Alki Point Light facts for kids
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 Alki Point Light
Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | West Seattle, Washington |
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| Coordinates | 47°34′34″N 122°25′13″W / 47.576054°N 122.420242°W |
| Year first constructed | 1913 |
| Year first lit | 1913 |
| Automated | 1984 |
| Foundation | Concrete |
| Construction | Masonry |
| Tower shape | Octagonal |
| Markings / pattern | White with red and black trim |
| Height | 37 feet (11 m) (39 feet (12 m) above sea level) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens (removed) |
| Current lens | VRB-25 |
| Range | 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashing White 5s. Emergency light isophase white 6s. Lighted throughout 24 hours. |
The Alki Point Light is a working lighthouse that helps ships find their way. It is located on Alki Point in Seattle, Washington, right at the southern entrance to Elliott Bay on Puget Sound. This lighthouse is officially known as Alki Point Light number 16915 by the USCG.
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History of the Alki Point Light
Early Lights at Alki Point
The very first light at Alki Point was not official. In the 1870s, a farmer named Hans Martin Hanson hung a kerosene lantern on his barn. This simple light helped guide boats in the area.
In 1887, the United States Lighthouse Board realized that a proper light was needed. They placed a special lantern on top of a wooden post at the point. Since Hans Martin Hanson still owned the land, he became the first lightkeeper. His job was to make sure the light stayed on, and he earned $15 a month.
Building the Official Lighthouse
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Hans Martin Hanson's son, Edmund, sold the land to the government in 1910. This allowed for a much bigger and stronger lighthouse to be built. By 1913, the lighthouse you see today was finished.
It has a 37-foot (11 m) tall, eight-sided brick tower. Next to it is a small brick building that used to hold a fog signal. The Alki Point Light looks very similar to the Point Robinson Lighthouse, which was built two years later on Maury Island.
Modern Changes to the Light
The tower originally held a special lens called a Fresnel lens. This lens was very powerful and could be seen from at least 12 miles (19 km) away. In 1962, this old lens was replaced with a newer, more modern light called a VRB-25 aerobeacon.
The lighthouse became automated in 1984. This means that machines took over the job of the lightkeepers, so people no longer needed to live there to operate the light. After the lighthouse was modernized, the main house where the lightkeeper used to live became the home for the Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
The Lighthouse Today
The Alki Point Light is still an active lighthouse today. It is managed by the U.S. Coast Guard. Sometimes, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers tours, so people can visit and learn more about this historic landmark.
