Currituck Beach Lighthouse Complex (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
Located just south of Corolla in the northernmost part of North Carolina's Outer Banks, this lighthouse complex was established in 1873 and was the last lighthouse built on the Outer Banks. The 30.58-acre tract includes about five acres of fenced grounds holding the buildings, with the rest in maritime forest, dunes, oceanfront and marsh along Currituck Sound. The 162-foot unpainted red brick tower, built 1873-1875, holds a first order Fresnel lens and is joined to a brick office. Nearby are the 1876 Stick Style keepers' duplex with two rainwater cisterns, a storehouse, and a small keeper's house moved from Long Point Station in 1920. The complex operated under federal lighthouse authorities until 1939, and its grounds have remained largely intact since the government bought them. The added acreage recognizes the natural landscape that frames the buildings and screens them from nearby development. Restoration in the 1980s and 1990s returned the buildings to use for visitors.
Significance in brief: The documentation expands the boundary of the earlier 1973 listing to include the whole landscape surrounding the lighthouse compound. The complex was the last lighthouse built on North Carolina's Outer Banks and operated under federal lighthouse authorities from 1873 to 1939. Its buildings, first order Fresnel lens and largely intact setting illustrate lighthouse station design and operation.
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 99000911, listed January 12, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NC 12, N of NC 1185, Corolla |
|---|---|
| County | Currituck County |
| Listed | January 12, 2000 |
| Reference number | 99000911 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian / Stick Style |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Maritime History, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in the 1980s and early 1990s. The lighthouse office serves as an admission center and exhibition space, and the Small Light Keeper's House is now the museum shop. The site is leased to a local preservation group and open to visitors. |
| Acreage | 21.6 |
| Coordinates | 36.37705, -75.82815 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 99000911.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.