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| North Head Lighthouse |
The lighthouse was first lit on May 16,1898. It was built in reaction to the cries of mariners who were trying to navigate into the mouth of the Columbia River from the north. They were not able to see the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse located approximately two miles south due to a piece of land jutting out from the coast. Shipwrecks around this area reinforced the mariners message.
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| Insets in the main lighthouse building |
In addition to the lighthouse, outbuilding were built at the lighthouse. Up the hill approximately a quarter of mile, two houses with additional outbuildings, including a barn, were built for the head light keeper and two assistants and their families.
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The original lens was a first-order lens brought to North Head Lighthouse from the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, which had previously changed lens. In 1936, when electricity was installed in the lighthouse, the lens was replaced with a fourth-order light. The lighthouse was completely automated in 1961.
The wind has been the source of a few interesting stories. During one particularly windy day, a duck was blown into lantern room, chipping the lens. It is also said that one light keepers wife committed suicide because she could not stand the wind. North Head Lighthouse also became the windy place in the United States on January 29, 1921 with speeds clocked at 126 mph before the wind instrument blew away.
North Head Lighthouse has a beautiful view of the ocean, as well as a souvenir shop. Visitors can also rent the old light keepers house.
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| Courtesy of Joel Mattson © 2010 |
The wind has been the source of a few interesting stories. During one particularly windy day, a duck was blown into lantern room, chipping the lens. It is also said that one light keepers wife committed suicide because she could not stand the wind. North Head Lighthouse also became the windy place in the United States on January 29, 1921 with speeds clocked at 126 mph before the wind instrument blew away.
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| A view of the Pacific Ocean through the trees at North Head Lighthouse |
North Head Lighthouse has a beautiful view of the ocean, as well as a souvenir shop. Visitors can also rent the old light keepers house.
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