A surprising fact for many of our members is that the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society was formed in 1994 with a primary goal to preserve the Bodie Island Lighthouse (BILH). Our organization has worked hard to get funds for the restoration of this beautiful tower that has had NO major restorative work since it was erected in 1872. Finally, on the evening of March 10th, after 15 years, the US Senate passed the 2009 budget which awards $3.09M for the restoration of BILH and President Barak Obama signed the bill into law that will allocate the funds. This is one of the most exciting events to happen in OBLHS’s existence. We have helped BILH is many ways: paid for two structural studies, consulted in getting the lightstation included on the National Register of Historic Places, brought awareness to OBX visitors by having a sign pointing to the lighthouse placed on Highway 12, written countless letters to our representatives, instigated several articles in publications about the need for restoration, have published many articles in our Lighthouse News and donated $10,000 for emergency repairs when pieces of iron fell from the tower.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore estimates that it will take two years for the project to be finished. It will begin about 90 days after an account has been set in place and contractors chosen to tackle the painstaking projects. They anticipate that this may be sometime in July (2009). The lens will be removed from the tower, one prism at a time. They will be carefully wrapped and placed in backpacks and brought down the stairs. They will be carried to the Park headquarters warehouse where they will be worked on. The iron framework for the lens will be restored inside the tower and will be secured and protected during the restoration of the entire tower. The prisms will be restored and kept under careful watch while the rest of the work is taking place. A navigational beacon light will be used in the tower until the complete project is finished and then the glass prisms will be reunited with the lens frame inside the tower. We hope that there will be opportunities for our members to volunteer to help.

Since BILH has never had any restorative work, fabrications (molds) of the iron work must be made. Then iron must be removed: stairs, railings, catwalk, etc. Bodie Island Lighthouse will be the FIRST lighthouse to recycle its iron. The iron from the various parts will be melted down then poured into the molds and reused for the same part from which it was taken.

The restoration of this tower has captured the interest of news media across the state. We hope to have documentaries to share with you, possibly even a web-cam from the site so that you can watch the progress from day to day. In anticipation of the visitation to the site, there have been hired three full-time staff members and more volunteers will placed at the location to answer questions. We will keep you informed as to where you can find information and will update you and our website as changes are made.

Yes---the third time is the charm, so they say. This third BILH tower is finally getting the attention it so well deserves from the 3rd Presidential administration since OBLHS was formed!

See photos of restoration work going on with Bodie Island Lighthoue. We will continue to post news and photos as this work progresses, and will be located uner "Restorations" on our Latest News link.

This Site Last Updated: Friday January 22, 2010 8:59 AM