Vandals damage Ocracoke Lighthouse, keeper’s quarters

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is asking the public’s help in identifying the vandals responsible for damaging the Ocracoke Lighthouse, keeper’s quarters and several outbuildings.

Rangers discovered the first act of vandalism on Sept. 27 at the Ocracoke Lighthouse door, where a wooden slat was missing. Additionally, the wire screening behind the missing wooden slat was forcibly detached from the door, the National Park Service said in a news release.

On Monday, rangers discovered numerous windows were damaged in the keeper’s quarters, the lighthouse, and several outbuildings.

“It is believed that the damages were caused sometime between the evening of October 3rd and the morning of October 5th,” NPS spokesman Michael Barber said in the release.

Anyone with information that may help determine the individuals, circumstances, and events that led to the acts of vandalism are asked to contact the National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch. Call or text the ISB Tip Line at 888-653-0009 or submit a tip at www.nps.gov/isb.

Completed in 1823, the Ocracoke Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.