There is no better symbol of life on the coast than that of the lighthouse.
Originally built to serve as beacons guiding ships safely to shore, these towers are now reminders of a bygone era — a time before ships were equipped with Global Positioning Systems and sonar mapping the sea floor.
According to the National Park Service’s website, 779 lighthouses remain standing across the United States. Though many say North Carolina is home to seven lighthouses, there are actually eight of them: Old Baldy, Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout, Currituck Beach, Ocracoke, Oak Island, and — the oft-forgotten Price’s Creek Lighthouse.
The Cape Fear region is home to three of the eight: Old Baldy, Oak Island and Price’s Creek are all located in Brunswick County.
The StarNews team has compiled facts from around the Cape Fear region, and you’ll find them in the StarNews Weekend edition under the heading “Cape Fear Facts.”
Now, here’s a look at Brunswick County’s lighthouses by the numbers.