Meghan Agresto is the site
manager of theCurrituck
Beach Lighthouse
5 On the Beach
Sharon Meade is the curator
of theOuter Banks Center
for Wildlife Education
Currituck Beach
Lighthouse
The section of the Atlantic Ocean just off the
Outer Banks was once so dangerous for ships
that it was nicknamed “the Graveyard of the
Atlantic.” The great, towering beacons along North
Carolina’s barrier
islands, from Corolla
to Ocracoke, were
built to help sailors
safely navigate these
perilous waters.
In Historic
Corolla, you’ll find
the northernmost
lighthouse —
a 162-foot structure
built in 1875 with,
quite literally, a
million bricks.
Visiting the
lighthouse and
climbing its 220
steps is worthwhile for the spectacular view
alone. But while you’re there, you’ll also learn
about the fascinating history of this tower, as
well as lighthouses in
general. At the base and on
the first two landings are
museum-quality exhibits
dealing not only with these
soaring beacons but with
shipwrecks and the lives of
lighthouse keepers.
The Currituck Lighthouse is of the “first order,”
which means it has the largest of seven Fresnel
lenses — visible from 18 nautical miles away.
Like so many historic landmarks, the Currituck
Beach Lighthouse had once fallen into disrepair.
Thanks to the Outer Banks Conservationists
(OBC), which raised more than $1.5 million in
privately donated restoration funds, it is a bright
beacon once again — and well worth your time.
A small fee is charged to climb the lighthouse. Open daily
from Easter to Thanksgiving (closed Thanksgiving Day).
1101 Corolla Village Rd. • Corolla, NC 27927 • 252-453-4939
www.obcinc.org/visit-our-sites/currituck-beach-lighthouse/
Outer Banks
Center for
Wildlife
Education
The Currituck Outer Banks area is
home to an abundance of wildlife
including waterfowl, foxes,
raccoons, snakes, deer, and wild
pigs. As a result, it has, in the past,
been a popular destination for
hunters. But if you prefer to simply
observe and learn about these
creatures, you’ll definitely want
to pay a visit to the Outer Banks
Center for Wildlife Education in
Historic Corolla Park.
“We like to call it the best
backyard around,” Sharon Meade,
Curator, says of the soundfront
site. The history is what
draws people to the attraction,
“Currituck County has been a
tourist destination for quite some
time... We were a phenomenon
in terms of the migratory path
of birds. We honor that (hunting
and fishing) culture. We can help
you explore it.”
Inside you will find a variety
of informative displays, including
a million-dollar decoy collection,
and a theater where you can watch
an educational film. Behind the
center is a historic boat basin with
an 80-foot dock, which is available
to the public for free centerrun
activities. You can explore
crabbing and fishing programs off
the docks throughout the summer
time and if you stay until the
evening, you will have front row
seats for a gorgeous sunset over
the Currituck Sound.
1160 Village Ln. • Corolla, NC 27927
Admission is free • 252-453-0221
www.ncwildlife.org/obx
/
/obx