Lighthouses on Washington's Pacific Coast - Part 5 - Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

Shipwrecks were once a common occurrence for ships in the Pacific who were trying to enter the mouth of the Columbia River. Over 200 ships have wrecked in this area because of the navigational challenges the ocean-river meeting creates. During storms, early ships had trouble judging their distance from land. To help with navigation at this critical and dangerous location, a lighthouse was built on Cape Disappointment, the southwestern most point in Washington State.

During a recent vacation, my family visited the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. The trail to this lighthouse begins at the parking lot of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Visitors weave their way through the forest about a quarter of a mile until they come to a wide paved road. This road leads from the U.S. Coast Guard base to the Cape Disappointment lighthouse. The Coast Guard mans the lighthouse, scanning for ships in distress.

The road leading up to Cape Disappointment lighthouse

One of the U.S. Coast Guard watchers

Captain Robert Gray was the first explorer to enter the mouth of the Columbia River on May 11, 1792. He named the river after his ship Columbia Redivivia. Cape Disappointment was named by Captain John Meares on July 6, 1788, when he tried to seek shelter from a sea storm, but found none.

Navigation was treacherous and dangerous. Trees, signal flags and campfires were used to guide mariners into the Columbia River. A lighthouse was proposed in 1848 and in 1852, funds were laid aside for the project.


The first shipment of supplies was sent by ship. However, the supplies did not reach the cape. On September 18, 1853, the ship carrying the supplies wretched just below the cape. While the crew survived, the supplies did not. It was another two years before construction finally began on Cape Disappointment light.

Construction of the lighthouse was almost complete when it was discovered that the lantern room would not be able to hold the first-order lens designated for the lighthouse. The lighthouse tower had to be disassembled, redesigned, and put back together. The error cost two years time. The lighthouse was finally lit on October 15, 1856.

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

In 1898, the first-order lens was put in the North Head Lighthouse. A fourth-order lens was put in its place. Electricity came to the lighthouse in 1937. The U.S. Coast Guard talked about closing the lighthouse in 1956. Protests from mariners crossing the Columbia River bar persuaded the Coast Guard to leave it open. The lighthouse was completely automated in 1973.
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For more information about Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, visit...
lighthousefriends.com
funbeach.com
rudyalicelighthouse.net
experiencewa.com

To find out more about shipwrecks in the Cape Disappointment area, visit...
funbeach.com/shipwrecks
Shipwrecks of the Beach
historylink.org