Rick's Electronic Lighthouse Magazine
Featuring Original Lighthouse Photographs, Historical Information, and Personal Observations
Winter 1998
Selected Lighthouses of Washington
Click on the Pages Below
 Page 1 - Cape Disappointment |
 Page 2 - North Head |
 Page 3 - Grays Harbor |
 Page 4 - Point Wilson |
Rick's Electronic Lighthouse Magazine - Winter 1998 - Page 1
This lighthouse at the mouth of the Columbia River is the oldest in the state of Washington and the second oldest on the Pacific coast. Construction began in 1853 on the second try, as the first ship load of supplies crashed into the rocks at the building site and sank. After the tower and keepers dwelling were completed in 1854, the top was enlarged to hold a first order lens. Modifications were completed and the lighthouse was placed in service in October of 1856. The location was ill suited for viewing from the north, so in 1898 a new station was established at nearby North Head. The first order lens from Cape Disappointment was transferred to North Head. A new fourth-order lens was installed at Cape Disappointment and the station is still an active harbor light. The lighthouse is currently accessible from Ft Canby State Park; however, the tower is closed to the public. The short walk to the lighthouse provides beautiful views of the Washington coast, the tower itself is not extremely scenic; however, the beautiful views of the Washington coast are an added bonus. The tower was in bad need of a paint job when I visited in 1994; and through the wonders of Microsoft Paint, I was able to give it a quick coat. There are also numerous communications antenna attached to the top of the tower.
Rick's Electronic Lighthouse Magazine - Winter 1998 - Page 2
North Head Lighthouse
As mentioned above, the station at North Head was built in 1898 and originally contained the first order lens from North Head. After the Coast Guard took over responsibility for the lighthouse in 1939, the first order lens was moved to a museum at Fort Columbia and replaced with a fourth order lens. The light was automated in 1961. Like Cape Disappointment, North Head Lighthouse is located in Ft. Canby State Park and is accessible after a short walk. Not only is the lighthouse very photogenic, the view almost 200 ft above the Pacific is truly spectacular! The area around Cape Disappointment and North Head Lighthouse is not only beautiful, but also richly historical. The great explorers, Lewis and Clark, spent the winter of 1805-6 across the Columbia River from Cape Disappointment, in an area that is now Fort Clatsop National Memorial. The visitor's center at Ft. Canby State Park is dedicated to their journey. Just a few miles north, you will find Long Beach, which has boardwalks built over the dunes along miles of wide beach. I was lucky enough to visit Long Beach during the International Kite Festival it hosts each August.
Rick's Electronic Lighthouse Magazine - Winter 1998 - Page 3
Grays Harbor (Westport) Lighthouse
Grays Harbor Lighthouse stands at the south side of the entrance to Grays Harbor in the center of Washington's Pacific Coast. The lighthouse is octagonal shaped, constructed of brick, and painted white except the top 12 feet and lantern room, which is painted black. The lighthouse is still active and has a red and white light and a diaphone fog signal. Grays Harbor Lighthouse can be easily reached from Westport Light State Park, via a paved walkway.
Grays Harbor leads to the port city of Aberdeen, which one of the leading lumber ports early in the twentieth century. Lumber is still king in this area. If you drive into this area from the north, you will pass through miles of forest that has been the lumber of yesterday and is the lumber of today and tomorrow.
Rick's Electronic Lighthouse Magazine - Winter 1998 - Page 4
Point Wilson Lighthouse
The present light at Point Wilson replaced a 46-foot wooden tower built in 1879. Point Wilson is at the turning point for entering Admiralty Inlet from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The station is located on the grounds of a former Army post, Ft Worden, which is now a state park. Point Wilson is still an active Coast Guard Station, so the immediate grounds are not open to the public; however, you can easily get within good photo range.
Point Wilson is located a couple miles north of Port Townsend, which has a nicely restored downtown area with shops, restaurants, and historic homes.
This web site is published just for fun as way to combine my hobbies of photography, computers, and lighthouses. Please feel free to download any photos for your personal use and enjoyment; however, commercial use is prohibited without prior permission. Please send any comments to
Rick Sturgill(rcsturgill@aol.com). Thanks for stopping by!
Ilwaco, Washington
Ilwaco, Washington
Westport, Washington
Port Townsend, Washington
