North Head Light, Maritime lighthouse in Pacific County, Washington.
North Head Light is a brick lighthouse standing on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean in Washington state, near the mouth of the Columbia River. The structure includes the tower, outbuildings, and a small museum where visitors can see how the station operated over time.
This lighthouse was built in 1897 because an existing light nearby was not enough to safely guide ships entering the Columbia River. It began operating in 1898 and has been helping vessels navigate for more than 120 years.
The lighthouse displays items from its years as a working navigation aid and tells the story of lighthouse keepers who lived here. Walking through the building gives you a sense of what daily life was like for those who maintained it.
The site sits within Cape Disappointment State Park and is reached by a short walk from the main parking area. You can climb the tower only during guided tours offered from May to September.
A weather instrument at this station once recorded unusually strong winds, with an unofficial measurement exceeding 160 kilometers per hour in the early 1900s. This shows how exposed and challenging this coastal location truly is.
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