Patos Island Lighthouse

Patos Island Lighthouse is a wooden structure standing approximately 8 meters tall on Alden Point, designed in Greek Revival style. It contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens that guided ships navigating Boundary Pass.

Congress authorized funding for the lighthouse in 1891, and it began operating in 1893. The station served as a critical navigation aid in these strategic waters for many decades.

The lighthouse name reflects an old word for the waterfowl that once populated these waters. Today, volunteers work to share maritime traditions and maintain the island's ecological qualities for visitors and researchers.

The lighthouse is accessible during summer months when volunteer guides are present on the island. Look for signage at Active Cove Beach to find the way to the site.

An early keeper's assistant named Edward Durgan flew an upside-down flag to signal distress when several of his children fell ill on this isolated island. The incident reveals the hardship and isolation that lighthouse keepers endured.

Location: San Juan County

Architects: Carl W. Leick

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture

Height: 8 m

Made from material: lumber

GPS coordinates: 48.78900,-122.97150

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:26