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In the Outer Banks Forever Visitor Center at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a section of the historically recreated Cape Hatteras light. Stone and Lime Historic Restoration Services’ project manager Lindsey Gravel was tour leader. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Periodically, restoration contractor Stone and Lime Historic Restoration Services and Cape Hatteras National Seashore staff host a media tour of the work underway at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The most recent gathering was Oct. 3, 2024. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

The small oil house is undergoing restoration. Note the bricked up windows. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Back to basics. After stripping old paint and applying a light coating of Keim, which adheres to the brick and one coat of paint, texture of the original bricks can still be seen. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

A light wash streams down one side of the lighthouse. The wash comes from the paint removal process. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Watch level railings are on the ground. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Occasionally, media representatives are invited for a tour of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse restoration site. The latest fascinating visit took place Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.

Photographers and representatives of a television station, several online news outlets and a couple of newspapers attended the tour.

The first stop was the Outer Banks Forever Visitor Center at the Lighthouse where a section of the historically recreated light is displayed. Stone and Lime Historic Restoration Services’ project manager Lindsey Gravel said the new LED light will have a softened, warm look and will still be seen 19 miles out to sea.

The metal parts of the lighthouse are undergoing assessment with 3-D technology to determine which parts can be used. The goal is to retain as much of the original material as possible.

On the way to the lighthouse, the group stopped by the little oil house, which is also undergoing restoration. The windows, which were not original, were removed and bricked up. A new-old bronze door will be hung shortly. Currently, some 2,000 made-to-order bricks are on the restoration site. Because local sand has too much shell material, the bricks were made out of town.

About half of the exterior paint has been removed using a water vapor blast up to 70 pounds per square inch. The blast uses garnet, not sand, and a small amount of water.

The painted stripes of the exterior are called a daymark. When the paint is removed, bricks are assessed and repointing performed where needed. To mark the stripes, stainless steel markers were inserted along the edges.

Interestingly, over the decades, the daymark has shifted 12 inches from its original painting. The restoration will return the daymark as close as possible to its original position.

In the course of removing paint, restorers discovered six coats of red paint. The restored lighthouse will have a brownish red paint at the base.

Construction of a new landscaping plan is underway with some vegetation already taking hold. Staging of the 36 Lighthouse Keeper Stones will happen soon.

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