The first Ocracoke Lighthouse was built in 1803 on Shell Castle Island inside the Ocracoke Inlet not far from the famous pirate Blackbeard's hideout. It was destroyed by lightning in 1818 and replaced in 1823 by the current lighthouse shown here. This lighthouse is located on the banks of the inlet of Ocracoke Island near Ocracoke Village and remains among the oldest still active on the southern coast. The Ocracoke Lighthouse and Ocracoke Island can only be reached by ferry from either Cedar Island, Swan Quarter, NC, or Hatteras Island.