Discover lighthouse icons and architectural treasures from Ireland, Europe, the USA, and beyond.
Bodie Island
Rising above the marshlands of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Bodie Island Lighthouse has stood as a beacon of safety for sailors navigating the shifting shoals and strong currents offshore. The current lighthouse, first lit in 1872, is the third to bear the name—its predecessors were lost to structural failure and wartime destruction. Designed to improve navigation along this treacherous stretch of the Atlantic, its powerful light continues to warn mariners of the dangers lurking off the coast.
Strategically positioned between Cape Hatteras and Oregon Inlet, the lighthouse has long played a crucial role in guiding ships through the hazardous waters of the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Its striking black-and-white horizontal stripes make it one of the most recognizable lighthouses in the region. Despite the challenges of erosion and storms, Bodie Island Light remains a steadfast symbol of maritime resilience along North Carolina’s coastline.