Out of Harm's Way: Moving America's Lighthouse

The remarkable "inside" story of how the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on North Carolina's Outer Banks was moved to safety from the encroaching Atlantic Ocean. The media called it the "move of the century"... an engineering feat never equaled. Many said the country's tallest lighthouse would fall before it reached its final destination more than one-half mile inland. Some said the historic lighthouse, often referred to as America's lighthouse, should be preserved at its original site and not be moved at all. In the end, the U.S. Park Service,engineers, and well seasoned movers calculated the risk and without fault sucessfully moved the lighthouse out of harm's way.

The book features a history of the lighthouse and the nearby Outer Banks area and continues through the years until the lighthouse was re-located in 2000.

The quality hardbound book contains over 200 four-color photographs and illustrations along with vintage B&W photos of the lighthouse and lightships that served at the Cape Hatteras Station.

Mike Booher was designated the official photographer for the move of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse by the U.S. Park Service. He lived at the Cape Hatteras Park throughout the move process and made a daily record of the move.

Lin Ezell is program coordinator for the Smithsonian Institute's new Air and Space Center at Dulles Airport outside of Washington, DC.