The Olympic Peninsula is very diverse. On your vacation to Olympic National Park, you might like to explore some of the maritime history of the area by visiting the various lighthouses. To pick up where the last article left off, this set of lighthouses near Olympic National Park are all on the peninsulas of the inner Strait of Juan de Fuca. They are the beacons in the night that hold a special place in the hearts of each quaint town they occupy. Whether visitors to Olympic National Park stay at the Sol Duc Resort, the Lake Crescent Lodge or the Red Lion in Port Angeles, they are still poised to spend a day checking out these northeastern Olympic Peninsula lighthouses for a day. The professionals at National Park Reservationsare always available to help you with your Olympic National Park reservations.
Lighthouse photo by squilla.dave on Flickr
The closest lighthouse to the northern entrance of Olympic National Park is in Port Angeles at Ediz Hook. The Ediz Hook light is in plain view from the Port Angeles shores. The original light has been twice replaced, and now the US Coast Guard caretakes the modern light. Visitors to the end of three-and-a-half-mile-long Ediz Hook can tour the US Coast Guard Station where many of the original artifacts of the Ediz Hook Lighthouse have been kept. The original building that was both the lighthouse and the keeper's home was transported across the harbor to Port Angeles where it is privately owned and serves as a home. You can view it's exterior as well as the Coast Guard Station's historic relics at the corner of Albert and Fourth Streets in Port Angeles.
Just down the shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Ediz Hook is the original historic New Dungeness Lighthouse in Sequim. This old lighthouse has seen it all. Visitors to Olympic National Park should not miss this old relic that is still shedding light from the coast to the wayfaring ships in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The New Dungeness Spit is six miles long and can be reached by foot at low tide, kayak or boat charter. If you are going to walk the New Dungeness Spit, make sure to check the tide tables first. Captain Charles Martin runs a charter service to and from the mainland to the spit. Tours of the now automated New Dungeness Lighthouse are free and offered between 11 am and 5 pm by volunteer families who host the keeper's duties for a week. The New Dungeness Spit is one of the longest natural spits and the lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in the northwest. The New Dungeness Lighthouse was the first light on the Strait of Juan de Fuca when it was erected in 1857.
Point Wilson Lighthouse photo by stevevoght on Flickr
On down the Strait of Juan de Fuca is the quaint little town of Port Townsend, WA. The beacon for this coastal village shines into the Puget Sound from Point Wilson. This lighthouse was built in 1914 and ever since then, this light marks the corner of the entryway into Admiralty Inlet from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. An interesting detail is the the Point Wilson Lighthouse was created in the shape of an octagon for better aerodynamics in the often strong winds. In 1976 the light was automated but it keeps the same time with 15 seconds of white light followed by 5 seconds of darkness. In that darkness, a red light blinks once. When you stop in Port Townsend, stick around long enough to get a glimpse of this unique corner of the world.
The Marrowstone Point Lighthouse rests on a low level ares on the northeastern end of Marrowstone Island, which is mostly high bluffs. Visitors to this awesome little lighthouse will cross two bridges in order to get to the main island. The first light was a lantern hanging from a pole in 1888. In 1896, there was a fog bell added as well as a small dwelling for the light keeper. In 1902, the light was placed as the beacon to mark the entrance of the Port Townsend Bay. This unique light is a great compliment to the other lighthouses on the northeastern Olympic Peninsula.
For visitors to Olympic National Park, the lighthouses of Marrowstone Island, Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles are a rewarding sight that are riddled with maritime history. Those who love the ocean, marine animals, birds and beautiful scenes will also love this lighthouse loop. Visitors staying as far away as theSol Duc Resortor the Lake Crescent Lodge are still within a hop, skip and jump from these attractions. A nice Olympic National Park lodging choice for great access to the lighthouses, Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca is the Redlion in Port Angeles. This is a great locale for all of these features including the ferry to Victoria Island. If you time it right you might even see some migrating whales. To make your vacation a piece of cake, callNational Park Reservationsfor all your Olympic National Park lodging requirements.