Articles contain contributions from Outer Banks writers, photographers and staff personnel seeking to provide helpful and informative news events and features about the area. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse moved 354 feet on Thursday, July 1, 1999. To date, a total 2,123 feet have been accomplished.
Movers are pleased with the progress of the relocation.
The lighthouse has been a comfortable passenger while enroute to the relocation site 2,900 feet to southwest, placing the tower 1,600 feet from the ocean. This is approximately the same distance the lighthouse was from high tide when it was built by the U.S. Lighthouse Service with Dexter Stetson as foreman of construction beginning in 1868. Seven roll beams enable the lighthouse to glide towards the relocation site. He is standing under the lighthouse to get this image. The hoses suspended in the top of the image serve to power the hydraulic clamps that hold the push jacks securely on the roll beams.