Today all these lighthouses are automated but in the old days the lighthouse keepers had to climb the stairs to the top at least twice a day. That's well over 200 steps and if you have ever climbed one of these tallest lighthouses it's a workout especially on the legs.
Three of the lighthouses are in North Carolina while New Jersey, Virginia and Florida each have two and the last one is in New York.
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by hemlcok.
Fast-forward to the 21st century: I took my kids, as a single mom, and there is a HEIGHT requirement to walk up. Well, no one could go up unless we all went, and the ticket seller didn't have a measuring stick, so I swore up and down she was tall enough. I think they want to ensure that parents don't have to end up carrying little kids. She RAN part of the way up and never asked to be carried.