Visit the Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

Visit the four lighthouses operated by the National Park on the shores of the Outer Banks: Currituck Beach, Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse, located in Corolla stands at 158 feet tall and is the northern-most lighthouse in the Outer Banks. This night beacon, which can be seen for 18 miles out to sea, still flashes every twenty seconds to safely guide ships along the North Carolina coast. Unlike the other lighthouses in the area, the Currituck is unpainted red brick.  Visitors can climb the 214 steps to the top and view the Atlantic Ocean.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse is located further south on the coast and stands at 150 feet tall. This lighthouse, built in 1872, is painted white with two 22 foot horizontal black stripes.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located in Buxton. This 210 foot lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. Visitors can climb the 268 iron spiral stairs to the top. The automated light can be seen 20 miles out to sea and beams every 7.5 seconds.

The Ocracoke Lighthouse is located in the fishing village of Ocracoke. Built in 1823, it is the southern-most lighthouse on the Outer Banks and the second oldest operating lighthouse in the United States. To get to this white concrete lighthouse, visitors must take a 45 minute ferry ride from Hatteras Island. The lighthouse tower is 75 feet tall and its light can be seen for 14 miles.

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is a maritime museum that focuses on the sailing history and shipwrecks of the Outer Banks. The local area, especially the waters off the coast of Cape Hatteras, is home to many shipwrecks. Powerful storms, strong ocean currents and hidden sandbars are just some of the dangers for big ships in this area. At low tide, some of the old shipwrecks are still visible on the sandbars. The museum is located in Hatteras Village. This museum displays the history of more than 1,500 shipwrecks that have occurred off the coast of the Outer Banks. Explore shipwrecks, view ship models, learn about lifesaving rescue operations and hear thrilling stories of famous local pirates.

The Wright Brothers National Memorial

Located on Bodie Island, The Wright Brothers National Memorial marks the site where, on December 17, 1903, the world's first controlled powered flight hit the skies for 12 seconds. Visit the site in Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk where brothers Orville & Wilbur introduced flight to the world. The grounds include a large granite boulder which marks the take off point for the first successful flights by the Wright brothers and four smaller stone markers for future flight attempts. Replica camp buildings and a 60 foot granite monument on Kill Devil Hills also honors the Wright Brothers. The Visitor Center includes full scale reproductions of the Wright 1903 Powered Flyer, a replica of the 1902 Wright Glider and a reproduction of the Wright's first wind tunnel.