Cape Flattery Light, Historical lighthouse on Tatoosh Island, Clallam County, United States.
Cape Flattery Light is a lighthouse on Tatoosh Island, built in 1854 to a design by Ammi B. Young. It consists of a 20-metre tower with gallery and lantern attached to a one-storey keeper's house, its light standing 50 metres above water. The station also includes a fog signal building added in 1872.
Construction started in 1854 following designs by Ammi B. Young, and the light first shone in 1857, making it the third lighthouse in Washington Territory. The structure has served as a navigation aid for vessels entering the Strait of Juan de Fuca since its completion.
The lighthouse sits on Tatoosh Island, named after a Makah tribal leader, within the Makah Indian Reservation. The location reflects how maritime navigation and indigenous land have coexisted in this region.
The lighthouse is closed to visitors but can be viewed from Cape Flattery after a roughly 30-minute walk. The trail crosses coastal terrain with changing conditions, so sturdy footwear and weather preparation are important.
The lighthouse was named a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation on September 25, 2017. The Trust hired Cardinal Architecture and SSF to assess the fog signal building and lighthouse, recommending emergency repairs, but no funding was available for the Coast Guard to carry them out.
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