Currituck County’s America 250 NC Task Force has launched a yearlong challenge to visit 10 of North Carolina’s lighthouses as part of the country’s celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Called the NC Lighthouse Challenge, participants must visit the 10 sites and submit their photos with the lighthouse visible to nc.lighthouse.visit@gmail.com by the Dec. 31 deadline. Those who complete the challenge will be awarded a personalized certificate from Currituck County upon completion, and earn a free lighthouse climb.
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Organizers noted that Hatteras, Lookout, Ocracoke, and Bodie are not offering the free lighthouse climb because of either long-term maintenance or National Park Service rules.
Register at https://www.eventcreate.com/e/nc-lighthouse-visit to receive the official set of rules.
“Long before modern navigation systems, lighthouse keepers and members of the U.S. Life-Saving Service stood watch along North Carolina’s treacherous coastline. Their dedication—often in isolation and through severe weather—helped guide ships safely and protect countless lives,” organizers said in a release.
“These early services were eventually unified under the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939, continuing a legacy of vigilance and service that remains today. The NC Lighthouse Challenge honors that legacy, inviting participants to walk in the footsteps of those who helped ‘light the way’ for a growing nation,” they continued.
The 10 historic sites include the following:
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- Old Baldy on Bald Head Island, built 1817.
- Ocracoke Lighthouse, 1823.
- Cape Lookout Lighthouse, 1859.
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 1870.
- Bodie Island Lighthouse, 1872, on Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
- Currituck Beach Lighthouse, 1875.
- Oak Island Lighthouse, 1958.
- Roanoke River Lighthouse, 1886, in Edenton.
- Roanoke River Lighthouse 1867 replica in Plymouth.
- Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse 1877 replica in Manteo.
Tony Cerri, a member of the county’s celebration task force, said that at its core, the challenge is about more than visiting beautiful places.
“It’s about recognizing the vital role North Carolina’s lighthouses — and the people who served in them — played in guiding commerce, protecting lives, and supporting the growth of our nation,” Cerri added in the release.
Currituck County’s America 250 NC Task Force is one of the county committees that plan and organize events, projects, and initiatives at the county level as part of America 250 NC. The state’s official commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary is a program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
