By Melissa Voelker
There are many lighthouses located along the Pacific coast of the
United States, from Washington all the way down to California. While some have not been in use for several years, others are still working to bring ships in safely to harbors and bays.
Cape Arago Lighthouse
This decommissioned lighthouse is located along the Oregon coast in Coos County, along Gregory Point southwest of the entrance to Coos Bay. Because it is not a working lighthouse it is no longer available for public viewing, but you can see it from along the trails in Sunset Bay State Park. There is a small fee charged to visit the state park.
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse
Yaquina Bay is the second oldest standing lighthouse on the Oregon Coast. This structure is located in the Yaquina Bay State Park along the Oregon Coast highway. The lighthouse is now a museum open to the public daily during the summer and on weekends the rest of the year. It is free to visit, though there may be a fee to enter the state park depending on what kind of visit you will be making to it.
Mukilteo Lighthouse
This lighthouse is owned by the city of Mukilteo, Washington and is located off the Mukilteo Speedway next to the Whidbey Island Ferry Landing. It is open to the public free of charge throughout the months of April to September and is the inspiration for the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival that happens around the beginning of September.
Admiralty Head Lighthouse
Located in Fort Casey State Park in Coupeville, Washington, this lighthouse is open for the public to visit the grounds and tower during the summer months. The lighthouse keepers also offer tours for groups of eight or more people, which contain facts about the history of the lighthouse and the surrounding area.
Lime Kiln Lighthouse
This lighthouse can only be reached by taking the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes to San Juan Island. It is located on the west side of the island, in Lime Kiln State Park. In the late 1980s this lighthouse and its grounds became a whale sanctuary and marine research station, but the public can still visit as long as it is during state park hours. There is no fee for a day visit unless you are launching some type of watercraft.
Angel's Gate Lighthouse
Also known as the Los Angeles Harbor Lightouse, this structure sits at the end of the San Pedro breakwater in Cabrillo State Park. This is still a working lighthouse, welcoming ships into the Los Angeles Harbor. The grounds are accessible for free to the public, but the tower itself is off limits.
About the Author:
Melissa Voelker has been a professional writer since 2002. She works full time at a TV station in the commercial traffic department and also writes for Paperbackreader.com and Pinkraygun.com. Her articles have appeared in "Listen," "The Spokesman Review" and "Freepress Houston."
