Smith Island Light facts for kids
The Smith Island Light was a lighthouse on Smith Island, Island County, Washington. Lighthouses are special towers with bright lights that help ships find their way and avoid dangerous areas. The Smith Island Light was an important guide for boats in the waters of Washington State for many years.
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| Smith Island Lighthouse | |
 Smith Island Light
Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Smith Island (Washington) |
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| Coordinates | 48°19′05″N 122°50′39″W / 48.31806°N 122.84417°W |
| Year first constructed | 1858 |
| Deactivated | Abandoned 1957, lost to erosion 1998 |
| Location | near Hansville, Washington |
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| Coordinates | 47°55′09″N 122°34′11″W / 47.91921°N 122.56984°W |
| Year first constructed | 1964, by Jim Gibbs |
| Tower shape | Octagonal cylindrical wooden tower |
| Height | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
| Characteristic | Continuous red light |
Contents
What Was the Smith Island Light Like?
The Smith Island Light was built in 1858. It looked like a classic New England lighthouse. It had a house for the lighthouse keeper, which was 1-1/2 stories tall. The light tower was built right in the middle of the roof of this house.
How Did the Lighthouse Get Power?
To make the light shine, the lighthouse used a lot of batteries. These were 18 large lead-acid truck batteries. They were connected together to create enough power. Gasoline-powered generators were used to recharge these batteries.
Where Was the Lighthouse Located?
The lighthouse stood about 200 feet (about 61 meters) from the western edge of Smith Island. It was built on a bluff, which is a steep cliff. This high spot helped its light be seen far away.
Why Was the Lighthouse Abandoned?
Over time, the bluff where the lighthouse stood began to wear away. This process is called erosion. By the 1950s, the land had eroded so much that the bluff reached the front door of the lighthouse keeper's house. Because it was no longer safe, the lighthouse was abandoned in 1957.
What Happened to the Old Lighthouse?
The Smith Island Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it was recognized as an important historical site. Even after it was abandoned, the broken lighthouse could be seen clinging to the bluff. But in the spring of 1998, the last parts of the lighthouse finally fell into the sea due to continued erosion.
What Replaced the Smith Island Light?
After the old lighthouse was abandoned, a new, modern light was put in its place. This new light is an automated navigational light. This means it works by itself without a keeper. It shines from a 50-foot (about 15-meter) tall metal tower. This tower was built in 1957.
What Else Does the New Tower Do?
The new tower also holds a weather station. This station is run by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It collects important information about the weather and the ocean.
Where is the Lantern Room Now?
Before the old lighthouse completely fell into the sea, a maritime author named Jim Gibbs got permission to save its lantern room. The lantern room is the very top part of a lighthouse where the light is located. This special part of the Smith Island Light is now at the Skunk Bay Memorial Lighthouse. This privately owned lighthouse is located near Hansville, Washington on the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula.
