Washington - Light Station Mukilteo

Original construction of Light Station Mukilteo, including the tower, two houses, and pump house began in August 1905 and was completed in March 1906. It was built at a cost of $27,000. There are 36 steps leading up to the lantern room. The station is distinguished by its Victorian style wooden structure, surrounded by the white picket fence.

The original light was no more than a small kerosene lantern which sat 40 feet above the tide. In 1927 the lighthouse was converted to electricity. It was at this time the current fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in the tower. The light flashes every five seconds and can be seen 12 miles away. When a bulb burns out, three others are in place to rotate into use. When the light totally fails, such as during a power failure, the system automatically switches to a 12 volt light with battery backup which can be seen for approximately 4 miles. This battery backup can operate for about four days on the stored power.

The fog horn at this station is a first order horn operated by compressed air, and can be heard from six to eight miles away. The original air horn was replaced in the 1970's with the current horn which blasts on for three seconds and then is silent for twenty-seven seconds. The horn is automatically activated by a sensor unit which detects fog within a half mile range of the light station. If power is lost to the main horn, there is a 12 volt backup system.

In the early 1930's this light station was turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard. They automated the light in July 1970, and then the on site staff was reduced from a three man unit to a one man non-resident caretaker. The lighthouse and both of the quarters were remodeled in early 1972. Between Aug 1987 and early 1988, the lighthouse was restored to its original appearance. Custody of the lighthouse was given to the City of Mukilteo in 1991. The federal government awarded the entire light station to the City in 1998, with one exception. The light would be maintained and operated by the Coast Guard. This was still an active light being maintained by the Coast Guard at the time of my visit in 1999.

Washington - West Point Lighthouse

The West Point Lighthouse was built in 1881 and is located in Discovery Park at Seattle, WA. This small lighthouse stands on a sand-spit. The 27 foot octagonal tower contains an alternating red and white light in the lantern room. This lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, and was one of the last lights in the West to be automated. At the time of my visit in 1999, this was a Coast Guard Station. As seen in the above picture, the light was active but the lighthouse was not open to the public.

Washington - Admiralty Head Lighthouse

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I visited the Admiralty Head Lighthouse in 1999. It is a Spanish-style structure located high on a bluff overlooking Admiralty Inlet on Whidbey Island, WA. The U.S. purchased 10 acres of land from a Dr. Kellogg for $400. The original lighthouse was built in 1861. It had a low square tower made of wood and was painted white. It was located roughly one-half mile south of the current lighthouse. In the early 1890's, Fort Casey, with a big-gun battery, was built to protect the waters of northern Puget Sound. Because the location of that first lighthouse offered the best big-gun location, the lighthouse was moved north of Red Bluff toward where the present lighthouse is today. Once the new stucco lighthouse was built in 1903, the original lighthouse was used as a non-commissioned officers quarters. In 1928 the wooden lighthouse was dismantled and used to build a Sergeants home on South Whidbey. The current lighthouse was built by the Army Corps of Engineers. It has 18 inch thick brick walls which are covered with stucco. This lighthouse was believed to be the most comfortable home in the territory due to an indoor bathroom and laundry room. For only 19 years, 1903-1922, the light operated and then was extinguished due to changes in the channel and shipping routes. Later, the lens was given to the New Dungeness Lighthouse. You can also read my reference to the Admiralty Lens in the New Dungeness Lighthouse post I made on 9 Jun 2011.

Washington - Browns Point Lighthouse

Browns Point Lighthouse is located at the west end of Commencement Bay and east entrance to Puget Sound, near Tacoma, WA. The first light in 1887 was a lantern fastened to a fence post. Later a wooden tower was built and its light provided navigational assistance until the current 34 ft concrete tower was built in 1903. Originally, there was a lantern room on top of the tower. Adjacent to the beacon is the fog horn. The area around this lighthouse is effected by heavy fog. In 1933 the light was automated, and then about a year later Browns Point was changed to a public park. At the time of my visit in 1999 this was an active light maintained by the Coast Guard. Although the lighthouse was not open to the public, the park provided a wonderful location to enjoy the lighthouse and the beauty of the surrounding waterway and its boat traffic.

