NPS Photo Making Memories at Cape LookoutCape Lookout Lighthouse is an aid to navigation, a symbol of home, a vacation spot, a place of work, and a welcome beacon for visitors coming to Cape Lookout National Seashore. Thousands of visitors cross the sound every year to visit Cape Lookout, and to explore the surrounding seashore. Restoration ProjectIn early 2021, NPS staff conducted a regular pre-season safety inspection of the lighthouse. That inspection noted several concerns related to structural components such as stairs and handrails. Structural engineers were brought out to perform more in-depth inspections, resulting in a list of suggested repairs. While the lighthouse is not in any peril, a full restoration will help protect it into the future and ensure that visitors can safely climb it for decades to come. This project includes repair or replacement of metal stairs, handrails, landings, glass panes, windows, doors, and other materials. For the first time since 1873, the lighthouse will be stripped to bare brick and repainted with a breathable paint to help stabilize the moisture content of the bricks. The project is comprehensive and is expected to take several years to complete. Currently, we are hopeful that construction will begin sometime in late 2024. Once construction begins, we will have better understanding of when lighthouse will reopen for climbing. 
That’s a Keeper!Before you leave the lighthouse, don’t forget to stop by the Lighthouse Keeper’s House. This house was built in 1873. When Cape Lookout was operated by the Light House Service, Keepers lived on Core Banks with their families. Today, the bottom part of the house operates as a museum staffed by volunteers. The Keeper's Quarters is open from mid-March to the end of October. Walking the BoardwalkBesides seeing the lighthouse, you can walk around the boardwalk, searching for plants and animals native to the seashore. From early May through early August, monarch butteries are swarming the bushes on the path. Be careful where you step! Have you never seen the ocean before? Walk to the end of the boardwalk, to the pedestrian beach to relax to the sound waves crashing. This part of the beach is closed to vehicle driving, making it a perfect destination to build sand castles and search for seashells. While walking to the ocean, don’t forget to look for the foundation of the original 1812 lighthouse. Between the current lighthouse and the boardwalk, look for a large mound of sand. There, you will find a pieces of concrete and bricks. Remember, it is illegal to remove any artifacts from the seashore. You are only allowed to take seashells and pinecones!
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Last updated: April 15, 2024