Patos Island Light facts for kids
 |
|
 Patos Island Light
Location in Washington (state)
Patos Island Light
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | San Juan Islands, Washington |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 48°47′20″N 122°58′17″W / 48.789°N 122.9715°W |
| Year first lit | 1908 |
| Automated | 1974 |
| Foundation | Surface |
| Construction | Wood |
| Tower shape | Square |
| Height | 38 feet (12 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Characteristic | White light every 6 s; two red sectors marking dangerous shoals |
The Patos Island Lighthouse is a special building that helps boats find their way. It stands tall on Patos Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington. This lighthouse is the most northern one in the San Juan Islands. It helps ships know where the two main paths into the Strait of Juan de Fuca begin.
In 2013, Patos Island and its lighthouse became part of the San Juan Islands National Monument. This happened because Barack Obama, who was the President at the time, made a special announcement. The monument is looked after by the Bureau of Land Management. This is a government group that protects natural places.
Some parts of the island are also managed by Washington State Parks. Volunteers from a group called Keeper of the Patos Light also help out. Sometimes, you might see the island called Patos Island State Park on maps.
Getting to Patos Island can be tricky. There isn't a public boat service, like a ferry, that goes to the island. It's about 200 acres big. If you have your own boat, there are two special spots called mooring buoys where you can tie up your boat. These are allowed by Washington State Parks. However, if you want to visit, you can also volunteer with the Keeper of the Patos Light group. They offer trips to the island in the summer.
The Keeper of the Patos Light group is also working on something exciting. They are creating exhibits for the lighthouse. This project is funded by a special grant called the Washington State Lighthouse Environmental Program (LEP). These exhibits will help visitors learn more about the lighthouse and its history.
History of the Patos Island Light
The very first light station on Patos Island was quite simple. It had a basic light on a post. It also had a fog signal called a Daboll trumpet. This signal made a loud noise to warn ships when it was foggy. The station started working on November 30, 1893. Its main job was to guide steamships that were traveling to big ports. These ships often went to places like Vancouver or up the Inside Passage to Alaska.
Lighthouse Improvements and Automation
The lighthouse got much better in 1908. A new fog signal was added. Also, a new tower was built. This tower was 38-foot (12 m) tall. Inside the tower was a special light called a fourth-order Fresnel lens. This type of lens was very good at making a bright, focused beam of light.
In 1974, the lighthouse became "automated." This means that machines took over the job of running the light. There was no longer a need for a lighthouse keeper to live there and operate it. Today, the lighthouse uses a modern lens. It flashes a white light every six seconds. It also has two red sections of light. These red sections warn boats about dangerous shallow areas, called shoals, near the island. The original Fresnel lens from the lighthouse is now owned by someone in Oregon.
Stories and Recognition
The early days of the lighthouse were captured in a book. It's called The Light on the Island. This book shares the childhood memories of Helene Glidden. Her father, Edward Durgan, was the lighthouse keeper from 1905 to 1913. It's a great way to learn what life was like for a lighthouse family.
The Patos Island Lighthouse was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. In 2008, the lighthouse got a big makeover. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management provided money for the repairs. The lighthouse got a new roof, doors, windows, and fresh paint. It looks great inside and out!
The Patos Island Lighthouse is the only old building left at its site. However, you can see similar buildings from 1893 at the Turn Point Lighthouse. That lighthouse is on Stuart Island. It is also part of the San Juan Islands National Monument.
