The enduring Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Station, built in the 19th Century and moved in the 20th Century, is to be rededicated in the 21st Century. The Ceremony, celebrating the station's heritage over the last 130 years of service and dedicating its services to future generations, will take place on the light station grounds beginning at 6:00 PM, Saturday, May 5, 2001. The program is expected to run until 7:45 PM. The ceremony, which will be open to the public, will bring closure to a lighthouse relocation project that was hotly debated for nearly a quarter of a century, planned for nearly a decade, was 2 years in site preparation, and finally moved in 23 days.

The rededication ceremony has been planned in conjunction with the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Keepers Descendants Homecoming. The homecoming, which will be taking place over the weekend of May 4 - 6, is being planned and organized by the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society. The invitational program will feature a number of heritage workshops/classes for the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of the men who kept the light burning at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

"The rededication ceremony is open to the public and everyone is invited," said Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Francis Peltier. "People attending the ceremony to be held on the grounds of the light station between the lighthouse and the Keepers' Quarters should bring chairs and ground blankets to sit on. Remembering the size of the crowd that came to see the relighting ceremony, I would recommend an early arrival for the festivities."
From a press release by Robert E. Woody, NPS Public Information Officer

Although the homecoming event is ongoing for registered keepers' direct descendents beginning May 4th and 5th and concluding Sunday May 5th, there are plenty of things for visitors to the Cape Hatteras Light Station to do as usual. The public is invited to tour the lighthouse grounds, climb the lighthouse, and visit the keepers quarters all weekend .

There will be a large tent for keepers' descendants only, and due to room in the tent, we must reserve table and chairs for descendants only.

In addition to normal activities at the light station, the public IS invited to: the unveiling of the engraved original granite foundation stones at the Keepers Circle of Stones Friday afternoon at 3:00 PM; the rededication ceremony Saturday evening, May 5th; and the lifesaving drill demonstration by the Chicamacomico volunteers in the move path area on Sunday, May 6th at 12:30 PM.

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