During the month of August, we’re celebrating Edenton’s 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse!
If you’ve ever visited Edenton or seen pictures of our beautiful waterfront, then you recognize our iconic lighthouse.
Its prominent location by the waterfront makes it a central part of town gatherings, such as our 4th of July fireworks celebration, and an important stop on our historic tours.
Recently, Edenton’s community joined together at the lighthouse on August 5th to celebrate National Lighthouse Day, a family-friendly event with activities for children, free tours of the lighthouse, and special fly-overs by the U.S. Coast Guard.
If you weren’t able to join us for the celebration, you can still visit the lighthouse this summer and learn about its fascinating history.
You may not have known that the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse is the only-known surviving screw-pile lighthouse in the state of North Carolina and is not original to Edenton’s waterfront.
Before becoming an iconic part of Edenton’s waterfront, the lighthouse underwent an extensive relocation and renovation process.
Originally, the lighthouse stood in the waters of the Albemarle Sound, near the mouth of the Roanoke River.
In 1955, it was relocated to shore and used on-land as a private home until it was again relocated to Edenton in 2007 where it was lovingly cared for by Mr. Madison Phillips, a local historian.
Eventually, funds were secured from the state of North Carolina for the restoration of the lighthouse, and today, it is managed by the Historic Edenton State Historic Site and is open to the public for tours.
If you’re visiting Edenton, you don’t want to miss a guided tour of this beautifully restored lighthouse with breathtaking views of the Albemarle Sound!
You can learn about the daily life of the lighthouse keeper and his family who used to live there and capture photos of Edenton’s spectacular sunsets from its balcony.
Why not take a weekend trip, book a room in one of Edenton’s charming B&Bs, and visit the 1886 Roanoke River lighthouse this summer? We can’t wait to see you soon!
