LIGHTHOUSE XIII

CAPE HATTERAS LIGHT, NORTH CAROLINA

Order No. 102

HISTORY: Two mighty ocean rivers, the cold Labrador Current and steamy Gulf stream oppose each other just off Cape Hatteras. Sailors dubbed these waters, "The Graveyard of the Atlantic." Congress authorized a lighthouse for the cape in 1794 but the 95’ stone tower wasn’t established until 1803. It was replaced with a much more visible tower painted with distinctive spiral stripes in 1851 and became a major turning point on the east coast for coastal trade. It was automated in 1936.

At 193 feet, it is the tallest brick lighthouse in North America. It is one of the most recognized, photographed, painted and read about lighthouses and is a National Historic Landmark. It has a new first-order Fresnel lens that helps warn mariners of the dangerous Diamond Shoals.

The lighthouse house was moved back from the encroaching ocean in 1999. It was reset with keepers’ quarters. It was reopened to climbers in 2003 with assistance from volunteers of the National Park Service. It is an active aid to navigation.

STITCHING INFORMATION: Stitch count: 178 stitches wide x 186 high. Our model was stitched on a 14" x 17" piece of ice blue, 14-count AIDA fabric. . To use a different type of fabric or different AIDA sized fabric, give the stitch count to your fabric store and they will help you select the correct amount of fabric to complete this design. Our threads were carefully chosen to depict the actual colors of the lighthouse to give it the most realistic appearance possible.