5) Bald Head Lighthouse
Also known as Old Baldy, this lighthouse is the oldest standing in North Carolina. Out on Baldhead Island, the lighthouse casts an imposing shadow. It has continually been fixed up with a range of different materials to help it survive this long as well as giving it an interesting patchwork of different textures. Originally used as a light to warn of the coast, it was also used as a radio base in WWII. This historic lighthouse will be 200 years old in 2017, and takes an impressive 108 steps to get to the very top. Down at the base is a maritime museum, which details the island’s past – involving surfers, lighthouse keepers and pirates! The island itself also has a lot to see and do, with a very natural, quiet feel that will make you feel as though you are back in the 19th century when the lighthouse was still operational.
