Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site facts for kids
| Location | Esquimalt Harbour British Columbia Canada |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 48°25′49.4″N 123°26′51.4″W / 48.430389°N 123.447611°W |
| Year first constructed | 1859–1860 |
| Year first lit | 16 November 1860 |
| Automated | 1929 |
| Construction | bricks tower |
| Tower shape | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, red lantern |
| Height | 14.6 m (48 ft) |
| Focal height | 21.6 m (71 ft) |
| Characteristic | Iso WR 4s. |
Fisgard Lighthouse is a famous lighthouse located on Fisgard Island in British Columbia, Canada. It was the very first lighthouse built on the west coast of Canada! This important landmark is part of the Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site.
You can find Fisgard Lighthouse near Victoria, British Columbia. It's about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) by boat or 12.5 kilometres (7.8 miles) by car from downtown Victoria. This lighthouse became automatic in 1929, meaning no keeper was needed anymore. Its light shines white for 2 seconds, then goes dark for 2 seconds, helping ships find their way. The tall, white tower is 14.6-metre (48 ft) high and glows brightly at night.
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Building the Lighthouse
The Fisgard Lighthouse was built in 1860. Its main job was to guide ships safely into Esquimalt Harbour. The lighthouse got its name from a British Navy ship called HMS Fisgard. This ship had spent time sailing in the Pacific Ocean.
Fisgard Lighthouse and another lighthouse, Race Rocks Light, were built around 1859–1860. They were needed to help naval ships enter Esquimalt Harbour. They also guided merchant ships into Victoria Harbour. Building these lighthouses showed that the British government was serious about helping the Colony of Vancouver Island. This was especially important because many American gold miners were coming to the area. About 25,000 miners arrived in 1858 for the Fraser gold rush.
Some people thought the bricks and stones for the lighthouse came from Britain. But actually, local brick yards and quarries provided these materials. The special lens, lamp, and the top lantern room came from England. Mr. George Davies, the first lighthouse keeper, brought them in 1859. The spiral staircase inside the tower was made from cast-iron sections in San Francisco.
Fisgard Lighthouse first turned on its light at sunset on November 16, 1860.
Who Helped Build It?
Colonial Governor James Douglas asked the British government to build the lighthouse. Captain Richards also supported this idea. Joseph Despard Pemberton, the Colonial Surveyor and Engineer, oversaw the building work. John Wright and Hermann Otto Tiedemann were the architects. They designed the lighthouse and the pretty red brick house next to it.
After 1897, strong steel shutters were added to the land side of the lantern room. This was because loud blasts from the guns at Fort Rodd Hill were cracking the lantern windows. George Johnson was the last keeper to live full-time at Fisgard. Josiah Gosse, the final keeper, had permission to live nearby on Esquimalt Lagoon. He would row out to the lighthouse every evening.
In the early 1940s, the old acetylene lamp in the tower was replaced. A new electric light powered by batteries took its place. From 1950 to 1951, the Canadian Army built a causeway. This path connected Fisgard Island to the shore at Fort Rodd Hill. It was meant to be a military barrier, but it also made it easy to reach Fisgard Lighthouse.
Visiting Fisgard Lighthouse
You can visit Fisgard Lighthouse by walking across a causeway. This path starts from the Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, which is right next door.
The old house where the lighthouse keeper used to live is open to visitors. Inside, you can see displays and learn about the history of the site. The tall tower itself is still used to guide ships, so it is not open to the public.
Important Recognition
Fisgard Lighthouse was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1958. This means it's a very important place in Canadian history. It is also recognized as a Classified Federal Heritage Building.
Lighthouse Keepers
Here are some of the people who kept the Fisgard Lighthouse shining bright:
- George Davies, 1860–1861
- John Watson, 1861
- W.H. Bevis, 1861–1879 (He passed away while working at the lighthouse)
- Amelia Bevis, 1879–1880
- Henry Cogan. 1880–1884
- Joseph Dare, 1884–1898 (He drowned in Esquimalt Harbour)
- W. Cormack, 1898
- John Davies, 1898
- Douglas MacKenzie, 1898–1900
- Andrew Deacon, 1900–1901
- George Johnson, 1901–1909
- Josiah Gosse, 1909–1928
See also
- List of lighthouses in British Columbia
- List of lighthouses in Canada
