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42-680: The current Bodie Island Lighthouse (pronounced “body island”) is the third that has stood in this vicinity of Bodie Island on the Outer Banks in North Carolina and was built in 1872. It stands 156 feet (48 m) tall and is located on the Roanoke Sound side of a portion of a peninsula that is the first part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore . The lighthouse is just south of Nags Head ,

84-402: A 4 on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the safest. In October 1990, a dredge collided with the bridge during a storm, causing severe damage to several of the spans. While isolated, Hatteras Island could only be accessed by boat or plane for many weeks while emergency construction was underway to replace its only highway link to the mainland. The Federal Highway Administration approved

126-544: A constant problem. The Bonner Bridge cost $ 4   million to build and moved up to 14,000 cars a day in both directions. Of that amount, the state of North Carolina paid $ 1.5   million, and the federal government paid $ 2.5   million. The arrangement for a portion of the state's cost to be paid by the National Park Service was arranged by Rep. Herbert C. Bonner, for whom the bridge is named. The bridge also made it possible to provide electric power to

168-486: A dedicated dredge, Miss Katie , to focus on keeping Oregon Inlet navigable. The Coast Guard station at Oregon Inlet is currently located at its fourth site since it began as a lifesaving station in 1883. It was one of 29 lifesaving stations Congress approved and appropriated funds for a decade earlier. By 1888, the Oregon Inlet Station had to be relocated to a new site. It is assumed that this relocation

210-457: A favorite spot for visitors. And still every evening, amidst the water towers and blinking radio antennae of modern development, its powerful light beams out across the darkening waves, keeping silent watch over the treacherous waters known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” The lighthouse, now called Bodie Island Light Station and sporting a fresnel lens, remains standing and can be visited in

252-531: A few miles before Oregon Inlet . It was renovated from August 2009 to March 2013, and was made climbable by the public. There are 219 steps that spiral to the top. The 170-foot structure is one of only a dozen remaining tall, brick tower lighthouses in the United States — and one of the few with an original first-order Fresnel lens to cast its light. The preceding Bodie Island lighthouses actually stood south of Oregon Inlet on Pea Island in an area that

294-572: A modernization program in 1933–34, the Oregon Inlet Station was extensively modified to look very much like it does today. In 1979, a new extension was added. By 1988, the station was completely abandoned when the southward migration of the Oregon Inlet threatened to swallow it. In July 1990, a ceremonial ground breaking was held for a new $ 3.5   million building, located just behind the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, on

336-527: A new bridge as soon as possible." Until it was safe to reopen, The NCDOT Ferry Division provided emergency support to move cars and trucks across the Pamlico Sound between Rodanthe and Stumpy Point . After sand was dredged to support some of its pilings, the bridge reopened to traffic on December 15, 2013. On December 16, 2015, crews from Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative began moving underground electric cables, which were subsequently attached to

378-487: A reference to Christ's sacrifice). In reality, pelicans masticate food and then feed this bloody liquid from their beaks to their pelican chicks. The Bodie family history is noted extensively in Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County, Virginia Folklore sometimes attributes the naming of the island to the dead "bodies" of drowned sailors that washed up from the ships that ran aground and sank off

420-669: Is found on the peninsula. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore protects the southernmost part of Bodie Island, and the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge , Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park protect portions of the northern part of the peninsula. "Tucked away between tall pine trees and freshwater marshland, the Bodie Island Light presents anything but a typical lighthouse setting. Though not as well-known as its neighbors, it remains an important part of local history and

462-485: Is now under water due to the southward migration of the inlet. The first was built in 1847 and then abandoned in 1859 due to a poor foundation. The second, built in 1859, was destroyed in 1861 by retreating Confederate troops who feared it would be used as a Union observation post during the Civil War . The third and current lighthouse, with its original first order Fresnel lens , was completed in 1872. This lighthouse

