Cape Hatteras lighthouse Coverage

High tide in Outer Banks exposes old military site, petroleum contamination closes stretch of beach

A stretch of beach in Cape Hatteras is closed due to petroleum contamination suspected to be from Cold War-era navy infrastructure.

Liz McLaughlin, WRAL climate change reporter

18-month restoration project begins to rehabilitate Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The $19.2 million project will rehabilitate the interior and restore the exterior of the lighthouse, repair and replace deteriorated materials and finishes and provide landscape improvements.

WRAL staff

Cape Hatteras lighthouse getting LED lights in $19.2 million facelift

The Cape Hatteras lighthouse is getting a $19.2 million facelift, including new LED lights and repairs to the exterior and interior.

WITN Web Team

Tar Heel Traveler lighthouse special: Explore the fascinating stories of our coast's lookouts

Tar Heel Traveler hosts Scott Mason take viewers on a journey along the North Carolina coast, showcasing the state's many lighthouses.

Lighthouse road trip: Here's how to visit each of NC's iconic lighthouses

North Carolina lighthouses guide: Including how to get tickets, what days they are open and how to get there.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Hatteras lighthouse marks 150 years

The Cape Hatteras lighthouse is one of the oldest, tallest and most iconic maritime symbols in the United States. It was first lit 150 years ago.

Dare Co. celebrates 150 years since lighthouse 1st lit

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was first lit on Dec. 16, 1870.

TOM EARNHARDT: The patience of Hugh Morton

Sunday, Aug, 16, 2020 -- Hugh Morton solved problems in the same way he took photographs in the natural world. His best images started with a vision and a plan to achieve it. Knowing what he wanted, Morton pursued his objectives with determination, technical expertise, and of course, patience.

Outer Banks historical sites see huge bump in attendance

A couple of popular vacation spots on our coast saw more visitors in 2019 than it has in years.

Opponent credits success of Cape Hatteras lighthouse move, but stands by his preservation position

Although the move of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse was a success, a fierce opponent believes he was still right to fight that effort.

For rangers, movers, tourists, marking Hatteras lighthouse move a chance for reunion

Twenty years after the controversy that resulted in the move of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, the beacon is more popular than ever, according to rangers with the National Park Service.

Bill Leslie

Cape Hatteras celebrating 20 years since lighthouse move

20 years after the massive feat that moved the Cape Hatteras lighthouse away from an encroaching Atlantic Ocean, in the Outer Banks they are making more plans to preserve tourism revenue while respecting Mother Nature.

Celebrating 20 years since the move of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

WRAL Bill Leslie and photojournalist Richard Adkins provide a livestream as the Outer Banks community celebrates the move of a Cape Hatteras lighthouse that occurred 20 years ago.

20 years ago, Cape Light's move a miracle of modern engineering

As the Atlantic Ocean eroded the Outer Banks, North Carolina made a difficult decision: Move the Cape Hatteras lighthouse back to preserve it for future generations. WRAL was there every day of the multi-month process and looks back on the decision and the technology that made it possible.

Bill Leslie, WRAL reporter, and Jodi Leese Glusco, WRAL.com director of content

What was it like to grow up caring for the Cape Light?

Rany Jennette was the son of the last keeper of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.

Rock and roll, day and night for Jamie Markley

By day, Jamie Markley worked on the move of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. By night, he played guitar at local watering holes.

Months of work prepare Cape Light for massive move

It took months to prepare the Cape Hatteras lighthouse for a move up the beach. It had to be dug out, lifted and secured.

Moving day: The slow progress of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse begins

Crowds gathered to watch the move of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. To transfer the brick behemoth 2,900 feet took 23 days.

WRAL photographers reflect on preparation, process, people behind 1999 move of the Cape Light

An assignment of a lifetime kept WRAL photographers busy for months on the Outer Banks, documenting the preparation, people and process behind the move of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse back from an encroaching ocean.

Move of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse a miracle of engineering

To move the Cape Hatteras lighthouse in 1999, crews built a lift and a steel rail roadway to shift the 4,830 ton structure 2,900 feet back from the encroaching ocean.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move timelapse

Timelapse video of the move of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1999.

Animation: Moving the Cape Hatteras lighthouse

In 1999, graphic artist Steve Campbell built a computer animation to show the process followed by engineers to lift and move the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.

WRAL Doc team edits 100s of tapes into Cape Light special

Months of coverage of the move of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse culminated in two WRAL Documentaries: The Cape Light, in Dec. 1998, and Away from the Edge in 1999.

'99 tech brings Cape Light move to your desktop

WRAL.com was new, and that technology became another way for viewers to follow the move of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.

Sky 5: Cape Light's move both long and short

A process that took months moved the Cape Hatteras lighthouse less than 3,000 feet back from the Atlantic Ocean.