead up to the Lantern Room, where the light is located. The underside of the cast iron walkway of the Lantern Room is visible at ceiling height. There is a circular opening at the center of the ceiling, spanned by an aluminum platform, with views into the Lantern Room above. The floor is red-painted cast iron with a diamond-texture. In the center of the room sits a waist-height, circular wood platform painted- red, indicating the placement of the original clockwork mechanism which rotated the Fresnel Lens.

HDP/Paul Davidson

Cape Hatteras Lantern Room

While the original Fresnel Lens is no longer extant in the lantern, the lighthouse still operates as a navigational aid. The current aero-beacon light includes two large electric lights that rotate, flashing every 7.5 seconds. The walls of the Lantern Room are glass with black-painted, cast iron frames. The ceiling is cast iron and painted a cream color. At floor level is a narrow cast-iron walkway painted gray on the perimeter of the room. A small cast-iron spiral ladder descends to the Top Level of the lighthouse. A large rectangular aluminum plate supported by aluminum I-beams spans the opening in the floor and serves as a base for the rotating aero-beacon light.

HDP/Paul Davidson

Cape Hatteras Lantern Room Balcony

The Lantern Room has a small black cast-iron framed glass doorway that provides access to a narrow balcony which surrounds the exterior of the Lantern Room. Outside the two keeper’s quarters are visible, and inside the current aero-beacon light is visible.

HDP/Paul Davidson