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504-572: The Currituck Inlet and Musketo Inlets along with Caffey's Inlet to the south in the vicinity of Duck once existed, which made the Currituck Banks itself a chain of barrier islands. Currituck Inlet served as the boundary between the two states in the early 18th century. The old Currituck Inlet closed around 1728, Caffey's Inlet closed in 1811, New Currituck Inlet had closed by 1828 and Musketo Inlet finally closed in 1882 creating

546-562: The Mid-Currituck Bridge are currently on hold. 35°51′N 75°35′W  /  35.85°N 75.58°W  / 35.85; -75.58 Oregon Inlet Oregon Inlet is an inlet along North Carolina 's Outer Banks . It joins the Pamlico Sound with the Atlantic Ocean and separates Bodie Island from Pea Island , which are connected by the 2.8-mile (4.5 km) Marc Basnight Bridge that spans

588-493: The Spanish Armada . At that time, three pelicans vulning themselves were added to their coat of arms. The heraldic pelican, one of the few female beasts in heraldry, is shown with a sharp stork-like beak, which it uses to vuln (pierce or wound) her own breast. This is per the bestiary myth that a female pelican wounded herself thus to feed her chicks. This symbol of sacrifice carries a particular religious meaning (usually

630-654: The Atlantic " but that is not true. The name is actually derived from the original name of the area, which was "Bodie's Island" after the Body family who once owned the land that was a separate barrier island prior to 1811 when Roanoke inlet that separated it from the Currituck Banks to the north closed. Local gift shops sell maps of the shipwrecks on the ocean floor. An impressive array of ships have been sunk due to storms, shoals , and German U-boats during World War I and World War II . This lighthouse appears in

672-552: The Bonner Bridge and NC   12 from the ocean. The bridge was due for replacement by the early 1990s but construction on the new bridge had been continually held back by environmental lawsuits brought by the Southern Environmental Law Center . The Bonner Bridge was expected to have a thirty-year lifespan. The bridge handled about 2   million cars per year, and the state DOT ranked it

714-533: The Currituck Banks on NC highway 12. The north end of the peninsula is accessible by Sandpiper and Sandfiddler Roads via Sandbridge Road, but there is no highway connecting the Virginia portion of the Currituck Banks with the North Carolina portion, and even driving on the beach is no longer permitted north of the North Carolina border. Plans for an additional access point near Corolla which would be called

756-673: The Outer Banks in 1846, separating Bodie Island from Pea Island. One ship that rode out that storm in Pamlico Sound was named the Oregon . After the storm the crew members of this ship were the first to tell those on the mainland about the inlet's formation. Hence, it has been known as Oregon Inlet ever since. Like many other inlets along the Outer Banks, Oregon Inlet moves southward due to drifting sands during tides and storms. It has moved south over two miles (3.2 km) since 1846, averaging around 66 feet (20 m) per year. Shoaling of

798-507: The Outer Banks in what is now known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic but that is incorrect. Inlets frequently open and close along the Outer Banks , making landform naming inconsistent. Bodie Island, when it was an island, extended farther south than it does today. The island was originally formed around 1738, when New Inlet opened, separating Bodie Island from Hatteras Island to the south. The opening of Oregon Inlet in 1846 truncated

840-478: The background of the 1963–1964 Federal Duck Stamp . After years of raising funds and postponement, work to restore the cast iron and other parts in need of work began on the lighthouse in August 2009. As of March 2010, the outside scaffolding was 100% complete while interior scaffolding was 50% completed. The restoration was stopped in spring 2011 after significant new structural integrity issues were found in many of

882-503: The bridge due to immediate safety concerns. Routine sonar scanning of the bridge identified scouring concerns, or areas where too much sand has eroded from the support structure of the bridge. "Closing the Bonner Bridge is necessary to keep all travelers safe, but we know it will have a devastating effect on the people who live along and visit the Outer Banks," said NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata. "We will work to safely reopen this vital lifeline quickly, and hope to be able to begin construction on

