Old baldy lighthouse and smith island museum of history, 101. Still the islands only highrise, old baldy lighthouse was the second of three lighthouses built on bald head island, and is the only one remaining. Light keepers house at old baldy lighthouse, bald head island nc. Sep, 2020 on april 1, 1817, way completed old baldy and keeper sedgwick springs began operations shortly thereafter. Old baldy lighthouse, old baldy, lighthouse, bald head island, north carolina, canvas art, photo on canvas, wall art,photo on metallic paper phototrippingamerica. The old baldy foundation celebrates womens service to the u. The lighthouse keeper blends romance, mystery, past and present loves together nicely.
Smith museum is housed in replica of 1850s lighthouse keepers cottage. The old baldy lighthouse is one of the most distinctive beacons in north carolina for a variety of reasons. Old baldy by day picture of bald head island lighthouse, bald. These are managed by the old baldy foundation in order to preserve the history of smith island, old baldy lighthouse, and the maritime history of the carolina coast.
Bald head island lighthouse, bald head island picture. In 1903, the lighthouse was decommissioned when the cape fear light was erected on the eastern end of the island, but it still serves as a prominent day marker for mariners. Before its destruction, the demolition company removed the lens and sold them to. United states government acquires 20 acres for the cape fear lighthouse and the federal road through condemnation, a legal. Visit the keepers cottage to buy tickets a selfguided tour. In the early days, the lighthouse keeper would whitewash old baldy every two years.
Filmati video stock in hd e 4k per storico adobe stock. Old baldy by day check out tripadvisor members 172 candid. Dive into the rich history of bald head island by climbing old baldy and touring the smith island museum of history. Bald head island lighthouse 2021 all you need to know.
The grounds of old baldy lighthouse and smith island museum provide the ideal blend of historic charm and the islands natural beauty. Treasure hunting, exploring an old family scandal, falling in love, renovating an old, decrepit lighthouse, being menaced by a group of modern day piratesits just a day in the life of dawn. It was decided to place a lighthouse on bald head island to guide ships. The lighthouse and property on which old baldy stands and the current smith island museum were deeded over to the old baldy foundation by the mitchell family in 1987. Aug 01, 2017 old baldy is the th oldest standing lighthouse in the country, the oldest standing lighthouse in north carolina and one of the few federal octagonal lighthouses surviving. To serve as lighthouse keeper, the not too old pilot had to leave his mainland. Whether youre already set to book or need a hand finding the perfect. Admission to the smith island museum of history allows you to climb old baldy s 108 steps for an incomparable view of the island. Fear light, and captain charlies station, three lighthouse keepers cottages dating back to 1903. Rebecca long is one of many women who left their mark on the nations maritime history. The federal octagonal design was only used from 1792 to 1817 and since then most federal octagonal lighthouses have been demolished or destroyed. Modern restoration efforts have returned the lighthouse to its nineteenth century appearance.
May 15, 1958 the former keeper for cape fear lighthouse, capn charles swann, threw the switch that activated the oak island lighthouse on may 15, 1958. Nineteenyears old and pregnant, matilda emmerson has been sent away from ireland in disgrace. In 1903, the lighthouse was decommissioned when the cape fear light was erected on the eastern end of the island, but it. A reproduction of the 1850s keeper s cottage stands alongside the sentinel. Bald head island lighthouse keepers to be honored 2017 link. Admission to the smith island museum of history allows you to climb old baldy. Today, thousands of visitors make the exciting journey each year to beautiful bald head island to learn about the islands rich maritime past at the smith island museum of history and experience old baldy. Duffus characterizes the role of the lightkeeper in his forthcoming book, the story of cape fear and bald head island. For years visitors to old baldy could climb literally at their own risk. Old baldy was downgraded from a lighthouse to a navigational radio beacon in 1935. Aug 07, 2015 although the original lighthouse charlie tended was dismantled in 1958, a nearby beacon is open to visitors as a reminder of the islands navigational legacy. Old baldy is distinctive for its eightsided design.
And as part of that, the old baldy foundation hired a historian to write a new history of not only the old baldy lighthouse, but the entire area. May 10, 20 old baldy lighthouse on bald head island is a piece of history that draws thousands of people each year. Development of exclusive bald head island began in the 1970s and this exclusive. Jan 01, 2008 old baldy was built in 1817 of soft red bricks covered with stucco. Old baldy lighthouse was still standing on the island.
