The Currituck Beach Light (/ˈkʊrɪtʌk/)[2] is a lighthouse located on the Outer Banks in Corolla, North Carolina.

The light comes on every night and shines from 158 feet (48 m) at 20-second intervals to warn ships hugging the chain of barrier islands along the coast.

As it had reported in previous years, the U.S. Light-House Board in 1872 stated that ships, cargoes, and lives continued to be lost along the 40 miles (64 km) of dark coastline that lay beyond the reaches of existing lighthouses.

The original source of light was a Funck's hydraulic float lamp, fueled with lard oil, and consisting of four concentric wicks.

In approximately 1884, the lighthouse converted to a mineral oil (kerosene) lamp with five concentric wicks; the largest was 4 inches in diameter.

Before the advent of electricity, a mechanical means was required to rotate the huge lenses that made the light appear to flash.

A system of weights suspended from a line powered a clockwork mechanism beneath the lantern—much like the workings of a grandfather clock.

Other structures on the compound include a two-hole privy, two cisterns that store rain water, and a storage building used as an office.