North Carolina Lighthouses During the War-- Part 4: Federal/Confederate Point Lighthouse

The second Federal/Confederate Point lighthouse, which the Confederates destroyed, but used the keeper's quarters as Fort Fisher's headquarters, was completely detsroyed, but a few years ago, its site was determined and an archaeological excavation undertaken. It was found, investigated, then covered up again. //// Personally, I think they should have left it uncovered. //// After the war, the third and final Federal Point Lighthouse was constructed in the sporing of 1866 and stood where the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher stands today. //// The light went into operation on April 30, 1866. //// However, after the Army Corps of Engineers completed the "Rocks, across New Inlet, which closed the channel, it became unnecessary and discontinued its light on December 31, 1879. //// Of interest, the engineer in charge of the construction of the "Rocks" was Henry Bacon, the father of the Henry Bacon who was the architect for Washington, D.C.'s Lincoln Memorial. //// --Old B-Runner