Point Atkinson Lighthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Point Atkinson Lighthouse |
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The lighthouse is located to alert ships entering Burrard Inlet
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| Location | West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | William Anderson |
| Governing body | District of West Vancouver |
| Website | District of West Vancouver: Lighthouse Park |
| Designated | May 18, 1974 |
| Reference no. | 12768 |
 Point Atkinson Lighthouse
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | Strait of Georgia Burrard Inlet West Vancouver British Columbia Canada |
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| Coordinates | 49°19′49″N 123°15′53″W / 49.3304°N 123.2646°W |
| Year first constructed | 1875 (first); 1912 (current) |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Tower shape | octagonal frustum six ribbed tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, red balcony and lantern |
| Height | 18 metres (59 ft) |
| Focal height | 33 metres (108 ft) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 5s. |
| Admiralty number | G5426 |
| CHS number | CCG 0386 |
| NGA number | 12972 |
| ARLHS number | CAN-387 |
The Point Atkinson Lighthouse is a famous lighthouse located in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It stands on a piece of land called Point Atkinson. This spot was named by Captain George Vancouver way back in 1792. He was exploring the Pacific Northwest in his ship, the Discovery. The first lighthouse here was made of wood and started working in 1875. Later, in 1914, a stronger lighthouse made of concrete was built in its place. This lighthouse helps guide ships safely into Burrard Inlet.
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
The very first lighthouse at Point Atkinson was a wooden building. It had a house attached for the person who looked after the light, called the keeper. Arthur Finney from Nanaimo built it in 1874. However, it could not start working until the next year. This was because the wrong light was sent from England!
The light was about 29 meters (95 feet) above the sea. Ships could see it from about 22.5 kilometers (14 miles) away. If the weather was foggy, ship captains would blow their foghorn three times. This told the lightkeeper to pump a horn by hand. The keeper would keep pumping until the ship signaled it was safe.
Adding a Fog Alarm
In 1889, a company called Canadian Pacific Steamships asked for a fog alarm to be added. This alarm was placed in a separate building. It had a spinning drum that used steam to make a loud sound. This helped ships find their way in thick fog.
In 1902, a new type of fog alarm was installed. It was called a diaphone. This machine used a special piston moving inside a cylinder to make a very powerful sound.
The Current Lighthouse
The lighthouse you see today was built in 1914. It stands on strong granite rocks that stick out into Burrard Inlet in West Vancouver. At the time, this concrete lighthouse was thought to be very modern in lighthouse design.
Today, the Point Atkinson Lighthouse works automatically. No keeper lives there anymore, but it is still used to guide ships. You can visit the lighthouse by hiking the Valley Trail in Lighthouse Park.
Lighthouse Keepers
Many dedicated people have worked as keepers at the Point Atkinson Lighthouse over the years. They were responsible for making sure the light and fog signals were always working. Here is a list of some of the keepers:
- Edward Woodward 1874–1877
- Robert G. Wellwood 1877–1880
- Walter Erwin 1880–1910
- Thomas David Grafton 1910–1933
- Lawrence Walter Grafton 1933–1935
- Ernest Charles Dawe 1935–1961
- Gordon Odlum 1961–1976
- James Barr 1976–1978
- Oscar Edwards 1978–1980
- Gerald D. Watson 1980–1996
- Donald Graham 1980–1996
Images for kids
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Point Atkinson Lighthouse in 2022
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Point Atkinson Lighthouse in May of 2022
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Lighthouse Park as seen from Altamont in the east
