Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Lighthouses on the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks is famous for it's lighthouses.  The infamous Diamond Shoals have sunk many a ship resulting in the area being nicknamed "Graveyard of the Atlantic" and construction of one of the tallest lighthouses in the world on Hatteras Island.   For more information click here.  Members of my mother's family were the first keepers at this historic lighthouse.



The lighthouse on Ocracoke Island is the shortest of the group.  It was designed to welcome ships to a safe harbor unlike the Hatteras lighthouse which was built tall to ward off ships from the Shoals.  It was just off of Ocracoke Island that the infamous Blackbeard was finally brought to rest.


Finally I've included pics of the Bodie (pronounced like body) Island Lighthouse.  It has just undergone a huge restoration and will be available for climbing this spring for the first time in over 25 years.  The last few shots are some of my very first attempts at night shots with stars in the background.  It's tough work.





Zen Outdoors
Lighthouse, Outer Banks, North Carolina, Stars