Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Lighthouse

This summer Lou Ann has been volunteering at the lighthouse every Wednesday afternoon from 1 - 3 pm. She opens the door and lets folks walk inside to see the spiral staircase, look at the six foot thick brick walls, and gaze up to the base of the lantern room. Unfortunately, the lighthouse was not made to accommodate visitors, so climbing the stairs is not permitted. The stairs are narrow and old, the lantern room is just barely large enough for the Fresnel lens, the door to the balcony is only 3 feet high, and the railings would not prevent a small child from tumbling over.

I believe this will be Lou Ann's last Wednesday to open the lighthouse. If you are on the island tomorrow please stop by, say hello, and enjoy a rare opportunity to view the inside of the 1823 beacon.

Here is a photo of me last year, climbing the stairs at the invitation of the restoration specialists who spent several months working on the lighthouse:



(Click on photo to view a larger image.)

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the Night Blooming Cereus Cactus by Lou Ann. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news072111.htm.

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:08 AM

    How I would love seeing the interior of the Ocracoke Island lighthouse after so many years of walking to it, studying it and taking photos of it when I am visiting the island!!!!!

    I'm not even close to Ocracoke tomorrow afternoon (at least not physically), but I surely wish one day I can go inside the lighthouse.

    Philip, does anyone ever volunteer to open the lighthouse in mid October? I might have a fighting chance to see it then.....

    Please thank Lou Ann for volunteering her time. What a wonderful treat for folks!

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  2. Having the lighthouse open for visitors depends on having willing volunteers. I believe Lou Ann is the only person who has offered this summer. I doubt the lighthouse will be open to visitors in October...but I don't know.

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  3. Anonymous3:45 PM

    Thanks, Philip, for the info. I have never been on O.I. in October when it was open, but didn't know if volunteers were starting something new.

    I hope Lou Ann had a lot of folks to take advantage of this unique opportunty as well as appreciating the time that she graciously volunteered to the general public.

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  4. Anonymous2:31 PM

    Well....you might know our visit would be a week late!! Maybe next year?

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