Wayfarrow

Bodie Island Light

Lighthouse · Dare County, North Carolina

This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is 0300
This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is 0300 · RyanGRodgers / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Bodie Island Light is a lighthouse in Dare County, North Carolina. North Carolina has 18 lighthouses on record at Wayfarrow, 4 of them in Dare County.

It was built in 1872, in the late 19th century, making it the 8th oldest of the 10 in North Carolina with a recorded construction date; the tower stands about 156 feet tall (4th tallest of 8 measured in North Carolina); its light sits 164 feet above the water; the light characteristic is recorded as Fl(2) W 30s (a group of 2 white flashes every 30 seconds), with a range of about 18 nautical miles; it guards Roanoke Sound; the recorded designer or builder is Paul J. Pelz.

Status check, 2026-11: Third Bodie Island tower, first lit October 1, 1872; NPS gives 156 ft but the National Register form gives 164 ft overall (156 ft being the focal height); restored and reopened for climbing in 2013. It carries the heritage designation National Register of Historic Places contributing property. It stands at 35.8185° N, 75.5633° W.

Key facts

Current structure built1872
Tower height156 ft
Focal height164 ft
Light characteristicFl(2) W 30s
Range18 nautical miles
Body of waterRoanoke Sound
Designer / builderPaul J. Pelz
Heritage designationNational Register of Historic Places contributing property
Coordinates35.81850, -75.56330

Open the location on a map

Nearby places

Questions

Where is Bodie Island Light?

Bodie Island Light is in Dare County, North Carolina, at 35.8185, -75.5633.

How many lighthouses are in Dare County?

Dare County, North Carolina has 4 lighthouses on record at Wayfarrow.

Sources and licences

Facts marked "approximately" carry an uncertain date in the source. Text on this page is generated from the sources above; no encyclopedia prose is copied. Last updated 2026-11-05.