The Roanoke River Lighthouse restoration is nearly completed. The old roof has been replaced with a new roof made of the same type material as was used when the lighthouse was first constructed. The windows and doors have also been removed, individually restored and replaced. Work to replace girders and other structural timbers beneath the lighthouse has been completed.

The Roanoke River Lighthouse, is believed to be the last extant example in the United States of a rectangular frame building built for a screw-pile base. The lighthouse was in commission from 1887 until 1941.

The Lighthouse's exterior was restored by A.R. Chesson Construction Co. The 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse will soon be moved to its permanent location over the waters of Edenton Bay. The State of North Carolina has approved all necessary contracts and in February crews moved a crane into place to begin driving pilings, the first step toward its final resting place.

Presently, 24 pilings have been driven into the bottom of Edenton Bay. The four corner pilings are 50 feet in length and the 20 inner pilings are 45 feet long, with most of their length driven into the bay to provide firm support for the lighthouse. Steel is being erected over the pilings and the lighthouse is scheduled to be relocated over the steel supports on Tuesday, May 1st. Positioning supports to get the lighthouse properly aligned prior to attachment to steel will be removed May 21 - June 4. June 4 - 25 is for demobilization of crew and dress up of site.

Watch the daily progress.

Useful Press Kit Fact Sheets

Videos

Edenton's Roanoke River Lighthouse Moved Offshore
WRAL's Tar Heel Traveler series profiles the Roanoke River lighthouse move on May 1, 2012.

Roanoke River Lighthouse Restoration
Professionally produced by visitnc.com, this video shows early restoration work being done on the lighthouse when it first arrived in Edenton.