Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Also known as: Whaleshead Lighthouse
Why it's listed
Currituck Beach Lighthouse rises 158 feet above an isolated stretch of North Carolina's northern Outer Banks, about twenty miles below the Virginia border. Completed in 1875, it is a red brick tower laid in common bond, with a polygonal glass lantern, a broad gallery on large ornate iron brackets, and segmental-arched windows framed in molded brick. A small brick building at its base is dated 1873 over the door, and a two-story frame keeper's duplex with Gothic cottage touches stands about a hundred feet west. The light was built to warn ships between Cape Henry, Virginia, and Bodie Island, and it was the last of three major lighthouses on the state's coast. Construction cost $178,000 on a tract bought for $75. Its beam is visible for fifteen miles. The nomination values its graceful design, the matching keeper's house, and its links to hunting clubs, a lifesaving station, and the village of Corolla. The keeper's house is deteriorated but sound.
Significance in brief: It was the last of three major lighthouses built on the North Carolina coast and was meant to fill the gap in coastal lighting between Cape Henry, Virginia, and Bodie Island. The nomination also argues that its architectural quality sets it above ordinary utilitarian buildings. Together with the ornate Gothic-influenced keeper's cottage, it is tied to the history of the Outer Banks.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001333, listed October 15, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Northern NC Outer Banks, Corolla |
|---|---|
| County | Currituck County |
| Listed | October 15, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001333 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1875) |
| Architectural style | Keeper's residence described as having suggestions of the Gothic cottage style |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Lighthouse functions automatically, casting its beam seaward every twenty seconds; keeper's house is deteriorated but structurally sound. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 36.37154, -75.82604 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001333.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3308122
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.