I went to Whidbey Island to see my Mother today (Thursday). I take the ferry from Mukilteo to the Island. Mukilteo is one of the oldest cities in the state and although small has an interesting history.
But this is about the lighthouse.
The lighthouse went into operation in 1906. The lighthouse and a modern fog signal were automated in 1979, and in 1981, a remote fog sensor was installed. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and in 1991 the Coast Guard leased the lighthouse to the city of Mukilteo, although navigational equipment is still maintained by the Coast Guard.
The light is a fresnel Lens.
The antique Fresnel Lens system was made in France in 1852 and is the only one of it's type still used in this state. It was installed in 1927 and has been in continuous use ever since.
The lighthouse is one of only a few lighthouses constructed of wood.
10 comments:
Fresnel is the name of the inventor of the lens. I believe all French lighthouses still have "lentilles de Fresnel", including those that can be seen from 15 miles or more away.
Lovely little lighthouse,really a house!
I love seeing old lighthouses. This one looks so well kept.
Darla
This is a very unusual lighthouse, not only 'cause it's made of wood, but because it's not very tall...aren't most lighthouses stuck way up in the sky?
Ah, it may be high enough on the land so ships can spot it easily...
Beautiful for sure. Have you been inside to look at that French lens?
So pretty ! !
There is such a diversity of lighthouses on the NW coast. Sure glad they're being maintained and put into park systems. You really captured that French light well in the first shot.
MB
Thanks for sharing the history of this neat and classic lighthouse. Peace
It's a pretty lighthouse. I would LOVE to take photos of all the lighthouses around the Great Lakes but that's a huge distance to travel and I doubt I'll be able to talk my chauffeur into it. But I haven't tried yet...just sort of hinted. :)
So neat it's still there - most of BC's have been taken down. Beautiful lighthouse.
This is a beautiful lighthouse and I do believe it is the first wooden lighthouse I have seen.
It's a beautiful lighthouse although not very tall. I love lighthouses. They're romantic.
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