Sand and clay had to be wetted and compacted repeatedly before Cape Hatteras’s old foundation stones could become seats. In the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society’s 2015 account, preparing the ground was the hardest part of arranging the Keepers of the Light Amphitheater. [1]
National Park Service machine operator Doug Blackmon worked with Chris Kosciewicz, who came from Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Gravel went over the packed base, followed by crushed shells suggested by maintenance supervisor Shelly Rollinson. Thirty-six granite blocks formed three rows of paired arcs, with a five-foot aisle through the middle and between rows. [1]
Where is this place?
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton, North Carolina. This map locates the town or region, not a verified exact historic event site.
The blocks had already changed jobs. After the lighthouse moved inland in 1999, they marked its former site in a circle. The society arranged for the names of keepers to be engraved on them. Storm overwash repeatedly shifted or buried the stones; they were excavated and cleaned before being arranged near the relocated tower. [1]
The names belonged to people who carried fuel upstairs, polished fittings and kept the lamp working through the night. An NPS account describes four-hour watches that rotated among the principal keeper and two assistants. Whoever finished the night watch also prepared the lamp and lens for the next evening. [2]
The stones were rearranged during the next major restoration. In March 2025, NPS reported their new layout among recently installed landscape features. Its July 2026 update listed installation of the Keeper’s Walk, alongside new paths and fencing around the keepers’ quarters. The stones had entered a walking route through the light station. [3][4]