Congress purchased 2 acres of land for the Ocracoke Lighthouse in 1822. The light was built in 1823, and is America's second oldest active lighthouse. The original station consisted of the 75 foot tall light, the 2 story brick keeper's quarters, and two storage buildings. In 1856, the station was fully renovated and A 4th order Fresnel Lens was added to replace the original multi-lamp device.
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A new 4th order lens was added in 1864, after the original was removed 3 years earlier and somehow lost. Whale oil, lard oil, and kerosene was used to fuel the beacon until it's electrification. The station was automated in 1955, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The keeper's home was refurbished in the late 1980's, while the tower received a new paint job and windows.
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