Its walls at the base are 14 feet of solid masonry and narrow to eight feet at the top. The lighthouse is open to the public from early April until mid-October and visitors are welcome to climb the 268 steps for a spectacular view of the national seashore. Near the lighthouse, the frame buildings that served as quarters to the keepers of the light are still standing. One such building has been restored by the U. S. Park Service and serves as a visitor center and museum with a gift shop. It is open every day of the year except Christmas.
Admission is free.
Not too far from the visitor center is a picnic area and a nature trail, winding through fresh water marshes and wooded dunes of Buxton Woods . In the summer months, the visitor center hosts an excellent program of activities ranging from history talks on storms and shipwrecks and pirates to discussions of the ecology, geology, and wildlife of the island. Participation programs such as snorkeling in the sound, bird walks, campfires and art activities for children are also offered.