Grays Harbor Light facts for kids
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 Grays Harbor Light
Location in Washington (state)
Grays Harbor Light
Location in the United States
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| Location | Westport, Washington, United States |
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| Coordinates | 46°53′18″N 124°07′01″W / 46.8883°N 124.1170°W |
| Year first lit | 1898 |
| Automated | 1960s |
| Foundation | Sandstone |
| Construction | Brick and concrete |
| Tower shape | Octagonal |
| Height | 107 feet (33 m) |
| Original lens | Third order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 19 miles (17 nmi; 31 km) |
| Characteristic | Alternating red and white every 15 s |
The Grays Harbor Lighthouse, also known as Westport Light, is a tall and important lighthouse. You can find it in Westport, Washington, in the United States. It stands on Point Chehalis, guiding ships safely into Grays Harbor. This lighthouse has been helping sailors for a long time.
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History of the Grays Harbor Lighthouse
Building a Tall Lighthouse
The Grays Harbor Lighthouse is super tall! It stands about 107 feet (32.6 meters) high. This makes it the tallest lighthouse in Washington state. It's also the third tallest on the entire West Coast of the United States. Building started in 1897. The lighthouse was designed by an architect named Carl Leick. It was first lit up in 1898.
When it was built, the lighthouse was only about 400 feet (122 meters) from the Pacific Ocean. But over many years, a lot of sand and dirt built up. This happened partly because of special walls called jetties at the harbor entrance. Now, the lighthouse is much farther from the water. It's about 3,000 feet (914 meters) away from the high tide line.
How the Lighthouse Was Built
The bottom of the lighthouse sits on a very thick foundation. This foundation is 12 feet (3.7 meters) thick and made of sandstone. The walls of the lighthouse are also very strong. They are four feet thick at the bottom. These walls are made of brick and covered with a layer of cement on the outside.
Originally, the lighthouse had windows inside the tower. These windows helped light up the inside. But later, when electricity was added, the windows were covered with cement. This helped reduce the amount of work needed to keep them clean. To reach the top, there are 135 metal stairs. These stairs are bolted right to the wall inside the tower.
The Lighthouse's Special Light
The light from the Grays Harbor Lighthouse has changed over time. At first, it would flash white for five seconds, then go dark. After that, it would flash red for five seconds. This pattern helped sailors know it was the Grays Harbor Lighthouse.
Later, when electricity came to the lighthouse, the light changed. It would flash white, then be dark for 15 seconds. Then it would flash red, followed by 15 seconds of darkness. This new pattern made it easier to see.
In 1992, the original big lens was turned off. This was a special type of lens called a Fresnel lens. A smaller, newer light was put on the balcony instead. This new light uses a small 35-watt bulb. It can be seen from about 19 miles (30.6 kilometers) away when it's white. The red light can be seen from 17 miles (27.4 kilometers) away. Even though a new light is used, the original, large Fresnel lens is still inside the lantern room.
Lighthouse Automation and Tours
In the late 1960s, the United States Coast Guard made the lighthouse "automated." This means it could work by itself without people needing to be there all the time.
In 1977, the Grays Harbor Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States. In 2004, the lighthouse was given to the Westport-South Beach Historical Society. This group now takes care of the lighthouse. They also offer regular tours, so you can visit and learn all about it! The lighthouse is right next to Westport Light State Park.
