Point Wilson Lighthouse

The Point Wilson Lighthouse is situated at the end of the Quimper Peninsula, approximately two miles north of the Port Townsend business district, in Jefferson County, Washington, United States.

• Location and Accessibility:
• The lighthouse can be accessed via a short walk from the nearby B-6 address.

History

Construction on the Point Wilson Lighthouse began in 1879, following concerns about the safety of navigation at this location due to the presence of nearby shoals and persistent fogs. A new lighthouse was built by the United States Lighthouse Service in 1913.

The site has also been home to a meteorological station.

The area surrounding Point Wilson has significant cultural importance, with the Chimakum Indians naming it Kam-kam-ho and the S'Klallam Indians referring to it as Kam-Kum.

European explorers first discovered the point on July 5, 1790, by Juan Carrasco and Manuel Quimper. Captain George Vancouver of the Royal Navy named Point Wilson on June 5, 1792, in honor of a colleague, Captain George Wilson.

Architecture

The current lighthouse is a white octagonal tower with a black roof, situated atop a white building with a red roof. The structure is designed to be conspicuous and serves as an important aid to navigation for mariners entering Admiralty Inlet from the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Light Characteristics

The Point Wilson Lighthouse emits a red-and-white light with a range of 15 nautical miles. The light's period is 5 seconds, and its sequence is Al.Fl.

Current Status

The Point Wilson Lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation under the operation of the U.S. Coast Guard.