Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse — Attraction in Roanoke Island

Not as tall as the "ocean" lighthouses on the Outer Banks such as Hatteras and Bodie Island, Roanoke Marshes protects traffic on the Shallowbag Bay and the Croaton Sound in Manteo. This building was completed in 2004 and is a faithful replica of the original 1877 lighthouse that was decommissioned in 1955 and ultimately lost during an attempted relocation.

A number of screw piles (long iron pilings twisted into the soft, marshy bottom to offer stability in shallow waters) support the lighthouse, a square, cottage-style structure. The muddy terrain and shifting shoals of the Croatan Sound were especially well-suited to this design. The building has clapboard siding, a gabled roof, and a small lantern room in the middle of the roof ridge. Its small and welcoming size, which is more akin to a beach house than a soaring beacon, enhances its allure and accessibility.

The lighthouse's interior is filled with marine antiques and informative displays that honor the area's nautical past. The building itself, which provides a tactile sense of coastal life and lighthouse keeping, is open for investigation, even if the spiral staircase leading to the lantern room is normally locked to the public. The beacon continues its tradition of directing vessels through the sound by using a contemporary LED system, having previously been driven by a fourth-order Fresnel lens.

There is lots of street parking in this part of Manteo and lots to...

Another place to visit on the island was the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. This actually was very interesting place historically and I found it to be very intriguing. I guess I've never really looked into or cared to study the history of the Roanoke colony and it's disappearance. It's also very interesting that this is the location of the first English colonist born in america. I had no idea that this was the location. We had a good time visiting the lighthouse and the boat repair shop and the Little village shops that they have around here. We also got some really good ice cream at one of the stores. This is a great place to visit and put on your list of things to do while you're...

Lived on the Outer Banks my entire life..and it is a privilege to live in such a lovely area.. late evenings in the summer walking the boardwalk to the Marsh light.. beautiful.. heads up to those who live here and visitors.. I've noticed lately on my walks there is more garbage being left around the benches, on the grassy areas and even in the tide surrounding the area.. please be respectful and throw your litter away.. there's no excuse when there is plenty of garbage cans in the area.. thank you and hope you enjoy this great historic area as...