WayfarrowCape Lookout Lighthouse
Lighthouse · Carteret County, North Carolina
Cape Lookout Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Carteret County, North Carolina. North Carolina has 18 lighthouses on record at Wayfarrow.
It was built in 1859, in the Civil War era, making it the 5th oldest of the 10 in North Carolina with a recorded construction date; the tower stands about 163 feet tall (2nd tallest of 8 measured in North Carolina); its light sits 171 feet above the water; the light characteristic is recorded as Fl W 15s (a white flash every 15 seconds), with a range of about 25 nautical miles.
Status check, 2026-11: This is the second tower on the site; it replaced the 1812 lighthouse and was first lit on November 1, 1859. It is 163 ft above the ground and 169 ft above sea level. Cape Lookout Lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It stands at 34.6227° N, 76.5245° W.
Key facts
| Current structure built | 1859 |
|---|---|
| Tower height | 163 ft |
| Focal height | 171 ft |
| Light characteristic | Fl W 15s |
| Range | 25 nautical miles |
| Heritage designation | National Register of Historic Places contributing property |
| National Register | Listed |
| Coordinates | 34.62274, -76.52455 |
Nearby places
- Diamond Cityghost town · Carteret County · 1.8 mi
- Cherry Pointghost town · Craven County · 28.4 mi
- Cherry Point Landingghost town · Craven County · 29.5 mi
- Portsmouthghost town · Carteret County · 40.5 mi
- Ocracoke Lightlighthouse · Hyde County · 45.4 mi
- Wayfarrow status check (web sources) — Checked for current status (facts)
- Wayfarrow status check (web sources) — Checked for current status (facts)
- Wayfarrow status check (web sources) — Checked for current status (facts)
- Wikidata — Wikidata item (CC0)
- National Register of Historic Places — National Register of Historic Places record (public-domain)
- Wikidata — Wikipedia article (linked as a source; text not used) (CC0)
Facts marked "approximately" carry an uncertain date in the source. Text on this page is generated from the sources above; no encyclopedia prose is copied. Last updated 2026-11-05.