Admiralty Head Lighthouse
Reverse, First Day of Issue
We recently visited the Admiralty Head Lighthouse located at Fort Casey State Park near Coupeville, Washington on Whidbey Island. It was a pleasant surprise to find a small package of reproduced photo postcards in the gift shop that were issued to celebrate the centennial of the lighthouse. The cards in the packet contained four First Day of Issue cards and stamps from the Pacific Lighthouse collection.
The postcard has a picture of the second lighthouse built on this spot. The first one was built just before the Civil War and was one of the earliest lighthouses on the West coast. The United States government in 1858 bought the land, about 10 acres, for $400.00. In 1890 that building was demolished to make room for the soldiers at Fort Casey. The replacement lighthouse shown on the postcard was built in 1903 and decommissioned nineteen years later in 1922. The original Red Bluff lighthouse was constructed out of wood the newer Admiralty Head Lighthouse is made of brick. At one time it was also used as a training facility for the K-9 dog program.
The tower is 9 meters or 30 feet tall. The room at the top that housed the lights is accessible by stairs for the first section and a ladder with a railing for the last several feet up. Those who are sensitive to heights might do fine on the circular metal steps but balk at the ladder, as I did.
For additional historical information see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiralty_Head_Light
The lighthouse is open to the public year round, has a small historical museum display area and also a gift shop.
Exterior of the Admiralty Head Lighthouse as it is today
The circular staircase going up to the lighthouse tower
The view from the parking area at the Admiralty Head Lighthouse
Two very tame deer were munching on the grass near the lighthouse.
A rabbit by the side of the road
No comments:
Post a Comment