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Pirates, Yankee whalers give Lookout a long, colorful history

a base from Christmas to April. The Daniel Webster and the Seychille, both of Province, Mass., were the last whaling ships to use the Bight during the 1874-75 and 1878-79 seasons. The Daniel Webster's visit was important because she introduced the whale gun to local whalers.

Lighthouses and Life Savers
The first lighthouse, 96 feet high, was built at Cape Lookout in 1812, but it wasn't tall enough. The present lighthouse, 150 feet above the ground, was first illuminated in 1859.
The first life-saving station was built at the Cape in 1888. William Howard Gaskill of Harkers Island was its keeper. He was stationed at Cape Lookout for 17 years. The Coast Guard station was built in 1914, and Fred Gillikin of Marshallberg was the first keeper.
During those years, about 50 families lived from the lighthouse south to the life-saving station. There were also four stores and a one-room school house that operated for three months, from September to November. Pearl Whitley of Harkers Island was the last teacher. During its last term in 1917, the Cape Lookout School had 15 pupils.
Because the Cape Lookout Shoals were among the most serious dangers to navigation along the southern coast, Congress appropriated $90,000 in 1903 for a steel steam light vessel with a steam fog signal. The lightship took her station at the shoals on Dec. 19, 1904 and remained there until 1933, a victim of the Depression.
The rock jetty was built in 1913 and is now the most famous spot for speckled trout on any coast.

Gun Mounts and National Parks
More that 500 Army soldiers were

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By David E. Yeomans

Although Cape Lookout and Core Banks have been known since Europeans first began sailing along the Atlantic Coast of the present United States, apparently the N.C. colonists made little or no effort at settling the lands until the 18th century. The land was then bought by Enoch Ward and John Shackleford in 1713.
Ward took the east portion known as Core Banks, while Shackleford took the west portion from the drain now known as Barden's Inlet to Beaufort Inlet. There is no evidence to indicate that they attempted to settle the area.
Cape Lookout has long been a prominent landmark to the mariner because of its dangerous shoals and a harbor for safe refuge. Cape Lookout Bight has been a haven for storm-tossed vessels and a rendevous for hundred of years.

Pirates and Whalers
Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, and other pirates used the bight at Cape Lookout.
British warships anchored there during the Revolution and the War of 1812. A federal blockading squadron used it during the Civil War, and European-bound convoys gathered there during each of the world wars.
The state built Fort Hancock at Cape Lookout in 1779 and manned it with 60 men, six cannon and two swivel guns.
New England whalers arrived at the Cape as early as 1726, using the Bight as

The state built Fort Hancock at Cape Lookout in 1779 and manned it with 60 men, six cannon and two swivel guns.