A Comfortable Passenger
July 2, 1999
Cheryl Roberts
UPDATE
HATTERAS ISLAND, NC

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse moved 354 feet on Thursday, July 1, 1999. To date, a total 2,123 feet have been accomplished.

Movers are pleased with the progress of the relocation. The lighthouse has been a comfortable passenger while enroute to the relocation site 2,900 feet to southwest, placing the tower 1,600 feet from the ocean. This is approximately the same distance the lighthouse was from high tide when it was built by the U.S. Lighthouse Service with Dexter Stetson as foreman of construction beginning in 1868.

The National Historic Landmark is predicted to reach the new site sometime during the week of July 4! This will go down in history as a large effort by man to save historic buildings that have served humanity; relocation enables this lighthouse to continue to be a source of education and joy for future millions of visitors. An excellent article on this subject is in the Raleigh News & Observer, Tuesday, June 29, by Susanna Rodell on page 11-A.

Photos courtesy Bruce Roberts

In the image above, "roll beam and soap" [Large Image] you can see evidence of Ivory soap, an excellent mover's lubricant, on the hardened steel top of the roll beam track. Seven roll beams enable the lighthouse to glide towards the relocation site. A photographer is taking a picture of one jack (there are 100 jacks in all) that comes out of the massive main beam and the encased Hilman rollers that sit atop the roll beam. He is standing under the lighthouse to get this image.

Photos courtesy Bruce Roberts

In the second image, "push jacks and hydraulic clamps" [Large Image] a clear view of the long-armed, hydraulic push jacks is shown. The hoses suspended in the top of the image serve to power the hydraulic clamps that hold the push jacks securely on the roll beams. The hydraulic clamps have greatly reduced the time movers have had to spend readjusting and reactivating the push jacks.

Hatteras in Motion
June 30, 1999
Cheryl Roberts
UPDATE
HATTERAS ISLAND, NC

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse moved an additional 288.5 feet on Tuesday, June 29, 1999! After a short delay, adjustments to the hydraulic jacks were made, and on she went!

As of today, Wednesday at noon the lighthouse had glided a total 1,561.5 feet, putting her over the halfway mark to home.

Photos courtesy Margaret Harker

One of the best images we've seen is "Hatteras in Motion" [Large Image] by Dr. Margaret Harker of Morehead City, NC. Margaret captured the moving lighthouse in a multiple-exposure photograph, shot over a six-hour period from 1 pm until 7 pm. She has offered the use of the picture to the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society.

Sign Up for Lighthouse Society Announcements
Feb 1, 1999
Staff Report

The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society will update the progress of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move throughout the Spring ... sign up to receive e-mail updates.

Out of Harm's Way
UPDATE
June 27, 1999
Cheryl Roberts

International Chimney Corporation and their team of movers, including the pros of Expert House Movers, continue to move the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse closer to the relocation site.

The lighthouse has reached the critical distance of 850 feet from the ocean, considered a safe buffer from potential storm winds.

Photos courtesy Bruce Roberts

In the photo above [Large Image] by Bruce Roberts, taken at 2:30 pm, Sunday, June 27, you can see the tower has passed the temporary visitors center to the right.

Relocation
on 'Fast Track'
UPDATE
June 23, 1999
Cheryl Roberts

Movers have put the relocation on the "fast track" in order to move the lighthouse out of harm's way. Engineers agree that the lighthouse needs to be moved 850 feet away from the ocean's edge, the critical distance affording the National Historic Landmark a buffer from strong storm winds. To date, the lighthouse has moved a total 317 feet, and by the end of today, Wednesday, another 150 feet will have been gained.

Joe Jakubik, Project Manager with International Chimney Corporation (ICC) in Buffalo, NY, says the greatest time-saving devices for the movers are the hydraulic clamps for the push jacks. Instead of the time-consuming task of unbolting and rebolting the push jacks onto the roll beams after each five-foot push, the hydraulic clamps lock and unlock almost instantaneously.

Major players in the move, Expert House Movers, are working tirelessly to keep the steel mat leapfrogged in front of the moving lighthouse so the roll beams can then be moved from back to front, and the move kept as continuous as possible.

Photos courtesy Bruce Roberts

In the aerial view "Ocean's Edge" [Large Image] by Bruce Roberts, you can see how close the ocean is to the original foundation site. Note the half circle just inside the excavation...this is the original site, partially covered by the steel beam mat. An earthmover is pulling one of the steel beams in front of the lighthouse along the move corridor, recharging (leapfrogging) the move system.

Photos courtesy Bruce Roberts

Another look at the move in progress is in Bruce Robert's "Move System." [Large Image] The seven roll beams are evident. The seven main beams and built-in hydraulic jacks ride atop the roll beams on encased rollers, moved along by push jacks. The lighthouse moves silently one-to two inches per minute.

Thousands of visitors have gathered everyday to watch the momentous event. To be in the crowd and feel the excitement is a unique experience.

Move contractor, ICC, has emergency plans for dune repair should a sudden storm develop and damage the protective dune line.

Schedule of Events
UPDATE
July 2, 1999
Cheryl Roberts

The new lighthouse site is an area of 3.1 acres surrounded by natural growth. The light of the lighthouse will gain an advantage at a new height to put the beacon out across Diamond Shoals. A Notice to Mariners for light-out was issued for March 1st.

May until early June: installation of the main beams with hydraulic jacks that lifted the tower. The next step was to install the roll beams upon which the tower will move.

Eary June the slide began. It can take up to six weeks, moving about 50-100 feet per day. This is now predicted to last until early-July.

Early July until early September the tower will arrive at the new foundation, be lowered onto the concrete pad, all steel removed, and concrete infill to complete its new foundation will be done.

Phase 2 will begin and work on details including parking, utilities and such begins.

Memorial Day 2000 reopening is planned. Nothing specific has been announced, but a ceremony will likely be in order.