Cape Lookout National Seashore | HISTORIC STRUCTURES AT PORTSMOUTH VILLAGE


PORTSMOUTH VILLAGE AT CAPE LOOKOUT NATIONAL SEASHORE


Portsmouth Village main page


The following is a list of buildings and cemeteries at Cape Lookout National Seashore’s Portsmouth Village. Keep in mind that the building open to the public can be closed at any time due to storm damage.

I was not able to get to one house and one cemetery due to time. Both were located on the far southwest end of the site.

Salter House

Currently used as the village Visitor Center and housing a museum that focuses on the history of Portsmouth, the Salter House house belonged to Theodore and Annie Salter. This is the only home on the island that has—or ever had—a bathroom with modern plumbing. Restrooms are available for visitors to the island.

The Salter House at Portsmouth Village is now used as the village's Visitor Center, Cape Lookout National Seashore

The Salter House at Portsmouth Village is now used as the village’s Visitor Center, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Exhibits inside the Salter House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Exhibits inside the Salter House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Kitchen of the Salter House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Kitchen of the Salter House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Grace Cemetery

This cemetery is located on the road to the Henry Pigott House. As the name states, this is the cemetery of the Grace family.

Grave of Theresa Grace, 1842-1912, at the Grace Family Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Grave of Theresa Grace, 1842-1912, at the Grace Family Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Tom and Lucy Gilgo House

Built around 1924, this was the home of Tom and Lucy Gilgo. This is not the house’s original location, as it was built near the Life Saving Station on the far east side of the village. The Gilgos moved away in 1933. The house is not open to the public.

Tom and Lucy Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Tom and Lucy Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior of the Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior of the Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Walker and Sarah Styron House

This house was built in 1850 by the Wallace family. Walker and Sarah Styron purchased it in the early 1920s and lived here until moving to Morehead City in 1944. This is one of the oldest buildings at Portsmouth Village. It is not open to the public.

Walker and Sarah Styron House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Walker and Sarah Styron House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Henry Pigott House

The Pigott house was built in 1902 and was the home of Henry Pigott, one of the last residents at Portsmouth Village. Pigott was also the last mail carrier on the island. He sold the house to the state of North Carolina in 1967, though he was allowed to remain living in the house until he died in 1971. After his death only two women remained on the island, but they moved away shortly afterwards.

The house was once painted pink. Pigott had ordered yellow paint, but got a shipment of pink. Not wanting to bother with returning the paint and having to wait for another shipment, he went ahead and used the pink paint. Today, the house has been restored and painted yellow. It is decorated with period furnishings and is open to the public during the tourist season.

Henry Pigott House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Henry Pigott House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior of the Pigott House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior of the Pigott House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Dining room of the Pigott House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Dining room of the Pigott House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portable toilet inside the Pigott House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portable toilet inside the Pigott House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Carl Dixon House

The Dixon House was owned by fisherman Carl Dixon. He also worked as the town’s mailman, a job that included rowing a skiff out to meet the mail boat and then bringing the mail back to town. The house was restored in 2020, but it is not open to the public. (Note: photo below was taken prior to the restoration.)

Carl Dixon House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Carl Dixon House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Post Office and General Store

The Post Office and General Store at Portsmouth Village is open to the public. Inside you will find information panels about the building’s role in the everyday life of the Portsmouth residents and find it decorated as it would have been in the 1930s. This is not the original location of the store, as it was moved to this spot in 1910.

The Salters ran both the store and post office until it was damaged by a hurricane in 1933. After that, the store was closed, but the building continued as a post office until it was decommissioned in 1959. Dorothy Salter, the daughter of Theodore and Annie, ran the post office during its final years.

Portsmouth Post Office and General Store at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portsmouth Post Office and General Store at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Counter of the General Store at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Counter of the General Store at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Inside the General Store at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Inside the General Store at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior of the Post Office at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior of the Post Office at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Community Cemetery

Land donated by the Daly family was used as the Portsmouth Village cemetery. Many former residents are now buried here.

Community Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Community Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Tombstones in the Community Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Tombstones in the Community Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Tombstones in the Community Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Tombstones in the Community Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Styron and Bragg House

The Styron-Bragg House was built in 1928 by brother-in-laws Jody Styron and Tom Bragg. Both families lived in the house, plus they ran a hunting guide service and inn from here. The house is not open to the public.

Styron-Bragg House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Styron-Bragg House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portsmouth Cemetery

Portsmouth Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portsmouth Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Cecil and Leona Giglo House

What is now referred to as the Cecil and Leona Giglo House was built around 1905 on Sheep Island. It was disassembled and shipped to Portsmouth Village by the Giglos in 1935, where it was put back together. The couple only lived here until 1940. The house is not open to the public.

Cecil and Leona Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Cecil and Leona Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portsmouth School

Portsmouth Village’s schoolhouse was built in 1927 and is open to the public. This building replaced an earlier school building that was damaged during a storm. There was one teacher, and kids of all grades were taught in this one room schoolhouse. At its apex, there were roughly 25 kids at the school. When it closed in 1943, there were only two. Though there were both black and white families on the island, only white children were allowed at the school. Blacks who wanted to learn to read and write were taught by white neighbors who enjoyed helping.

The building is open to the public during tourist season. It contains informational exhibits and is furnished as it would have been in the early-to-mid 1900s.

Portsmouth Schoolhouse at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portsmouth Schoolhouse at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior of the one-room schoolhouse at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior of the one-room schoolhouse at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Teacher's desk in the one-room school house at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Teacher’s desk in the one-room school house at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Washington Roberts House

This house belonged to Washington Roberts and was built in 1850. It is the oldest remaining building on the Portsmouth Island, and the best built home. During storms, many residents gathered here for protection. Roberts grew up in the house and remained the owner into his adult life until he moved away in 1933. The house was then lived in by Joseph Abbott until he moved in 1946.