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924-491: The channel through Oregon Inlet caused by this movement of sand has been a problem for the fishing industry, recreational boating, and other maritime interests for decades. Since 1950, when Congress first authorized the dredging of the inlet, the channel has been shallower than planned most of the time and was sometimes closed altogether. In addition to the economic harm caused to the maritime community, several ships and lives have been lost. In 2022, Dare County contracted for

966-574: The fact that during its three-year construction it had already become widely known as the New Bonner Bridge and had been repeatedly referred to as such in news articles. The decision to name the new bridge for Basnight was controversial and was opposed by many residents of Hatteras Island who wanted it to be named for Bonner. The bridge received the Deep Foundation Institute ’s Outstanding Project Award in 2019 due to

1008-469: The inlet. As one of the few access points to the ocean along this stretch of coast, Oregon Inlet is a major departure point for charter fishing trips, with a nearby harbor serving as the base for many large boats that travel miles out towards the Gulf Stream almost every day. The inlet is also the location of a U.S. Coast Guard motor lifeboat station. Oregon Inlet was formed when a hurricane lashed

1050-457: The islands using transmission lines rather than generators. The environmental impact on the Bonner bridge and road was not fully understood at the time of construction, and now constant beach erosion, severe weather and high volume of traffic continually forces the state to protect the integrity of the road system. As much as $ 50   million was spent between 1987 and 1999 to repair and protect

1092-469: The last of the legal obstacles were handled after a judge ruled in favor of the new bridge to be constructed. Construction was set to begin in early 2013 but was halted once again after an appeal was filed by the SELC. The new bridge was then to open to traffic in spring 2015 and the majority of the existing bridge was to be demolished (a portion will remain as a fishing pier). On December 3, 2013, NCDOT closed

1134-428: The long peninsula extending from Sandbridge to Oregon Inlet that is seen today. Explorer John Lawson mentions Bodies Island just once in his 1709 book A New Voyage to Carolina , when discussing fauna of North Carolina, in particular, a species of rabbit. He wrote the following: "I was told of several that were upon Bodies Island by Ronoak, which came from that Ship of Bodies." This would indicate that Bodie Island

1176-513: The main support beams under the balcony. The additional repairs needed were too costly to finish in the original restoration project. In August, 2011 Hurricane Irene blew out some of the newly restored lantern room glass and tore away a protective shroud covering the lantern room. Flooding caused buckling of the floors in the Bodie Island Light Station Double Keepers Quarters. Additional funding

1218-507: The north side of the inlet. The new station was designed with the traditional architectural design of older stations located on the Outer Banks in mind. The Herbert C. Bonner Bridge was a two-lane automobile bridge spanning the Oregon Inlet, between Bodie Island from Pea Island, in Dare County, North Carolina . The bridge carried NC 12 and was utilized by local and seasonal tourist traffic. The 2.7-mile (4.3 km) bridge

1260-402: The old Bonner Bridge, that connected Hatteras Island to the cooperative's power supplier Dominion North Carolina Power . This was done in order for construction of the new bridge to begin and signaled the beginning of the bridge construction process. The official groundbreaking for construction of the new bridge was held on March 8, 2016. The project cost $ 252   million and the new bridge

1302-464: The peninsula is tied to the mainland by low tidal swamps and causeways road. The entire peninsula is approximately 72 miles in length, following the shoreline. The peninsula is home to two lighthouses, Bodie Island Light and Currituck Beach Light . The Wright Brothers National Monument also has a beacon and is found on the peninsula. Jockey's Ridge , the tallest sand dune on the East Coast ,

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1344-407: The plan to replace the bridge over Oregon Inlet that connects with Pea Island and lies within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore . It would be longer and curve farther inland and was expected to cost approximately $ 1.3   billion and be completed by 2014, although it was likely to be later. On July 26, 2011, NCDOT awarded a $ 215.8   million contract to replace the bridge. In September 2013

