Why Visit Old Baldy During a Trip to BHI

When many people plan a trip to Bald Head Island, they are excited about spending time relaxing at one of Bald Head Island’s pristine beaches with amazing views or playing a round of golf on the newly renovated Bald Head Island Golf Course. However, if you love visiting historical landmarks you will want to add a tour to Old Baldy to your list of things to do while visiting Bald Head Island. 

Here is a short list of why you will not want to miss visiting Old Baldy: 

The view of the island from the top of Old Baldy is “incomparable." 

Opportunity to visit North Carolina’s oldest standing lighthouse 

Take a self-guided tour (lasts approximately 1.5 hours) to learn the history of this historical landmark during the last 200 years

View artifacts in the Smith Island Museum

Pick up souvenirs for family and friends back home in the gift shop

Old Baldy is just a 5 minute walk from the ferry landing if you’re just visiting for the day 

Get some additional exercise while climbing 108 steps to the top of the lighthouse

Congress approved a budget of $15,000 to have Old Baldy built in 1816

The longest employed lightkeeper was a Revolutionary war veteran named Sedgwick Springs and lit the lantern at Old Baldy for the first time in 1817. The lighthouse recently underwent a $300,000 renovation to repair its lanthorn room and stucco.

Old Baldy changed responsibilities in 1935 to become just a radio beacon

Bald Head Island Lighthouse a.k.a. Old Baldy was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975

Learn more about the history of Old Baldy by visiting www.oldbaldy.org.

*Thanks to Colleen Kanters for entering this beautiful image of Old Baldy Lighthouse into the Bald Head Island Photo Contest.

Published on Monday, March 19, 2018