Characteristics Bodie Island Lighthouse is certainly a beauty. From its black horizontal bands, all the way to its 1st order Fresnel lens. Bodie is 163 feet tall, plus has a visible beam that can be seen from up to 19 miles away!! And just to let you know the house is actionly the doorway inside. One thing you will also notice are the 5ft. sand dunes.
Location The first Bodie island lighthouse was constructed on Pea Island, close to New Inlet. The second Lighthouse was also constructed on Pea Island very close to where the first was made. The third lighthouse is still standing today and its current location is Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Its specific location is 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road, Nags Head, NC 27959.
History On March 3,1837 congress gave N.C outer banks $5,000 to build a lighthouse because of the countless shipwrecks in the area. Caption Charles w. Skinner was boating over in Pea Island [where the lighthouse was built] and said the lighthouse would be better if placed on ''Bodie'' Island. On July 1, 1859 a new lighthouse was created but still was on Pea Island, but sadly was destroyed at the end of the civil war,by the confederates. The third lighthouse was finished in 1872 and was placed on Bodie Island.
Why Bodie is different from others A couple of things that make Bodie island Lighthouse special is that it's been rebuilt 3 times. Also it was the first National seashore recreational area. Tourist/visitors of this Lighthouse may participate in over 25 activities offered by the National Park Service. A popular event at Bodie is on the 3rd Friday in April. On this day visitors are permitted to climb the lighthouse!
Fun Facts ---------- 1. The lighthouse has a visitor center 2. The lighthouse has a history museum 3. The lighthouse has a nature trail 4. The lighthouse has a bridge to the marsh 5. There is a total of 214 stairs to the lantern room 6. During World War 2 this lighthouse was used as a lookout area