1386-480: The southern portion of Bodie Island, forming a new island situated between Bodie and Hatteras. The new barrier island was given the name Pea Island , but the wider, more powerful Oregon Inlet led to the eventual closure of New Inlet around 1933. Pea Island thus became a part of Hatteras Island until 2011 when New Inlet reopened during Hurricane Irene . Near the North Carolina-Virginia state line,

1428-537: The summer months. Bodie Island was originally known as Bodie's Island or Body's Island and was named for a family of that name, variously written as "Body" "Boddye" "Boddy" and "Bodie" that settled there. Robert Boddy/Boddie emigrated to Virginia from London, England on August 10, 1635, on HMS Safety. He settled in Isle of Wight and some of his descendants later settled in what later became North Carolina , South Carolina and Mississippi . (The Bodie Plantation , once

1470-490: Was built further North and further inland on a 15-acre site. In 1932, the Bodie Island Lighthouse became automated (and the light was upgraded to an electric lamp by using oil-fueled electrical generators ), and by 1953 it had been transferred into the care of the National Park Service. It remained staffed until 1940, when the lighthouse was fully automated. In 1953, the generators were disconnected and power

1512-420: Was built in 1963 and was dedicated to Herbert C. Bonner . Prior to the building of the Bonner bridge, Hatteras Island was only accessible by air or ferry. Ferries could carry a maximum of 2,000 people per day. The ferries cost the state $ 500,000 per year to operate, and there were very long lines waiting for the ferries during peak season. Due to the constantly shifting sandbars in the inlet, groundings were

1554-479: Was expected to open in February 2019. A crew working on the bridge on July 27, 2017, severed a power cable and caused a widespread blackout on the Outer Banks islands. 50,000 tourists had to be evacuated until power was restored August 3, 2017. The 2.8-mile-long (4.5 km) bridge opened February 25, 2019. On March 7, 2019, state board of transportation voted to name the new bridge for Marc Basnight despite

1596-417: Was necessary because of the shifting of the channel to the south and the encroachment of the ocean from the east. The station was decommissioned and moved to a new safer location some 400 feet (120 m) westward toward the sound. Less than a decade later a storm totally destroyed the Oregon Inlet Station. By 1897, a new station was under construction and was completed in 1898 for less than $ 7,000. As part of

1638-677: Was obtained to continue the restoration, which was restarted in 2012 and completed in March 2013. There was a re-lighting ceremony on April 18, 2013, and the lighthouse was opened for the general public to climb the following day for a fee. Bodie Island Lighthouse: United States Coast Guard Bodie Island From the southern tip at Oregon Inlet , the peninsula stretches largely northwest out of North Carolina and into Virginia until terminating at Rudee Inlet at Owl Creek in Virginia Beach . At Sandbridge, Virginia Beach, Virginia ,

1680-473: Was of the largest plantations in Mississippi is now Tougaloo College , an HBCU ( historically black colleges and universities ). Bodie Island was named for his descendants who settled the area. The family was originally from Ingatestone , Essex , England which is where their coat of arms originated as well, with an augmentation by Elizabeth I to John Boddie for service during the naval battle with

1722-560: Was so named as early as 1709. The following is a list of places found on the peninsula, listed from south to north. Bodie Island can be accessed from North Carolina mainland from the Wright Memorial Bridge, originally built in 1966. It can also be accessed from U.S. Route 64 since the Washington Baum Bridge opened in 1994. Motorists driving north on the Outer Banks from Hatteras and Pea Islands reach

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1764-403: Was supplied from the commercial electric grid . While some people (including North Carolinians not from the Outer Banks ) pronounce the name with a long "o" sound, it is traditionally pronounced as body. Folklore would have you believe it is due to the number of dead sailors washed ashore from wrecked ships along this portion of the East Coast , which has long been known as the " Graveyard of

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