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The tallest brick lighthouse in the United States is currently wrapped in 25 truckloads of scaffolding.

Six months into the $19.2 million Cape Hatteras Lighthouse restoration project, everything is on schedule for a completion date of September 1, 2025. However, due to the climbing season of April through Columbus Day, visitors shouldn’t plant to ascend the 269 steps to the lens room until spring of 2026.

Fresnel Lens

The First Order Fresnel lens replica being made by Dan Spinella out of Orlando is well on its way to completion.

The original Fresnel lens was removed from the lighthouse in 1949 due to vandalism and replaced with a beacon. The original lens can be viewed at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Frisco.

NPS is excited to be installing a beautifully crafted replica of the original Fresnel lens.

The lens will be a close replica of what was here before, said NPS superintendent David Hallac. The biggest change will be the lighting component – an LED light will power the lighthouse, rather than a lantern, though the clockwork will work like a visual for visitors to see the function of the original.

Spinella, who is the one and only person who recreates these lenses and is on his 50^th project, has completed the skeletal frame, the cabinet, the lower section of the pedestal, and the rotation assembly, and has fabricated the prism frame, said Lindsey Gravel, project manager for Stone & Lime Historic Restoration Services.

Spinella has yet to install the 1000 prisms into the prism frame. At about an hour of time per prism, “he has his work ahead of him,” Gravel said, though she noted he is ahead of schedule and there are no fears of him being able to complete the project on time.

The flash pattern will return to its original 1870 10-second pattern, and will continue to be visible for up to 18 miles. The temporary beacon that is currently running will be in place until the replica is installed, with no interruption in service.

Landscaping

The existing walkway that was installed in 1999 has been demolished and replaced with hand selected Watsontown brick pathways and a concrete walkway that will encircle the lighthouse. The concrete color has been chosen to match the surrounding sand.

“We needed to do something with the circulation,” said Cape Hatteras National Seashore deputy superintendent Robin Snyder. “People were cutting across the lawn, there were a lot of social paths and it wasn’t very attractive. The thought is with the widened color pathways, you’ll be able to go all the way around the lighthouse and stay on the pathway and get great photos all around.”

Sea oats and other native plants, which were present when the 1870 lighthouse was built, were chosen by Thorpe Landscapes to recreate the feel of the original lighthouse atmosphere. Plantings went in in early June and will be irrigated throughout the summer.

Visitors will notice a new entrance to the light station that is designed to highlight the Principal Keeper’s quarters. “Not only are we changing the circulation but we’re also telling the story of the people – which were just as important as the structure itself – that actually kept the structure going,” Hallac said.

Interior and Exterior

In the next couple of weeks, crews will begin working on removing the iconic spiral from the face of the brick lighthouse.

Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 of the 1.2 million bricks are expected to be replaced throughout the structure. Care has been taken to ensure the custom bricks are full clay and do not contain shale. A keim mineral coating will be used on the brick to allow it to “breathe,” said Gravel.

The spiral daymark will be replaced in the exact pattern, said NPS officials. Visitors are not likely to notice any difference in the completed exterior of the lighthouse aside from the color of foundation. The light red/pink base was thought to be a deeper red originally, but it faded over time. NPS is opting to restore the original color.

Paint has been removed from the exterior metals to assess condition and stability. Brackets and deck plates are in good condition. The landing beams are being exposed for assessment.

Crews are examining the structural material for soundness, and repairing and replacing as needed. Restoration work is taking place on the marble floors, stairs, stair treads and handrails. “Nothing is changing but it’s being restored,” Gravel said.

For many people in the area, according to Hallac, “The lighthouse means more to them than just this big beautiful structure … It’s something their family members have helped to take care of since 1870.”

The Circle of Stones amphitheater, with the engraved names of the all keepers and assistants, will be redisplayed at the conclusion of the construction. Though NPS staff are still figuring out the best place to put them, Hallac assured they will be displayed prominently.

Visiting During Construction

The park service is committed to keeping the lighthouse grounds open during construction. “This is a symbol of Cape Hatteras National Seashore,” Snyder said. “To see it, even covered in scaffolding, is important. It’s a part of people’s annual vacation to the site.”

Though the construction sites are closed off, the Museum by the Sea is still open and a portion of the grounds are open. There is a daily education program from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the visitor center pavilion that explains the renovation process and the history of the lighthouse.

“We’re trying to keep any closures to an absolute minimum. Let people experience their lighthouse,” Snyder added.

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