Bald Head Light

Infobox_Lighthouse

---

caption = "Old Baldy"
location = Bald Head Island, Cape Fear River, North Carolina
coordinates =
yearbuilt = 1789
yearlit = 1817
automated =
yeardeactivated = 1930
foundation = Dressed stone
construction = Brick
shape = Octagonal
marking = Mottled stucco plaster
height = 110 feet
elevation =
lens = 15 lamps and reflectors, 1851
currentlens =
intensity =
range =
characteristic =
ARLHS = USA-1225
USCG = 2-30335

Bald Head Lighthouse, known as Old Baldy, is the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina.

History

Old Baldy was completed in 1817. Standing 110 feet high and containing 108 steps, it served as an active lighthouse until 1935 and as a radio beacon until 1958. It was used mostly to guide ships through the perilous Frying Pan Shoals. After the construction of the Oak Island Lighthouse in 1958, "Old Baldy" was decommissioned. It still stands as a symbol of Bald Head Island and is open to the public.

Hurricane Fran

When Hurricane Fran struck the southern North Carolina coast on September 5, 1996, there were a few residents remaining on Bald Head Island. When wind speeds climbed past hurricane strength, many islanders fled their houses and sought shelter inside the Bald Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse suffered minimal damage. It is possibly one of the safest structures on the island; its construction of brick and plaster five feet thick [ [http://www.rickslighthouses.com/bald_head.htm Bald Head Island Lighthouse ] ] coupled with its aerodynamic design is now known to withstand at least Category 3 hurricanes. The architect is Daniel S. Way.

References

External links

* [http://www.rickslighthouses.com/bald_head.htm Rick's Lighthouses - Bald Head]
* [http://www.oldbaldy.org/ Old Baldy Foundation (owners of the lighthouse)]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/LHNC.html USCG site]