Cape Disappointment Light
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The Cape Disappointment Light is a
lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...
on Cape Disappointment near the mouth of the
Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook language, Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin language, Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river headwater ...
in the U.S. state of Washington (U.S. state), Washington.


History

In 1848, it was recommended a lighthouse be located at Cape Disappointment in what was then the Oregon Territory. An appropriation of United States dollar, $53,000 was made in 1852. After the lighthouse was designed, a first-order Fresnel lens was ordered. When the lens arrived it was found to be too large for the tower. Rebuilding the tower took an additional two years. The first lighthouse in the Pacific Northwest was finally lit on October 15, 1856. In addition to the light, the station was equipped with a bell powered by a striking mechanism. The keeper's residence was about a quarter-mile away. The lighthouse had several shortcomings. The foghorn, fog bell was sometimes inaudible due to the roar of ocean waves. It was discontinued in 1881 and moved to West Point Light in Seattle, Washington, Seattle, and eventually to Warrior Rock Light near Portland, Oregon, Portland. Also, the light was not visible to ships approaching from the north. This problem was corrected by building a North Head Light, lighthouse at North Head, two miles from Cape Disappointment. The first-order lens was moved to North Head and a fourth-order lens installed at Cape Disappointment. The lighthouse was electrified in 1937. In 1956, the United States Coast Guard, Coast Guard intended to close the station, but retained the light when the
Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook language, Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin language, Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river headwater ...
Maritime pilot, bar pilots protested. The light was automated in 1973. An observation deck has been built for the Coast Guard to monitor traffic and bar conditions. The grounds are open to the public through Cape Disappointment State Park.


See also

*List of lighthouses in Washington (state), List of Washington lighthouses *List of lighthouses on the Oregon Coast, List of Oregon lighthouses


References


Further reading

*


External links

* {{authority control Lighthouses completed in 1856 Lighthouses in Washington (state) Transportation buildings and structures in Pacific County, Washington