North Head Lighthouse
on February 19th, 2012 at 12:16 amCape Disappointment State Park is home to a pair of lighthouses that protect the north entrance of the Columbia River. The lightstation at Cape Disappointment was put in service in 1856, but mariners soon complained that the light was not visible until southbound ships were nearly on the rocks. After many shipwrecks in the area, a second lighthouse was built at North Head, two miles to the north. It ignited its lifesaving beam for the first time in 1898.
North Heads’s tower projects 65 feet atop a bluff that stands 130 feet above the sea. Early signals were lit by kerosene fires and focused with large Fresnel lenses. The modern era caught up with the lighthouse in 1937, when electricity arrived to power both the lamp and its rotating mechanism. Full automation occurred in 1961, and with it, the elimination of the lighthouse keeper positions. This last modernization featured improved optics that enabled the beacon to be seen from 17 miles out at sea.
This area is reportedly one of the windiest places in the United States. Today’s gusty blasts nearly blew me over while kneeling down to photograph the lighthouse. In January 1921 windspeeds reached 126 mph – then the recording instrument blew away! A wild duck became a wind-propelled missile in 1932. It was blown into the lantern room with such force that it crashed through the plate glass and chipped the Fresnel lens.
Visitors today can climb the lighthouse tower and get a view from the gallery (for a slight fee that supports restoration efforts). Also on the site are trails, a restroom and the residences of the lighthouse keeper and assistant keeper. While the residences are not open for viewing, they may be rented for a vacation stay (see link below). A Washington State Parks Discovery Pass (available for the day or a year) is required for entrance into the park.
For more information, please refer to:
LighthouseFriends.com
US-Lighthouses.com
Vacation in a lighthouse keepers residence!
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Lat/Lon: 46.299,-124.078 |
| Click to see Mapquest map. |
How lovely! I always imagined Lighthouse Keepers lurking in damp dark hovels somewhere below the Lighthouse stairs. This is much better!
I have seen several pecals and lighthouses all over the world, and I can say that this is one good place to see.Why not try going on a trip to the English Riviera and go on a ? They have all weather attractions, beaches, family cafes and a lively nightlife – truly promising for guests of all ages. This is also one on my bucket list. =)
I really had the best time at Little River Lighthouse! The view was breathtaking, and the caretakers were just the most wonderful people. They made us feel right at home. We stayed in the keeper’s room facing the light. We climbed the tower and could see for miles around. During the last evening we spent there and the day we left, the fog lifted and the sun shined. It was just so perfect! It was the experience of a lifetime staying in a lighthouse on an island in Cutler, Maine.
Wow, those are some intense wind speeds! Nice photos of the lighthouse, that would be really neat to visit.
This is a great story. One of these days I would like to do the lighthouse chellange that is held every year by us. You have to visit so many lighthouses in the state in one day.
Tell us more – who does the challenge and when is it held?
I have a lighthouse wall ..need some more utcipres to frame no lighthouses near here but lots of ADOBE! I had a shrimp cocktail in san antone city last week. the cocktail sauce had avocado minced in it and lots of lemon OMG! need lighthouses! need shrimp cocktail!