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Oak Island Lighthouse
Caswell Beach has the brightest lighthouse in the United States and has a modern Coast Guard Station close to the lighthouse. One side of the beach overlooks the Cape Fear River Shipping Channel as well as historic Southport. The Oak Island Lighthouse was completed in 1958 at a total cost of $110,000.00. The lights are 169 feet above the water.
A misconception is that the lighthouse itself is 169 feet tall. The actual structure is 148 feet tall, but it stands on a slight rise. Therefore, the height of the light above the water is 169 feet, and it is so reported on nautical charts. There is no spiral staircase as found in most older lighthouses, but instead a series of ships ladders with a total of 131 steps to the lantern gallery level.
Weekly seasonal tourse are free and available on the second level of the tower (not the observation balcony) on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 am until 2 pm May 30th through September 5th. Government safety regulations require no more than 15 visitors to be allowed inside the tower at any time and children must be 7 years or older to enter the lighthouse.
Visitors are requested not to wear flip-flops, high heels, open-toed or hard leather heels/soles. Sneakers are the preferred shoes. Climbers are required to have both hands free for climbing due to the steepness of our steps; no exceptions will be made. Also, there will not be any tours if lightning is nearby for your safety. Be aware that there are no restroom facilities on site.
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