The original Bodie Island Lighthouse was created in 1847 after hundreds of ships were wrecked off the dangerous waters of the Outer Banks. So many ships were shipwrecked in this area that it was dubbed "the Graveyard of the Atlantic,'' and folklore states that the island got its name from the many shipwrecked bodies that washed ashore. However, due to engineering flaws the tower ended up being a foot taller on one side. Therefore the lighthouse was destroyed and plans were made to reconstruct a second one, as opposed to salvaging the first model. The second tower stood almost 90 feet tall and had a third order Fresnel lens. This lens cast a beam that could be seen for 15 nautical miles. However, during the Civil War the Confederate Troops feared that the Union Army would use the lighthouse as a lookout so they destroyed it. Therefore, the lighthouse that can be seen today is actually the third attempt at the structure.
The present-day lighthouse was built on the north side of the Oregon Inlet. The lighthouse can be found on the sound side of Highway 12. It is on Bodie Island, the northern most island in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, located between Nags Head and the Oregon Inlet. It was put in service in October of 1872 and is still working today. The lighthouse is tall and slim with horizontal black and white stripes. It is 156 feet and has a first order Fresnel lens that can be seen for 19 nautical miles. Automated in 1954, the Bodie Island Lighthouse still flashes every 22 seconds. Visitors say that the lighthouse actually appears to be much larger as you can spot it from miles away.
As the lighthouse is still working it is not open for climbing, though visitors may stand in the lower portion and look up the 214 stairs that wind their way up to the top of the tower when volunteers are present. There is a visitor center and gift shop, which is created in the former keepers' quarters. There are also exhibits that tell the history of the lighthouse. Admission to the lighthouse is free. The grounds are also a good place to go bird watching and there is a self-guided nature trail in the marshes surrounding the lighthouse. Even during the winter months many coastal birds can be seen. The National Park Service is currently in charge of the lighthouse though the United States Coast Guard maintains the lighting apparatus.
The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society is assisting with a renovation project, as the tower is in need of complete restoration. Work will begin in August of 2009 to kick off an eighteen-month project to renovate the lighthouse. $3 million was included in the 2009 Omnibus Budget Bill to replace metalwork, repair the masonry and stone, and rehabilitate the floors, windows, and framing. The electrical systems will be upgraded as well. The rare, first-order Fresnel lens will be restored by funds given earlier in the year as well.
