Smith Island Light, Historic lighthouse in Island County, United States
Smith Island Light is a lighthouse in Island County along the Pacific coast of Washington, built from brick with a central light tower. The original structure included a keeper's residence and was positioned near the western edge of Smith Island.
The lighthouse was built in 1858 following New England design principles and served Pacific coast shipping. It operated using lead-acid batteries and gasoline generators to power its light system.
The name reflects its role as a navigation marker for vessels using waters along the Pacific coast. Visitors can understand how important such landmarks were for safe passage through local shipping routes.
Today it operates as an automated navigation light on a 50-foot (15 m) skeletal tower. The site is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and includes a weather station.
The original lantern from the lighthouse was rescued and now sits at Skunk Bay Memorial Lighthouse on Kitsap Peninsula. This preservation effort occurred just before coastal erosion destroyed the original structure in 1998.
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