Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes to this destination:
- Cape Disappointment Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 46.27583, -124.05218
- Elevation: 120 feet
Description
The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was constructed in 1856 to warn ships of the dangerous bar at the mouth of the Columbia River, the "Graveyard of the Pacific." The beacon is the oldest working lighthouse on the west coast of the United States.
In 1788, Captain John Meares missed the mouth of the Columbia River and named the promontory upon which the lighthouse stands 'Cape Disappointment.' Four years later, Captain Robert Gray managed to cross the bar and enter the Columbia, thus earning the right to name the river after his ship, the Columbia Rediviva. In November 1805, Captain William Clark reached the Pacific Ocean right below the headland at Waikiki Beach.
More Links
- Cape Disappointment, WA (Lighthouse Friends)
- Cape Disappointment Lighthouse (U.S. Lighthouses)
- Cape Disappointment Lighthouse (FunBeach.com)
- Cape Disappointment Light (Wikipedia)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)