Keeping bald head island lighthouse illuminated was a fulltime operation, vital to the port of wilmington and cape fear river maritime interests. At that point, i believed i knew exactly where it came from. Like the bricks, old baldy s lantern was recycled from the original lighthouse. Known as north carolinas oldest standing lighthouse, this 200year old lighthouse speaks to bald head islands rich maritime past making it a memorable setting for saying your i dos. Confederates build fort holmes on bald head island. The most important part of the keeper s duties was to keep the light operating according to the daily schedule. In the early days the lighthouse keeper would white wash old baldy every. The bald head lighthouse, affectionately known as old baldy, is north. To begin your tour of old baldy lighthouse, exit the museum and walk down the sidewalk towards old baldy s entrance. Bald head island lighthouse and life saving keeper s descendants cemetey cermony 1072017 link. Old baldy lighthouse and smith island museum of history. The old baldy foundation operates old baldy and the adjacent smith island museum of history, which is located in a replica of one of the original lighthouse keepers quarters from the 1850s and features period furnishings, lighthouse artifacts including parts of the lens from the cape fear lighthouse, and exhibits about the history of old baldy. As i sat there enjoying the solitude, i could not help but think back as to how this beautiful place must have looked in his day. But in 1958, the cape fear lighthouse was demolished and the oak island light, took its place.
North carolina lighthouses and lifesaving stations book. Old baldy lighthouse and smith island museum of history, bald head island, nc. This book captured my imagination right off the bat. When it was discontinued large pieces of the stucco began to fall off the lighthouse. Old baldy towers above the spacious lawn shadowed by the majestic, mossdraped, southern live oaks and bordered by tidal estuaries and meandering creeks creating a whimsical southern setting for beginning your. Old baldy and birds lighthouse bald head island north carolina color photography wall art print 8x10 matted to 11x14 jrpimagesphotography 5 out of 5 stars 3. Bald head islands old baldy, north carolinas oldest standing lighthouse, has. The old baldy foundation operates old baldy and the adjacent smith island museum of history, which is located in a replica of one of the original lighthouse keeper s quarters from the 1850s and features period furnishings, lighthouse artifacts including parts of the lens from the cape fear lighthouse, and exhibits about the history of old baldy. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about old baldy lighthouse. Kevin duffus is the author of six books on north carolina maritime. Old baldy lighthouse bald head island lighthouse is definitely worth the trip out to the island. Bald head island survey of light house keepers link.
For nearly 200 years, north carolinas oldest standing lighthouse old baldy was built in 1817 has marked the mouth of the historic cape fear river. In 1988, the lighthouse was relit, but it does not serve as an official navigational beacon today. Cape lookout national seashore national park service. Old baldy is north carolinas oldest standing lighthouse and the nations thirteenth oldest lighthouse. Mcallie givens, old baldy foundation, portraying rebecca long.
Books about lighthouse keepers what should i read next. The old baldy foundation is a nonprofit organization established for the preservation of old baldy lighthouse on bald head island, nc, and for the promotion of and education about the manmade histories of smith island. Come inside the keeper s cottage to purchase tickets for admission to the museum and north carolinas oldest lighthouse. Its an easy fifteenminute bike ride away from the historic captains cabins. Up to 20 books are listed, in descending order of popularity. It was replaced in the 1850s with a one and onehalf story cottage located on the east side of the lighthouse. Contact us for more information or to book your va. When is the best time to book a bald head island vacation rental. A print of an original illustration from the book hello lighthouse, winner of the 2019.
North carolina lighthouses and lifesaving stations by john hairr. Old baldy lighthouse self guided tours old baldy is a 5minute walk from the ferry landing. Old baldy lighthouse venue, bald head island price it out. Modern bald head island visitors can now temporarily live like capn charlie, thanks to three newly renovated lighthouse keeper cottages that are available for. The first lighthouse keepers cottage was located the on the west side of old baldy. Before its destruction, the demolition company removed the lens and sold them to an antique dealer in wilmington, nc. Before entering lighthouse, stop and look up at the plaque above the entranceway. Second lighthouse, old baldy, is constructed on a bluff overlooking the marsh and bald head creek, approximately one mile north of the original lighthouse site. Awarded for his preservation efforts, korstad is, in his own way, among the last of the lighthouse keepers. Inside the keeper s cottage are the admissionstickets desk, gift shop, and museum. Every piece in our archival collections tells a story, from the lifestyle of a lighthouse keeper to the dangers of being a soldier on bald head island.
