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Cape Hatteras Light Station Relocation


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Cape Hatteras Light Station Relocation.

The $11,000,000 project to rescue the Cape Hatteras Light Station from the sea.


Light Station viewed from the South

Viewing the Light Station from the south.


Traipsing through the woods.

Traipsing through the woods to the new location.


Viewing the roadway.

Viewing the roadway the Light Station will travel. 		The Light Station separated from its base.

The Light Station separated from its base waiting to begin the journey.


The beginning of the roadway.

The beginning of the roadway to the new site.

Area closed.

The new site is closed to the general public!


New base for the Light Station.

The new base for the Light Station (under water). 		Some of the steel beams.

Some of the steel beams used to create the rollway for the trip.


The roadway continues 2900 feet .

The roadway continues 2900 feet to the southwest.

The keepers house and oil storage building. The keepers house and oil storage building have already been moved to the new site.


A box turtle getting ready to lay eggs.
A box turtle getting ready to lay eggs on the site.

** UPDATE -- June 18, 1999 **
On Thursday, June 17, 1999, shortly after 3:00 PM the Light Station began the move to its new location with a "push" of five inches. By the end of the day the Lighthouse had moved ten feet on its 2900 foot journey to the new site. The move is projected to take four to six weeks to complete.

A view of the five hydraulic jacks.

A view of the five hydraulic jacks used to push the Light Station five feet at a time.		 Light Station moving off old base.

The Light Station approximately 35 feet away from its original position.



Lighthouse Crossing .

A view of the rails along which the Light Station slides. Note the humorous Lighthouse Crossing sign! 		Getting ready for another "push".
Getting ready for another "push" viewed through debris of the original base.


Rails and beds are reused.
As the Light Station move forward, the rails and beds are moved from the rear to the front.
** FINAL UPDATE -- August 9, 1999 **

On July 9, 1999, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was pushed the final 79 feet and at 1:23pm reached "ground zero" over the reinforced concrete footer for its new foundation. The move, expected to take 4 to 6 weeks, was accomplished in just 23 days (including 2 days when no movement was made).

Light Station at end of 2900 foot roadway.

The Light Station at the end of the 2900 foot roadway along which it made its journey.		 Light Station in its new location.

The Light Station in its new location.		 The base of the Light Station.

Work begins to build a brick foundation between the base and the underlying concrete slab.
For More information on Cape Hatteras Light Station

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Last modified on Monday, August 16, 1999 21:45:58