Keepers of the Light Amphitheater Opens at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
On Saturday, November 7, 2015, beginning at 9:00 a.m., Cape Hatteras National Seashore celebrates the dedication of the new Keepers of the Light Amphitheater near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton, North Carolina.
The National Park Service, the Hatteras Island Genealogical and Preservation Society and the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society will host the event to commemorate the new location of the 36 stones which form the crescent shaped amphitheater adjacent to the Hatteras Island Visitor Center. The public is invited to attend this ceremony in celebration of the history of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse keepers and their families who maintained the light station, protecting mariners from the dangerous shoals off the North Carolina coast.
The event will be followed by a free climb of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse until 12:00 noon. All climbers are required to be at least 42 inches tall and must climb the steps on their own – they cannot be carried. Children 11 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult (16 years of age or older). The climb is strenuous with the 257 steps to the top equal to climbing a 12-story building.
In 2000, the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society had the granite block stones, which supported the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, engraved with the light keeper’s names from both of the earlier 1803 and 1870 towers. The stones were moved and are now placed near the current lighthouse location in Buxton to create a seating area for visitors to enjoy the view of the lighthouse and reflect on the significant history of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
For more information, please call park headquarters at 252-473-2111.
Keepers of the Light Amphitheater (photo by National Park Service)
Keepers of the Light Amphitheater (photo by National Park Service)
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