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    Recommended Reviews - USRC Mercury

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    Ocracoke Island Lighthouse - Ocracoke Island Light Station

    Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

    4.2(53 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    This was the number one thing I wanted to see on Ocracoke and now that I've seen it, I'm happy! I…read morelove lighthouses, having visited 128 lighthouses across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland and even a lightboat in Sweden. Do lighthouses in Oklahoma (Lake Hefner), West Virginia (Summersville) and Vermont (Shelburne) count? They do for me! Ocracoka's lighthouse is easy to access with parking lots nearby and it's maybe a one mile walk from the ferry terminal. It was built in 1823 by Massachusetts builder Noah Porter and is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina and the second oldest still standing in the state. It was constructed to guide ships safely through the treacherous Ocracoke Inlet into Pamlico Sound, a vital route for maritime trade and military supply lines. Standing 75 feet tall with a conical brick structure, the lighthouse was automated in 1955, and while visitors can access the base during summer months, the tower itself is not open for climbing. Its enduring presence and simple elegance make it one of the most beloved landmarks on the Outer Banks. [Review 775 of 2025 - 4207 in North Carolina - 24335 overall]

    Well it's another lighthouse. There is free parking a block down, or park at the church just past…read morethe lighthouse for a donation. There is a boardwalk to the lighthouse that keeps your feet dry. Can't climb the stairs. Basically this is a 5 min visit, take some pics, read the history sign, then leave. I guess once the light keepers house is done with restoration there may be a museum to see?

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    Ocracoke Island Lighthouse
    Ocracoke Island Lighthouse
    Ocracoke Island Lighthouse - Ocracoke Island Light Station

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    Ocracoke Island Light Station

    British Cemetery - British Cemetery, Ocracoka

    British Cemetery

    4.5(10 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    On Ocracoke Island, the British Cemetery commemorates four British Royal Navy sailors who lost…read moretheir lives on May 11, 1942, when German U-boat 558 attacked their ship, the HMT Bedfordshire. Only four remains were found when the ship sank off the coast of North Carolina while searching for enemy submarines; they washed up close to the settlement. Residents of Ocracoke gave a tiny piece of land for their burial as a token of appreciation and respect; this area is now permanently leased to the British Commonwealth, making it, metaphorically, British soil. Each year on the anniversary of the sinking, a memorial ceremony is held with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, British Royal Navy, and Canadian forces, honoring the sacrifice of these men who died defending American shores. [Review 778 of 2025 - 4210 in North Carolina - 24338 overall]

    There are several British Cemeteries at Outer Bank. There is one at Buxton. The most visible one is…read morelocated at Ocracoke. The cemetery is close to the local island graveyard plot. It is easy to find going towards the ferry and the is a road call British Cemetery Road. I have a a lot of respect to the seaman from Britain to protect our shore during the World War II. The allies force has come to here to fight the German U boat submarine. The German U boat lurk to the coastline of North Carolina and wait to attack the US. This has been protect by British Navy. Some has lost their live during this conflict. On May 12, 1942, another attack on a British ship would occur off the coastline. This time an attack was waged the HMS Bedfordshire. The entire crew was lost and only four bodies are found. These seaman was later burry in the island. The US coast guard has memorial service every year to remember the courage seaman. There are people putting their coin on top of the cross. A coin left on a headstone let's the deceased soldier's family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect. Leaving a penny means you visited. A nickel means that you and the deceased soldier trained at boot camp together. If you served with the soldier, you leave a dime

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    British Cemetery - British Cemetery, Ocracoka

    British Cemetery, Ocracoka

    British Cemetery - British Cemetery, Ocracoka

    British Cemetery, Ocracoka

    British Cemetery - British Cemetery, Ocracoka

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    British Cemetery, Ocracoka

    Old Burying Ground

    Old Burying Ground

    4.8(14 reviews)
    47.3 mi

    What a unique experience I had finding this place…read more I had posted on Facebook that I was in town from LA and a friend from 30 years ago, then at first met at my first job in California randomly responded about the Old Burying Ground and said I should visit it. We were downtown and hitting a couple spots, and I was mentioning to my friend that lives locally about her response and it came right at the same exact moment that we were passing the cemetery and she pointed it out, so we quickly stopped and backed up and parked, and took a venture inside, mainly to see the girl that was buried in a barrel of rum, holy cow when you see the age of some of these graves and realize how extremely old they are, and you really quickly getting a sense of the magnitude of the history of the place. It is well worth your time to visit and explore.

    Beautiful , historic graveyard . If you love history this burying ground is definitely worth a stop…read more. Plan to spend around 30 minutes here , maybe longer if you take your time to read the tombstones . It's a well kept graveyard but be sure to watch your step as the terrain is uneven in some areas . If you really want to learn more about the town's oldest graveyard , you can take a tour offered by the Beaufort Historical Association . Go to the website or visit the Beaufort Historical Center on Turner Street for more info . It's a peaceful final resting place for hundreds of notable people , soldiers , seaman and most notably , the Rum Girl .

