Point Adams Light
Encyclopedia
Point Adams Light was a lighthouse
near the mouth of the Columbia River
on the Oregon Coast
of the United States
. It operated from February 15, 1875 until 1899, when it became obsolete by the extension of the south jetty
and the establishment of the Lightship Columbia
in 1892. The lighthouse was considered a fire hazard and demolished in 1912.
It was located about a mile south of Point Adams—named by Captain Robert Gray in 1792 http://www.iinet.com/~englishriver/LewisClarkColumbiaRiver/Regions/Places/point_adams.html—near what is now Battery Russell in Fort Stevens State Park. The combination of the Point Adams Light with the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
on the north side of the river effectively framed the entrance to the Columbia.
The keeper's quarters and light were a combined structure, similar to the Yaquina Bay Light
, in Newport, and used the same structure, materials, and optics as Point Fermin Light
south of Los Angeles, California
.
The light was changed from alternating red and white to fixed red on January 21, 1881 to reduce confusion with the nearby just-completed Tillamook Rock Light
. The change caused HMS Fern Glen to run aground, evidently unaware of the change. At the same time, the fog signal was removed: it had long been criticized by mariners as being inaudible over waves crashing on shore.
The keeper considered the biggest maintenance problem to be the prevention of sand accumulation at the base of the lighthouse. Fences were unsuccessfully attempted at one point.
After decommissioning, the light was replaced by the Desdemona Sands Light
in December 1901. It was finally burned down by the Lighthouse Service in 1912.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
near the mouth of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
on the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It operated from February 15, 1875 until 1899, when it became obsolete by the extension of the south jetty
Jetty
A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...
and the establishment of the Lightship Columbia
Lightship Columbia
United States lightship Columbia is a lightship located in Astoria, Oregon, United States of America. The Columbia was formerly moored near the mouth of the Columbia River.-History:...
in 1892. The lighthouse was considered a fire hazard and demolished in 1912.
It was located about a mile south of Point Adams—named by Captain Robert Gray in 1792 http://www.iinet.com/~englishriver/LewisClarkColumbiaRiver/Regions/Places/point_adams.html—near what is now Battery Russell in Fort Stevens State Park. The combination of the Point Adams Light with the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
The Cape Disappointment Light is a lighthouse on Cape Disappointment near the mouth of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington.- History :...
on the north side of the river effectively framed the entrance to the Columbia.
The keeper's quarters and light were a combined structure, similar to the Yaquina Bay Light
Yaquina Bay Light
The Yaquina Bay Light is a lighthouse built in 1871—soon after the founding of the city of Newport, Oregon, United States. It is located on the north side of Yaquina Bay, the most populated port between Puget Sound and San Francisco at the time.-History:...
, in Newport, and used the same structure, materials, and optics as Point Fermin Light
Point Fermin Light
-History:The original fourth order Fresnel lens was removed in 1942 and a wood replica lantern was installed in 1974. The lighthouse was saved from demolition in 1972 and refurbished in 1974, and a new lantern room and gallery were built by local preservationists...
south of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
The light was changed from alternating red and white to fixed red on January 21, 1881 to reduce confusion with the nearby just-completed Tillamook Rock Light
Tillamook Rock Light
Tillamook Rock Light is a deactivated lighthouse on the Oregon Coast of the United States. It is located approximately offshore from Tillamook Head, and south of the Columbia River, situated on less than acre of basalt rock in the Pacific Ocean. The construction of the lighthouse was commissioned...
. The change caused HMS Fern Glen to run aground, evidently unaware of the change. At the same time, the fog signal was removed: it had long been criticized by mariners as being inaudible over waves crashing on shore.
The keeper considered the biggest maintenance problem to be the prevention of sand accumulation at the base of the lighthouse. Fences were unsuccessfully attempted at one point.
After decommissioning, the light was replaced by the Desdemona Sands Light
Desdemona Sands Light
Desdemona Sands Light was a lighthouse located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of Oregon, at the mouth of the Columbia River to aid navigation of the Columbia Bar.It was built in 1901or 1902as a replacement for Point Adams Light...
in December 1901. It was finally burned down by the Lighthouse Service in 1912.