Lighthouses of North Carolina

Prices Creek

Bald Head Island, NC 28461​

Bald Head Island Lighthouse, also known as Old Baldy, is located three miles offshore from Southport on Bald Head Island at the mouth of the mighty Cape Fear River. It was but one in a network of lights established in the area beginning in 1794.​

Prints & Downloads

Lighthouse Prints

Videos to download

Map

Location

Passenger-only ferries to Bald Head Island depart from historic Southport, a quaint riverside town full of interesting places to shop, dine, and explore history. 

There are no cars allowed on Bald Head Island, hence all of the ferries are passenger only. Transportation on the island is by walking, renting bicycles and golf carts rentals.

​​Google Maps HERE

History

Unfortunately, this first Bald Head Island Light didn’t last long as constant erosion of the river bank near the lighthouse took a toll, and the lighthouse was ordered to be demolished by the U.S. Lighthouse Service–then known as the Lighthouse Establishment--in 1813.

Mariners’ complaints kept coming in that there wasn’t enough light where they needed it to find the mouth of the Cape Fear while dodging Frying Pan Shoals. During the late 1840s into the early 1850s, various improvements were made to the lantern room and an improved lighting system was installed. In 1851, a critical government report dealt a blow to the usefulness of the light. Its position on the island, its height, and its insufficient light made it unable to do the needed job. But the Lighthouse Service kept trying to make it work; indeed, after taking advantage of better lens technology available to the United States, a third-order Fresnel lens was put to work in 1855.

Photography

EASY Access - After getting off the ferry on the island, the walk to the lighthouse is easy and it takes about 5 minutes.  

Time of day - This location is good for anytime of the day, however, sunset would be my choice as the sun would glow on lighthouse.
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LENS - 35mm to 100mm is ideal for the lighthouse, however, you may wish to spend more time on the island doing bird photography.