p27
the town of Beaufort, NC (pronounced Bowfort, whereas Beaufort, SC is pronounced Beuwfort)  was founded in 1709 and has many homes from as early as 1709.  Each home in the town built before 1900 has a plague next to the front door with the date built and the last name of the original owner. I followed the walking tour of all the old homes.
Near Beaufort is Cape Lookout National Seashore and the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.  To get there you need to take a passenger ferry from the Visitors Center on Harkers Island to Cape Lookout.  You are able to climb the 207 steps to the top of the 163 foot lighthouse.  It was built in 1859 of brick with iron staircase and painted in a black and white diamond pattern.  Today it has a modern electric beacon with a flash every 15 seconds and is maintained by the coast guard. The keepers house is a museum and there is also a museum at the visitors center on Harkers Island.