Washington Roberts House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Washington Roberts House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Wayside exhibit on the construction of the Washington Roberts house (click to enlarge)

Wayside exhibit on the construction of the Washington Roberts house (click to enlarge)

Interior construction of the Washington Roberts house at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior construction of the Washington Roberts house at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior construction of the Washington Roberts house at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Interior construction of the Washington Roberts house at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

George and Patsy Dixon House

After marrying, fisherman George Dixon and his wife Patsy built this home in 1887. Both lived in Portsmouth for the remainder of their lives, with Patsy dying in 1914 and George in 1919. This home is not open to the public.

George and Patsy Dixon House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

George and Patsy Dixon House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

The Methodist Church

The Methodist Church is open to the public (it was closed during my visit, so I don’t have any photos of the interior). The church was built in 1915. There were other churches on the island as well, but a storm in 1913 destroyed them all and only the Methodist Church was rebuilt. Today the building tilts a little to the right, the result of storm damage in 1944.

Methodist Church at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Methodist Church at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Ed, Nora, and Elma Dixon House

Three Dixon siblings lived in this house that was built in 1910. Although the home appears to be in decent condition as compared to many other buildings at Portsmouth, it is not open to the public.

Ed, Nora, and Elma Dixon House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Ed, Nora, and Elma Dixon House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Jesse and Lillian Babb House

This 1935-built house was the first in the village to have electricity (battery powered). Jesse served in the coast guard, and both he and his wife had some musical talent. Lillian was the church organist and Jesse often played fiddle for town square dances. The house was renovated in 2017-18. (Note that the photo below as taken before the renovation.)

Jesse and Lillian Babb House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Jesse and Lillian Babb House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Babb House outhouse at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Babb House outhouse at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Ed and Kate Styron House

This house was built in 1933 and was the home of Ed and Kate Styron. Their former house on Sheep Island had been destroyed in a hurricane, so they moved to Portsmouth (not a great idea for those wanting to get away from storms).

Ed and Kate Styron House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Ed and Kate Styron House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Dixon-Babb Cemetery

In addition to being the final resting place for Dixon and Babb family members, this is where Henry Pigott is buried, the last male resident of Portsmouth (he died in 1971).

Dixon-Babb Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Dixon-Babb Cemetery at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Harry and Lida Dixon House

This 1895 house sits to the right of the Methodist Church. It is in pretty good condition, but closed to the public. The Dixons bought the house in 1917 and lived here until 1961. Their furniture remains in the house, and you can get a glimpse of it through the windows.

Harry and Lida Dixon House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Harry and Lida Dixon House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Dixon furnishings remain in the abandoned house at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Dixon furnishings remain in the abandoned house at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Lionel and Emma Giglo House

This 1925 house was open to the public when I visited, and has what I found to be the most interesting exhibit—walls of old photos. As far as I know, it is no longer open.

Lionel and Emma Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Lionel and Emma Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Old photographs line the walls of the Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Old photographs line the walls of the Gilgo House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portsmouth Village, 1938

Portsmouth Village, 1938

Ed and Elma Dixon, early 1920s

Ed and Elma Dixon, early 1920s

Old photos from Portsmouth Village

Old photos from Portsmouth Village

US Life-Saving Station Stable

Horses were used to pull the surfboats to the water when rescues had to be made. Built around 1900, this is where the horses lived.

US Life-Saving Station Stable at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

US Life-Saving Station Stable at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portsmouth Life-Saving Station

This is the biggest building on Portsmouth Island and the best kept. In fact, I originally thought it was a modern building. It now houses an extensive Life-Saving Service museum, complete with furnished crew quarters and life-saving boat exhibits. It was built in the late 1890s.

Portsmouth Life-Saving Station at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portsmouth Life-Saving Station at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Information panel at the Life-Saving Station museum

Information panel at the Life-Saving Station museum

Crew quarters inside the U. S. Life-Saving Station at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Crew quarters inside the U. S. Life-Saving Station at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Life-Saving vessel and equipment wagon at the U. S. Life-Saving Station at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Life-Saving vessel and equipment wagon at the U. S. Life-Saving Station at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Henry Pigott's skiff used to carry mail from the island to the mail boat on display inside the U. S. Life-Saving Station at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Henry Pigott’s skiff used to carry mail from the island to the mail boat on display inside the U. S. Life-Saving Station at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Sea Captains’ Graves

The farthest attraction from the Salter House is the graves of two sea captains, William Hilzey (1821) and Thomas Greene (1810). They are two of the oldest graves at Portsmouth. In the early 1800s, a marine hospital was established at Portsmouth, and thus many seaman with injuries came here and died. The cause of Hilzey’s and Greene’s deaths are not known.

This place was so thick with flies that I ran in and almost blindly snapped some photos so I could get out of there as quickly as possible. This area is also near to the start of the road that leads to the ocean, and it is on this road that the flies are the thickest—so thick that I don’t think that I will ever forget the experience of being attacked non-stop for the entire 30-minute walk to the beach.

Grave of William Hilzey at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Grave of William Hilzey at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Grave of Thomas Greene at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Grave of Thomas Greene at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Frank Gaskill House—no longer standing

Built in 1930, this was the home of fisherman Frank Gaskill. The house was torn down in 2020 due to structural damage caused by hurricanes Florence and Dorian.

Frank Gaskill House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Frank Gaskill House at Portsmouth Village, Cape Lookout National Seashore

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Last updated on March 19, 2024
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