The Admiralty Head Light is a deactivated aid to navigation located on Whidbey Island near Coupeville, Island County, Washington, on the grounds of Fort Casey State Park.[1][2] The restored lighthouse overlooks Admiralty Inlet. It was the companion to the Point Wilson Light, which sits four miles away on Admiralty Inlet's western shore.[3]
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| Location | Coupeville, Washington |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 48°9′38.75″N 122°40′52.2″W / 48.1607639°N 122.681167°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1861 (Original) 1903 (Current) |
| Foundation | Surface |
| Construction | Brick and stucco |
| Height | 30 feet (9.1 m) (120 feet (37 m) above sea level) |
| Shape | Conical, with an attached Spanish-style structure, 2-story residence |
| Markings | White brick tower with black lantern |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1903 |
| Deactivated | 1922 |
| Focal height | 40 m (130 ft)  |
| Lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens (removed in 1927) |
History
editTwo lighthouses have been built on Admiralty Head. Only the second remains. Admiralty Head, the east entrance point of Admiralty Inlet, is the southeast extremity of a succession of bluffs extending northward along the western shore of Whidbey Island to Point Partridge, where the bluffs attain their highest elevation.
- Original lighthouse
In 1858, the United States purchased 10 acres (4.0 ha) on the headland for $400. The original lighthouse was a wooden, two-story house with tower projecting from the gable. It was completed in 1861.[4] It had a fourth order Fresnel lens, which was visible at 16 miles (26 km).[5] In 1890, construction of Fort Casey forced the relocation of the lighthouse to a spot close to the site of the present lighthouse. It was demolished in 1928.[3]
- Present lighthouse
A second, 30-foot-tall (9.1 m) lighthouse, constructed of brick and stucco, was built in 1903. The design by Carl Leick incorporated thick walls meant to withstand earthquakes[4] and the concussion of Fort Casey's guns.[6] The lighthouse was deactivated in 1922, and the lantern moved to the New Dungeness Lighthouse in 1927. During its later occupancy by the Army, the lighthouse was used as a training facility for the K-9 dog program.[3] In 1990, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 25-cent stamp featuring the Admiralty Head Light.[7]
- Restoration
The lighthouse has been restored by Washington State Parks and is sponsored by the Lighthouse Environmental Program (LEP), a collaborative function between Washington State University's Extension Office and local environmental programs.[4] In 2012, an historically accurate reconstruction of the lantern house was installed atop the tower. The work was done by student volunteers from three Whidbey Island high schools.[2][8]
References
edit- ^ "North Head Light". Inventory of Historic Light Stations: Washington Lighthouses. National Park Service. Archived from the original on May 10, 2004. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
- ^ a b "Fort Casey State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Admiralty Head, WA". Lighthousefriends. Archived from the original on August 17, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ a b c "History of Admiralty Head Lighthouse". Washington State University. Archived from the original on March 3, 2005. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
- ^ "Historic Light Station Information & Photography: Washington". U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
- ^ McClary, Daryl C. (June 28, 2004). "Admiralty Head Lighthouse". The Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History. HistoryLink. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ "Lighthouses Issue". Smithsonian National Postal Museum. Archived from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Washington". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
External links
edit
- Admiralty Head Lighthouse Seattle and Sound
- Admiralty Head Lighthouse Keepers of Admiralty Head Lighthouse
- Admiralty Head Lighthouse Washington Lighthouses
- Looking into the Admiralty Head Lighthouse Washington State Magazine