Cape Hatteras is arguably the most cherished and well known light in the United States. The tower is also the tallest in the US, at a soaring 208 ft height. The first light at Cape Hatteras was completed in 1803. The original 90 ft tall octagonal tower was increased in size to 150 ft in 1853, and a 1st order Fresnel lens was installed. In 1867, major cracks had formed in the tower, and the decision was made to build a brand new light to the north.
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The present tower was built in 1870 of 13" thick brick walls & an 18" thick granite block base, all resting on yellow pine timbers & iron pilings within a sea water filled cofferdam. The light was located 1600 ft from shore, but by 1995 erosion had decreased it to within 100 ft of the light. An incredible engineering feat of moving the light began in the spring of 1999, & was completed that summer. It now safely stands 1600 ft from shore once again.
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