Marrowstone Point Light, Maritime navigation aid at Marrowstone Island, Jefferson County, United States
Marrowstone Point Light is a 28-foot-tall lighthouse structure at the northeast tip of Marrowstone Island that marks the entrance to Port Townsend Bay. The building sits on a sandy shoal and now operates as a marine research station.
Operations began in 1888 with a simple lens lantern on a pole and were enhanced in 1896 by the addition of a 1,200-pound fog bell. These early navigation aids proved critical for ship safety in this hazardous bay.
The lighthouse served as home to keepers and their families who sheltered shipwrecked sailors during storms. This human dimension reveals how the structure connected people during moments of danger.
The lighthouse is visible from the beach at Fort Flagler State Park, making it easy to spot from the shore. Since the facility operates as a research station, visitors should stay on the beach or in designated park areas.
An acetylene gun for fog signaling was installed in 1914, marking one of the earliest uses of this technology at an American lighthouse. This innovation demonstrated new methods for improving signal detection in hazardous waters.
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