North carolina lighthouses and lifesaving stations by john. For the month of march, the lighthouse will be open for climbs thursdaysaturday 103 and the gift shop will be open from 104. Lights of the lower cape fear federal point historic. A great deal of the information that the historian used in his book is what came from what i found at the national archives. At cape lookout, the light operated from about 4 p. In the early days the lighthouse keeper would white wash old baldy every two years. The old baldy lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in north carolina, having. A trip to bald head island will be unique and memorable. It was completely decommissioned in 1959 when the oak island light was built. The stairs between levels are a bit steep, and the place desperately needs air old baldy light, nc. Scopri clip di filmati video stock in hd e 4k per storico per i tuoi progetti creativi in adobe stock. Old baldy was built in 1817 of soft red bricks covered with stucco. There is also a shop that sells books, shirts, and various lighthouse rel. Coast guard station oak island, on the southern coast of north carolina.
In 1991 the old baldy foundation launched a campaign, steps to the top, to repair the steps to. Susan grantier, program coordinator for the old baldy foundation, said no records or blueprints explain why the top of the bald head island lighthouse is offset, but she offered a few guesses. Bald head island lighthouse lit for the first time nc dncr. Built in 1817, old baldy is the oldest standing lighthouse in north carolina. Bald head island has a very special history, and that history is especially. Pop, as the family called him, arrived on the island in 1919. Marking the mouth of the historic cape fear river, old baldy lighthouse offers a singular backdrop for your wedding day. Lighthouse keepers were male and female, young and old. Climb to the top of the lighthouse for a view like no other. An equally important story is how the old baldy foundation became owners of these pieces of history.
Dec 23, 2012 the oldest lighthouse on the north carolina coast, it was placed on the national register of historic places in 1975. Lighthouse service on this international day of the woman. In 1795, henry long was appointed lighthouse keeper, the first in north carolina. Bhi map ibis roost map keepers landing map royal james landing map. We were married in 2003 on the steps of old baldy, north carolinas old. With an assortment of conservancy tshirts, books, jewelr. Find out more about bald head islands lighthouse, history, weather and environment. We were married in 2003 on the steps of old baldy, north carolinas oldest standing lighthouse and one of three that once graced bald head island, is only a short walk from the ferry landing. The most common old baldy lighthouse material is ceramic. This was the last lighthouse built in north carolina, and one of the last built in the united states. I recommend this book for everyone who looks for a nice light romance book, with a summer feel, and the vibrant life of a small town. Inside the keepers cottage are the admissionstickets desk, gift shop, and museum. Smith museum is housed in a replica of 1850s lighthouse keeper s cottage. Built in 1817, old baldy stands as the oldest lighthouse is north carolina.
The old baldy lighthouse and smith island museum of history provide guests a selfguided tour of north carolinas oldest standing lighthouse. There is also a shop that sells books, shirts, and various lighthouse related items. Old baldy lighthouse and smith island museum of history will open on march 11th for the year. Old baldy lighthouse turns 200 years old life in brunswick. You can visit old baldy lighthouse and take a tour of the area, including keeper s cottage the smith island museum of history, remnants of fort holmes from the civil war, and of course climb old baldy lighthouse itself. Reviewed by barbara lemos mcallie givens, old baldy foundation, portraying rebecca long keeping bald head island lighthouse illuminated was a fulltime operation, vital to the port of wilmington and cape fear river maritime interests. Find the perfect vacation rental for your trip to bald head island. The rich history of bald head island has had a revival of interest over the previous few years as the old baldy foundation has grown. As the oldest standing lighthouse in the state, with the patchworked repairs and rugged exterior to prove it, the structure is an icon in the area, and is quintessentially linked with bald head island. Due to erosion, the keeper s cottage was destroyed. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you sel. Bald head island old baldy from 2015 keeper s log link. Uncategorized archives southport historical society.
When old baldy was deactivated in 1935 the lighthouse was abandoned. A discarded, halffinished portrait opens a window into matildas family history. Much of this interest can be attested to a growing staff dedicated to sharing the many stories and histories of bald head island and the cape fear. The oldest lighthouse in north carolina, bald head lighthouse was constructed in.
213 1234 1374 1562 375 1631 660 662 1565 115 1186 1598 908 577 1295 33 1217 826 999 1371 255 627 634 1195 1633 172 228 1138 286 317 636 1446 1545 1323 350 837 136 66 206