Old Baldy Lighthouse and Smith Island Museum — Attraction in Bald Head Island

As the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina, we felt that Old Baldy deserved a visit during our recent trip to Bald Head Island. Although we arrived by 9:45am, it was just starting to get very busy. As you climb the 108 stairs, each visitor does their best to make way for oncoming traffic. Once you reach the top of the light house, you essentially use a wooden ladder to make entrance to the top. The opening to the top of the lighthouse is quite small and there is very little moving air (think hot, humid, and dusty). Having said that, the view at the top of the lighthouse is absolutely spectacular. There is an excellent view of the marina and surrounding marsh lands. The museum associated with the lighthouse is quite small, but there is a lot of information if you choose to read it. Having two daughters, they were particularly incensed to learn that Rebecca Long, who cared for the lighthouse along with her husband for many years, was refused the position of lighthouse keeper after the unexpected death of her husband. Why was she refused the job? – Despite being more than qualified, experienced, and nominated to serve the post, President Thomas Jefferson wrote that “The appointment of a woman to office is an innovation for which the public is not prepare, nor am I.” Good grief! Thank you for all of your hard work, Rebecca. We admire what you...

So the place is nice to visit but make sure you have your walking shoes on. When you get to the ferry loading dock it’s nice but looking around there isn’t the first drink machine in site nor could we find one at all. The ferry ride is nice and it takes about 20-25 minute ride and it’s a nice ferry with 2 decks and an in closed place to sit. Note I don’t recommend sitting on the side closest to the captain’s chair because if the waves are big you will get wet from sea spray. Now when you get off the ferry at bald island….it looks good and there are a few places to visit but reserve a golf cart ahead of time so you can drive all over the island. We opted to walk and it was a great day for a stroll out there. Old baldy lighthouse is nice and easy to access and it’s kept in good condition. Please make sure you bring water because there wasn’t any to be found and the restaurants there were only outside seating at the time we were there which it was way to hot to sit outside for us. In short please put drink machines on bald island so people can have some in the summer. I would go back for sure but now I know that you need to reserve a golf cart and bring plenty of water for a...

The Old Baldy Lighthouse is very old and really unique compared to others in North Carolina, and visiting it was a worthwhile experience. The stairs and landings are all wooden. The last set of "stairs" to the top level are actually a ladder through a smallish opening (roughly 24" x 24"). The top level safely accommodates 4-5 adults, but the view from the top is incredible.

The back room of the small museum, the small structure on the southeast side of the lighthouse, and the lower couple of levels of the lighthouse house some interesting historical information, but the front room of the museum is essentially a gift shop. That being said, the gift shop has some neat items.

The only way to access the lighthouse is to ride the passenger ferry from just north of Southport, NC to Bald Head Island. The ferry is $23 per person round trip. Then, the lighthouse is a relatively short walk from the island marina.

The trip, including a nice lunch at a restaurant a the marina, wasn't cheap, but it was well...