Scenic USA - Washington Point Wilson Lighthouse |
Photos by Ben Prepelka Ben Prepelka Photography |
Point Wilson Lighthouse, located on a strategic point on the Olympic Peninsula, marks the entrance of the Puget Sound, protecting the main shipping channel and maritime interests in the Seattle-Tacoma area.
As one could easily imagine, the busy shipping lane had to be marked with a lighthouse. Sharing this sandy peninsula with Fort Worden and the town of Port Townsend, the Point Wilson Lighthouse was the second beacon built on the point. Standing as a lonely sentinel today, the lighthouse has been battered and flooded by stormy seas on numerous occasions. As the century mark came and went, the octagon shaped lighthouse proved it was well designed and fared well since 1914. Erosion around the point still threatens the integrity of the lighthouse, and ideas of moving the structure have been assessed.
Today, the Point Wilson Lighthouse continues its duties as navigation beacon, sending its 60,000 candle power beam into the inlet for 16 miles. The lighthouse is still operated by the U. S. Coast Guard, albeit a remote operation. With Coast Guard personnel no longer living at Point Wilson, the State of Washington has issued overtures to incorporate the light-station with nearby Fort Worden. In the meantime, the station is maintained by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and remains closed to the public.
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