How about some North Carolina lighthouse trivia to keep in your pocket for your next bar trivia night or for when you are winning Jeopardy?
Fun North Carolina Lighthouse Trivia
Ok, act like Jeopardy host Ken Jennings is asking you these questions.
How many lighthouses are on the North Carolina coast?
Seven.
What are the seven lighthouses and where are the lighthouses located on the North Carolina coast?
Currituck Beach Lighthouse / Corolla, Bodie Island Lighthouse / Nags Head, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse / Buxton, Ocracoke Lighthouse / Ocracoke, Cape Lookout Lighthouse Harkers Island, Oak Island Lighthouse / Oak Island, and Old Baldy Lighthouse / Bald Head Island
Alright, last question.
Did you also know that you can climb to the top of the lighthouses for some of the most incredible views?
Well, I didn’t until recently, after climbing the Oak Island Lighthouse. The incredible views from the Oak Island Lighthouse gallery level include the Atlantic Ocean, the North Carolina coastline, the Cape Fear River, and Bald Head Island.
The Oak Island Lighthouse is…..
The Oak Island Lighthouse is very dope!
The Oak Island Lighthouse is located at 300a Caswell Beach Rd, Oak Island, NC 28465. On the east end of Oak Island, beside the Coast Guard Station and Fort Caswell.
The Oak Island Lighthouse was built in 1958. It’s the youngest of the NC lighthouses. Not joking. To a dad and mom lighthouse. Joking. Ha!
The Oak Island Lighthouse is 153 feet tall.
The Oak Island Lighthouse climb consists of 131 steps (ship ladders instead of a spiral staircase) to the top.
The Oak Island Lighthouse exterior has three bands: black at the top, white in the middle, and grey at the bottom.
A Lil Bit About The Oak Island Tours
I didn’t book the tour I went on (I know, right, so I better have liked it and not have anything bad to say about the tour, which I don’t), but here’s what the Oak Island Lighthouse website says about the free tours.
Top Tours
Top Tours involve climbing 131 steps to access a door that leads to the outdoor balcony.
These tours are available year-round for anyone over 9.
Top Tours require a reservation.
Submit requests for a Top Tour at least six weeks before your desired tour date.
From May 1 to September 30, Top Tours are offered only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays during the morning, starting at 9:30 AM.
From October 1 to April 30, Top Tours are available only on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the morning, also starting at 9:30 AM.
Open House Tours
Open House Tours are available every Wednesday from 10 AM to 2 PM and on Saturdays from 10 AM to noon during the summer months.
No reservations are necessary for these tours.
These tours involve climbing only 12 steps to reach the second level.
They are open to anyone aged 7 and older.
My Experience on the Lighthouse Tour
I put on my required tennis shoes, since closed toe shoes are required for the tour. You can’t wear sandals, Crocs, or flip flops.
My group left our Oak Island beach house for Caswell Beach, where the lighthouse is located at the east end of Oak Island.
We parked at the parking lot about 500 feet past the lighthouse on the right side of the road.
From this parking lot, signs are directing you to a boardwalk over some dunes, and to a crosswalk that crosses Caswell Beach Road to the dope lighthouse. You’ll see Atlantic Beach and some information signs about the lighthouse along the way.
Once we got to the lighthouse, we were greeted by some tour guides. One of the guides took a picture of my group with the lighthouse in the background.
While we waited for our tour to begin, a guide started telling us about the lighthouse’s history. Then we climbed the first set of steps to the second level for more history, some good housekeeping, and a safety talk.
We were told our cameras and phones must stay in a pocket or backpack because we need both hands free to climb.
Also, if you ever feel like you need to go back down for a physical, mental, or other reason, then one of the tour guides will help lead you back down.
So, I’m a little anxious and scared of heights. Unfortunately, this has gotten worse for me in my middle-aged years, if you care. I remember waiting on the second level and looking up at the top. This was where I really realized that I was about to go up there. There seemed like an infinite number of steps to the top. I knew I had to put on my brave face to make the climb.
The tour guide told us that if we started getting worked up during the ascent, we should look straight ahead instead of up. I looked straight ahead at the interior lighthouse wall quite a bit.
I believe there were three other groups on our tour. Two couples and what looked like a family of five or six members. I decided to move up in the middle of my pack. I didn’t want to be first or last. I didn’t want to be ahead or behind a stranger. I didn’t want to be rushed by a stranger, and being around people I knew would be better for my nerves.
Climbing the stairs gave me a small dose of worry or anxiety. I would say it was mild. I got the climb done. But I held a tight grip on the ladder rails. And it seemed the lighthouse was growing taller the few times I looked up. LOL!
When I made it to the top and walked through the door to the lighthouse balcony, the first thing I saw was the Atlantic Ocean. It was great to see North Carolina like this. Other Words to describe the views from up there are breathtaking, expansive, and vast,
The ocean seemed so infinite.
I finally got to see how high we were out on that balcony. We were way up there in the sky. I felt like a giant. Maybe didn’t feel like one, though.
The coastline was breathtaking.
We started walking the balcony. My anxiety left mild and started entering the moderate range. I hugged the top of the lighthouse as we walked the balcony. I didn’t want to get near the rail. The balcony was safe, but I still thought about falling.
The river was stunning.
We made it back to the door that led back inside the lighthouse. We had our way around the lighthouse. I had seen enough. I was ready to head back down, so I asked a guide if I could. I followed the guide back down.
I remember how picturesque the surrounding islands were.
Of course, the way down went faster than the way up. It should have, because it was only the guide and me.
Going down, I shook a little, gripped the handrails, and didn’t look up. I didn’t need to look up anymore.
I was so relieved and happy when it was over. I was so happy that I went up to the top. I was so happy that I completed the tour. Touring the Oak Island Lighthouse was an amazing experience.
I really enjoy mountain views, so I knew that I would enjoy this also. I know we all each have our things. Our fears and worries. One of mine is heights, and that thing didn’t keep me from going. I feel like I did a brave thing that day.
I bought an “I Climbed The Oak Island Lighthouse” T-shirt after the tour. There is a pop-up store at the lighthouse. I decided I needed an award for doing something brave. Plus, I believe the proceeds go toward maintaining the lighthouse.
So I can’t say enough great things about this lighthouse and the views. I highly recommend everyone check it out. I hope you all get a chance to see and climb it one day, or any lighthouse one day.
Helpful Links for Oak Island Lighthouse
The Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse created the official Oak Island Lighthouse website. Here is everything you need to know about the tours and history.
https://www.visitnc.com/list/7-coastal-lighthouses-explore-north-carolina
Here is a great listicle created by Visit North Carolina about the State’s seven coastal lighthouses. The blog post includes pictures, driving directions, and websites for each lighthouse.
https://www.oakislandlighthouse.org/
UNC-TV and Our State Magazine produced a dope video about the lighthouse that aired January, 2009.
https://youtu.be/b4OFGXMaKhc?si=i5_GC7pWWhZc1VF0
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