Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse rises over the water at the edge of downtown Manteo, reached by a short boardwalk off Fernando Street along the Shallowbag Bay waterfront. It's a scaled replica of a screw-pile lighthouse that once stood over the shoals near Roanoke Island, guiding boat traffic through the sound until the original was decommissioned in the mid-20th century. The rebuilt version lets visitors get a close look at a lighthouse style that was once common on North Carolina's sounds but has almost entirely vanished.

Inside, small exhibits cover the lighthouse's history and Roanoke Island's maritime past, and the setting itself — pilings rising straight out of open water, framed by the downtown waterfront — makes the short walk worthwhile even without going in. It sits within easy reach of Manteo's shops and restaurants, and across the water from Roanoke Island Festival Park, making it a natural stop for anyone exploring downtown on foot.

The lighthouse keeps regular weekday hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and is closed on weekends — worth checking ahead if a Saturday or Sunday visit is part of the plan. It's associated with the Town of Manteo, which maintains the visitor information for the site.