Name and Location

West Point Light, also known locally as the Discovery Park Lighthouse, marks the western entrance to Elliott Bay in Puget Sound, Washington. The lighthouse sits on a rocky promontory at the tip of Seattle's Magnolia peninsula, within the boundaries of Discovery Park.

Construction and History

The West Point Light was first lit in 1881. It has undergone significant events throughout its history, including the installation of more powerful lens apparatus (Fresnel type) around 1902, and automation in the mid-20th century, eliminating the need for on-site keepers. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 16, 1977.

Architecture and Materials

The West Point Light features a modest late-Victorian coastal lighthouse style, with an integrated keeper's dwelling and lantern atop a corner wing. The structure is made of wood-frame construction clad in wood shingles, with metal lantern housing. The tower/dwelling form is two-story rectangular, with an octagonal lantern tower on the seaward corner.

Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is alternating white (Al W), one cycle every 10 seconds. The visible range is approximately 16 nautical miles (29.6 km). The lantern color is white, and the fog signal is a horn blast every 10 seconds (Bl 10 s).

Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can access the lighthouse by car or on foot/bicycle. A trail from Fort Lawton Road or north parking lot leads directly to the lighthouse overlook. Parking, restrooms, and interpretive signage are available on-site; however, there is no visitor center or interior tours of the light tower.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape features a rocky bluff overlooking Puget Sound and Admiralty Inlet, framed by Douglas-fir and madrona woodland. Panoramic views include the Olympic Mountains to the west and downtown Seattle skyline to the southeast.

Anecdotes and Folklore

According to local legend, early keepers maintained a nightly log of marine mammal sightings hidden in the lighthouse logbooks. While this anecdote remains unverified, shipwrecks have not been directly attributed to this station, although smaller craft were lost on the rocky shore in the 19th century.

Technical and Operational Details

The West Point Light is fully automated and remotely monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard. It serves as an active aid to navigation on NOAA chart 18475. The lighthouse has no dedicated AIS or radar installation on-site.

Further Information

• For further reading, refer to the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm)
• Seattle Parks & Recreation's Discovery Park page (https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/discovery-park)
• Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Point_Light)