Washington - Cape Flattery Lighthouse

The Cape Flattery Lighthouse was built in 1857 and is located on Tatoosh Island, WA.  The 18 acre island is sacred to the Makah Nation and is forbidden territory. I took this picture from an observation deck on the edge of the U.S.  From the deck, only the Tatoosh Island stands between you and Asia.  Due to the islands distance offshore, I took this picture with a telephoto lens and 2X coupler.  The picture does not do justice to the beauty of the surrounding waves and the vastness of the ocean's presence on the day of my visit.
At the time of my visit in 1999, Cape Flattery was one of the oldest, still standing, automated and unmanned lighthouses on the west coast. It is also the most northwest point in the continuous U.S.
To reach this lighthouse you will walk a cedar boardwalk trail which is on the Makah Indian Reservation.  The trail leads through a half-mile of coastal forest to the edge of the U.S.

Washington - Point Wilson Lighthouse

Point Wilson Lighthouse is a U.S. Coast Guard Station located in Fort Worden State Park at Port Townsend, WA. At the time of my visit in 1999, Port Townsend was one of only three registered historic U.S. seaports; the other two are located at Cape May, N.J. and Galveston, TX.
The light in this lighthouse was originally built in 1879 and was located atop the lighthouse keepers house. It was moved to its present location when this 46 foot, concrete octagon tower structure was built in 1913. The lighthouse has been closed to the public since the light was automated in November 1976.
This was an active light and Coast Guard Station when I visited. The light helps guide ships past the famous riptides off Point Wilson. A location where the waters of the Strait of Juande Fuca and Puget Sound meet.
The white coloring on the red roofs' of the buildings is dung from the birds.

Washington - New Dungeness Lighthouse

New Dungeness Lighthouse is very unique. Not because of its structure, but because of its location. It was built in 1857 on the Dungeness Spit which is 5 miles long. This spit is the largest natural sand hook in the nation. The lighthouse is the oldest beacon north of the Columbia River. In 1927 the Fresnel lens from the Admiralty Light was given to New Dungeness. At the time of my visit here in 1999, the light was automated and volunteers operated the lighthouse daily and gave tours. They volunteered for a month at a time, and were transported to the lighthouse via four wheel drive vehicles. Visitors to this lighthouse have to truly want to see it because of its location. The morning of my visit, there was a heavy fog, so visibility was down to about 200 feet. Due to the sand of the spit being so deep and soft it was a hard walk, so fatigue set in before arriving at the lighthouse. After the 5 mile walk in the fog and mist, our hair and clothing were wet. Although the fog had lifted some by the time my wife and I arrived, it was still visible as you can see in the top picture. Although the same 5 miles seemed like 10 miles walking back to the truck, I have never regretted my visit to this lighthouse.

Washington - North Head Lighthouse

North Head Lighthouse was built in 1898 and is located at Ilwaco, WA in the Fort Canby State Park. It is situated on the edge of a cliff which is known to be one of the windiest spots in the country. The tower is 65 feet high and has a spiral stairway. This lighthouse was erected to warn ships approaching the Columbia River from the north. At the time of my visit in 1999 this was an active light, and the buildings were owned by the state. The property was accessible to the public to enjoy the lighthouse and surrounding view.

Washington - Grays Harbor Lighthouse

Grays Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1898 and is located at Westport, Washington. It is one of the tallest lighthouses on the Pacific Coast. The octagonal white masonry tower stands more than 107 feet. This lighthouse was commissioned in 1897 and since built it has served as a coastal light guiding ships into the harbor. The 135 step metal spiral staircase has nine landings and leads to the lantern room. The light emits both red and white flashes but only the white flashes are visible for 23 miles. The tower sets on a 12 foot concrete sub-base. At the time of my visit in 1999 this was an active light owned by the Coast Guard. This lighthouse was normally open to visitors, but was temporally closed for interior work during my visit.

Washington - Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is located at Ilwaco, Washington in the Fort Canby State Park. This lighthouse was built in 1856 and overlooks rough waters where the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean run together. It is the oldest lighthouse in the state of Washington. At the time of my visit in 1999, this was an active light and the building was owned by the state.  It was not open to the public.