North Carolina's first lighthouse was built on Bald Head Island in 1796. It's Chore? To guide ships into the Cape Fear River. The cost to built this important navigational beacon was $7,359. The current tower pictured above was built in 1817. It stands 110 feet tall, and is 109 steps to the top. The cost to build this tower was more than $15,000. Note how scarred the tower is by many years of wind and weather.
One notable feature is that the lighthouse withstood a hurricane in 1883 that sunk more than 100 vessels and Hurricane Fran in September of 1996. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1935 and is open to the public. I visited the tower in June 1997, and climbed all the way to the top. All the lighting apparatus has been removed, and the view from the top is incredible. It almost appears that the old tower watches guard over the little community on the island.
Trivia Note: If the Island looks familiar to you, it could be that this was the Island that Weekend at Bernie's was filmed on.
Directions: To get Bald Head Island, or Smith Island as it was referred to many years ago, take Route 133 South from Wilmington (~32 miles) to Route 211 (North Howe Street). Make a left onto North Howe St. Continue up North Howe Street, then make a right onto West 9th Street. There will be signs. Follow West 9th Street to the Indigo Plantation. They run the ferry service to BHI. There is a fee for parking and as of June of 1997, there was a charge of $15.00 per person.
To rate this lighthouse, click on a number below: 
Lighthouse Rating: 5.29
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