Distinguished By Its Victorian Style Wooden Structure

Original construction of Light Station Mukilteo, WA, including the tower, two houses, and pump house began in August 1905. Construction was completed in March 1906 at a cost of $27,000. Thirty-six steps lead up to the lantern room. This 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. At this time the current fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in the tower. Its 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. Although only 12 volt, the light 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 operated by compressed air, and can be heard from six to eight miles away. In the 1970's, the original air horn was replaced with the current horn which blasts on for three seconds, and then is silent for twenty-seven seconds. This 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 also a 12 volt backup system for it.

In the early 1930's, this light station was turned over by the Lighthouse Service to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard automated the light in July 1970, and then the on site staff were reduced from a three man unit to a one man non-resident caretaker. In early 1972, the lighthouse and both of the keepers quarters were remodeled. 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. Then, in 1998, the federal government awarded the entire light station to the City with one exception. The light would be maintained and operated by the Coast Guard. At the time of my visit here, this was still an active light and maintained by the Coast Guard.

Would You Have Exercised More?

Most everyone knows exercise is good for our health. Knowing some of the lighthouse keepers duties caused me to ask the question. If you had been one of the keepers of a lighthouse, would you have done additional exercise beyond that required to do the job?

Before modern day technology, dedicated and hard working keepers had to tend lighthouses. These men and women walked up and down the stairs of the lighthouse several times a day. They carried five gallon cans of oil up and empty cans down. Multiple times a day, they went up and down the steps to service the light and perform other maintenance to the tower. Some keepers walked more in a day than others, depending on the height of their respective lighthouse. The lighthouse pictured above has 144 steps leading to the lantern room. Those steps provided a lot of exercise each day for the keepers. In addition, they performed labors taking care of gardens in summer, animals, and in winter dealing with ice and snow.

The Wind Point Lighthouse is located at Wind Point, near Racine, WI. It, like others, required manual labor to operate. Built in 1880 by the Lighthouse Service, its tower stands 112 ft high. A kerosene "Aladdin's" lamp supplied the light until 1924 at which time it was replaced by an electrified lamp. A lighthouse keeper and two assistants manned the light. They, along with their families, lived in the dwelling adjacent to the tower.

In 1964 the Coast Guard replaced the lens with a fully automated system. With the use of radar on ships, the foghorn was no longer needed and was dismantled. The light now consist of a 1,000 watt bulb and a reflector which magnifies the light to two million candlepower. Its beam of light is visible for nineteen miles, and the rotation is timed so it flashes every twenty seconds. Timers and photo-electric cells activate the light, which turns it on thirty minutes before sunset and off thirty minutes after sunrise, or whenever visibility is less than five miles.

Once the light became automated the Coast Guard sealed the tower, and no one except officials are permitted inside the lighthouse. However, visitors were welcome to walk around the grounds at the time of my visit. 

After considering the daily activities of a keeper, I’m tired. I answered the question no. How about you?

Unique Square Shaped Tower

The Escanaba Harbor Crib Light sets in the harbor near Escanaba, MI - Lake Michigan. This square shaped tower is located several hundred feet off shore and marks a shoal. Built in 1938 to replace the Sand Point Lighthouse, the Escanaba Light was automated in 1976 and continues an active light providing navigational aid to mariners.

Survived Earthquake Tremors For Over A Century

The original Point Arena Lighthouse, built here in 1870, was constructed of masonry. Atop its 100 foot tower the lantern contained a first order Fresnel lens. This location is just west of the San Andreas Fault in CA, which subjected the lighthouse to multiple earthquakes over the years. It survived the earlier earthquakes, but collapsed during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. 

The replacement tower, pictured above, was completed in 1908 and constructed of reinforced concrete. This was the first time this “new material” was used to build a lighthouse. The supporting buttresses at the base of the tower have helped the lighthouse survive earthquake tremors for over a century. As part of the reconstruction, the height of the tower was increased from 100 to 115 feet. Instead of rebuilding the original multi-level keeper’s dwelling, which housed the keeper and his three assistants plus their families, lighthouse officials agreed to build four separate cottages for the keepers and their families.

During World War II, several military actions were witnessed from this lighthouse. One example is when the U.S. Navy defeated three Japanese destroyers on 12 Aug 1945, two days before the end of the war.

The U.S. Coast Guard automated the lighthouse in 1977 and installed a beacon. The Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers Association, CA, originally leased the property from the Coast Guard but since have been awarded ownership. The association opened the lighthouse to the public for year-round visits. I visited the lighthouse in 1999 and, to my knowledge, the keepers association continues to maintain a museum on site and provides teachers/instructors for the tours. The association also rents the aforementioned keepers dwellings to overnight visitors.