Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse stands tall on the sandy Outer Banks along North Carolina's coast. Its black-and-white spiral stripes make it easy to spot from the beach.
It is the tallest brick lighthouse in America and once guided ships safely past dangerous waters called the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Brave visitors can climb its 257 steps for a breezy view of the ocean and dunes.
The big climb
Climbing to the top is like going up a 12-story building on a winding staircase. From the balcony you can see the blue Atlantic Ocean stretching in every direction.
The moving lighthouse
In 1999 workers slowly rolled the entire 5,000-ton lighthouse almost half a mile inland to save it from the sea. It took about 23 days to move.
Beaches and shells
The surrounding seashore is a national park full of wide beaches perfect for finding seashells and flying kites. Sea turtles come ashore in summer to lay their eggs in the sand.