Cape Disappointment Light

Cape Disappointment Light stands near the mouth of the Columbia River in Washington at one of the Pacific coast’s most difficult maritime approaches. Recommended in 1848 while the region was still part of Oregon Territory, it became the first lighthouse lit in the Pacific Northwest when construction delays and a tower rebuild ended with its lighting on October 15, 1856. Its early station included a fog bell and keeper’s residence, but poor visibility and surf noise limited its effectiveness. Those problems led to North Head Light and the transfer of its original Fresnel lens. Later electrified and automated, the light remained in service after local protests in 1956.

Washington · United States