Cape Lookout Lighthouse first lighted
- When
- 1859
- Where
- Cape Lookout Lighthouse
- Episodes
- 1
The current Cape Lookout Lighthouse in North Carolina was first lighted on November 1, 1859. This structure replaced an earlier tower completed in 1812. The new lighthouse, costing $45,000, was authorized by Congress in 1857 and features a distinctive checkered daymark.
Episodes
Background and detail
Background. The original Cape Lookout Lighthouse was completed and lit in 1812 at a cost exceeding $20,000, authorized by Congress in 1804. It was a 96-foot-high brick tower with red and white horizontal stripes. The current structure, standing 163 feet high, was authorized in 1857 and completed in 1859.
Construction and Cost. Congress approved funding for the present lighthouse in 1857. The construction cost was $45,000. The tower was completed and lit on November 1, 1859. It is located on the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Distinctive Features. The lighthouse is one of the few that operate during the day. It features a unique checkered daymark, intended for differentiation and to show direction. The light flashes every 15 seconds and is visible up to 19 miles out to sea.
People involved
- Congress · Legislative Body
Sources
- Cape Lookout Lighthouse Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-02
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.