Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Currituck Beach Lighthouse Lens
Debra Johnston
October 1992 - 4"x6" color print

The First Order Fresnel Lens is the most significant and valuable artifact and functioning aid to navigation in the Currituck Beach or any lighthouse. It is referred to as the "soul" of the lighthouse. The originial source of light was a mineral oil lamp consisting of five concentric wicks. Today, the beam of a 1000 watt bulb refracted by the lens warns mariners 18 nautical miles out to sea. The light is maintained by the United States Coast Guard.

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