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North America/United States of America/Washington State/Sequim/New Dungeness Lighthouse/
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New Dungeness Lighthouse
- Location & Contact Information
- Address: North of Sequim Sequim WA USA 98382
- Telephone Number: +
- Official Website: []
- Overview
New Dungeness lighthouse was first lit on 1857 and was the second lighthouse established in the Washington territory. The original New Dungeness lighthouse was a 1 ½ story duplex with a tower rising from the roof. The tower stood at 100 feet painted black on the top half and white on the lower section. Over time, the tower developed structural cracks from the artillery at nearby forts. In 1927, the cracks in the tower were so severe that the lighthouse inspector feared that the tower would topple. It was decided that year that the tower would be lowered to it current height of 67 feet. With the new tower dimensions, the original 3rd order Fresnel lens was too large for the tower. To save costs, the lantern room from the decommissioned Admiralty Head lighthouse was removed and placed atop the shorter tower. The newly painted tower was relit with a revolving 4th order Fresnel Lens. In the mid-1970s the Coast Guard decided to remove the Fresnel lens and decided to test a DCB airport style beacon. The beacon only lasted a few years until it was replaced by a much smaller AGA-acrylic revolving beacon that provided the same range as the DCB, but with a 150-watt bulb instead of the 1,000-watt DCB bulb. In 1998 the Coast Guard replaced the AGA with a newer Vega Rotating beacon. In 1994, the Dungeness Lighthouse was one of the few lighthouses in the United States to have a full-time keeper. Michelle and Seth Jackson and their dog Chicago were the last to hold post as lighthouse keepers. In march of '94 the Coast Guard boarded up all the windows at the station, checked all the electrical equipment and left. The station didn't stay boarded up long. Within months, the United States Lighthouse Society started the New Dungeness chapter and were able to secure a lease from the Coast Guard. Over the years, the society has grown and developed the station into a premier get-away. Through weekly rentals, grants and fundraising, the station has been completely restored. Today, the lighthouse is manned weekly by society members who pay a fee to stay at the light. People are welcome to take the 5 1/2 mile hike on the worlds fastest and longest sand-spit to reach the station. The society members are always excited to see new hikers and are more than happy to give you a tour of the station all the way to the lantern room. There is fresh water and restrooms on the grounds. Henry Blake was the first keeper of this lighthouse. The USCG Coastal Buoy Tender WLM-563 Henry Blake based in Everett, Washington is named after him.[1]
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