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    Old Burying Ground
    Old Burying Ground
    Old Burying Ground

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    Bodie Island Lighthouse

    Bodie Island Lighthouse

    4.4(127 reviews)
    54.0 mi

    I've been obsessed with lighthouses since I was a child (an English thing, I guess?). Bodie…read more(Bow-dee NOT "body", I wish carpetbaggers would stop changing the pronunciations-two generations are now mispronouncing it) is not only beautiful, but has the additional museum and boardwalk to a scenic observation deck overlooking wetlands. I'm deathly afraid of heights so I can never go up, but I can appreciate the beauty and history from the ground.

    After visiting the Hatteras Lighthouse and finding it all wrapped up in scaffolding, I was super…read moreexcited to get here to Bodie Island to find this one ready to photograph and visit. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is a striking black-and-white banded tower that has stood sentinel over the Outer Banks since 1872. This lighthouse is the third built in the area--the first, constructed in 1847, was abandoned due to a poor foundation, and the second, built in 1859, was destroyed during the Civil War by retreating Confederate troops. The current structure rises 156 feet and houses an original first-order Fresnel lens, casting light visible for up to 19 nautical miles. It was automated in 1940 and later transferred to the National Park Service in 1953. After extensive restoration, it opened to the public for climbing in 2013. Visitors can ascend its 219 steps for panoramic views of the surrounding marshes and Roanoke Sound. The lighthouse is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and remains one of the few tall brick lighthouses in the U.S. still equipped with its original lens. It was way too hot today to try climbing anything let alone that. I took my pictures and was more than satisfied. [Round number review 800 of 2025 - 4232 in North Carolina - 24360 overall]

    Photos
    Bodie Island Lighthouse - Love the black and white effect

    Love the black and white effect

    Bodie Island Lighthouse - Bodie ("Body") Lighthouse

    Bodie ("Body") Lighthouse

    Bodie Island Lighthouse - Bodie Island Lighthouse

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    Bodie Island Lighthouse

    Ocracoke Day Use Area

    Ocracoke Day Use Area

    3.3(3 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    We decided to take a day trip on the free ferry to Ocracoke while staying in the Outer Banks…read more There isn't a TON to do on this island, so we decided to stop here to check out the beach. I LOVE that they have a nice walkway to the beach, makes it easier than having to trudge through the sand with a cooler. Also great that they have bathrooms on premise as I despise port-a-potties, sadly it was all closed during the government shut down. The parking lot is a little bit on the small side, so it might be best to try to arrive earlier in the day to secure parking. I spotted a warning sign about rip currents and I think it's great that they have this! Be careful, my friends on past OBX trips had some scary situations when they were caught in the dangerous rip tides. The beach here is beautiful and tranquil. It was cold when we visited in December, but I could see this as an amazing place to go for a stroll by the water. If you have some time to kill before you board the ferry back to the mainland, this is a nice place to stop. If you are here in the summer, pack a lunch and come here for the day.

    Bottom Line: A nicely maintained day use area for people of all abilities to enjoy the pristine…read moreOcracoke Beach. The Ocracoke Day Use Area is a specific plot of land and accompanying facilities on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. "Ocracoke Day Use Area" is the official name given to this public space by the National Park Service who maintains and operates this area. In the summer months the Ocracoke Day Use Area is a popular destination for those vacationing on Ocracoke Island and wanting to feel the sand between their toes or take a dip in the Atlantic. I imagine this beach access is popular because it has a large parking lot and it is the closest developed beach access to Ocracoke Village. In addition to a paved parking lot, the Ocracoke Day Use Area has the following amenities: - changing rooms - bathrooms - outdoor shows - handicap accessible bathrooms - beach access/boardwalk - bike rack Speaking of accessibility, a few years ago the NPS upgraded the beach access/boardwalk at this location. The boardwalk is lengthy but it has a gentle slope to be compliant with the Architectural Barriers Act. (I suspect that also means it is ADA compliant.) The boardwalk divides around the dune line and one section goes to a lovely scenic overlook while the other section descends onto the beach. So even if you're not up for getting sandy, you can still enjoy the beach. There are various places on Ocracoke Island to access the beach via motor vehicle but I don't think this is one of them. You'll need a permit which can be purchased at the Ocracoke Visitors Center. And I believe you can also rent beach wheelchairs there too.

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    Ocracoke Day Use Area
    Ocracoke Day Use Area - Beach rules.

    Beach rules.

    Ocracoke Day Use Area

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    USRC Mercury - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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