When the subject of a lighthouse comes up most people think of the large tower type lighthouse, and if you are on the east coast of the United States that would fit the bill perfectly. What most people might not realize is that on the west coast most of the lighthouses are generally much shorter and not always even a tower. I love the tower style lighthouses and even though I live on the west coast I am fortunate to have one of the best within an hour of my house. I am speaking of the Grays Harbor Lighthouse.
The Grays Harbor Lighthouse, which is located in Westport, WA is the tallest lighthouse in the Pacific Northwest, and at 107 feet tall it is the third tallest on the west coast. It has been in continuous operation since 1898 and the original third order Fresnel Lens was used until 1992 when it was replaced with a more modern and more powerful light. You might remember a recent image / blog post where I shared an image of original lens being lit, they do it a few times each year.
You probably won’t remember, but back in 2013 I shared an image looking up through the spiral staircase towards the top of the lighthouse. Today I am sharing an image of the opposite perspective, this is taken from the top of the 135 steps shooting back down towards the ground.