Washington Lights | Alki Point Lighthouse

Alki Point Lighthouse • Seattle, WA

On the shores of Puget Sound, the Alki Point Lighthouse offers spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and Seattle's Space Needle. I'm lucky enough to live less that 2 miles from this lighthouse and am able to enjoy it on a regular basis. I first photographed this lighthouse in February 1999, and then again in June 2003.

• H I S T O R Y •

Alki Point was discovered by Capt. George Vancouver in 1792. Alki Point's first beacon was an oil lantern hung from a pole. Hans Martin Hanson, who bought the point from pioneer Doc Maynard in 1868, initiated this light as a public service sometime in the mid-1870s.

In 1887 the U.S. Lighthouse Service recognized the importance of this beacon and replaced the pole-mounted lantern with a lens-lantern on a scaffold. Hans Hanson was appointed the official keeper of the light, and was paid $15 a month.

After his death in 1900, the land was divided among his children, with his son Edmund getting the tip of Alki Point and the tender's job. In 1911 Edmund sold the point for $9,999 to the U.S. Lighthouse Service. By 1913, the 37-ft. octagonal tower was operational and its light flashing every second for five seconds followed by five seconds of darkness.

The Alki Light was converted to electricity in 1918, and in 1939 the Coast Guard began keeping the light. In October 1994, its operation was made fully automatic. Its last officer in manual charge was Coast Guardsman Andrew Roberts. The Fresnel lens was replaced with an airport beacon in the 1960's.

• A T T R I B U T E S •

Location:	Seattle, WA - South end of Elliot Bay
Form:	Octoganal tower
Composition:	Masonry
Markings:	White with a red roof
Height:	37 feet
Present Optic:	VRB-25
Original Optic:	Fourth Order Fresnel
Focal Plane:	39 feet above sea level
Remarks:	There is a brew of beer called Alki Point Sunset. The brew took first place in German Ales/California Common at the 1994 HWBTA Nationals.

• S T A T U S •

The working U.S. Coast Guard facility offers 30-minute tours as well as a trip to the tower lantern room, where Puget Sound views are pleasant (provided that the foghorn isn't blasting). In the summer, the temperature in the lantern room can be very hot as there is no ventilation (the door to the hurricane deck is closed and padlocked). Using artifacts and photos, the tour illustrates the history of Alki Point. Group tours are available by reservation. Tours are offered Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from noon to 4 p.m. and on Wednesdays by appointment, April through September (Call 206-217-6123 for more information). The lighthouse sits on a small plot of land that has been encroached upon by high-rise condominiums, making it quite a challenge to phototgraph. It is nonetheless worth a visit.

• D I R E C T I O N S •

From I-5 take the Spokane Street exit west to Harbor Drive; this will take you over the West Seattle bridge. You can also take Highway 99 to the West Seattle bridge. Cross the bridge and one of the first exits is Harbor Drive. Make a right (heading west) and follow Harbor Drive. It will shortly turn into Alki Beach Ave. You will drive through Alki Beach; the beach will be on your right and many quaint shops and cafes line the street to your left. After about a mile you will see the lighthouse on your right.

• W A L L P A P E R •

Click on an image to the left to see the 640x480 size version. You can then right-click on the larger image and select "Set as wallpaper." If your screen resolution is greater than 640x480 use the "stretch" feature in Windows to expand the image to cover your entire desktop. More wallpaper...