Cape Flattery Lighthouse Transferred
By Sue Clark on Oct 20, 2009 in News 
Print This Post
Makah Nation To Take Possession of Buildings
Crews from Coast Guard District 13 are in the process of cleaning up the buildings and grounds on Tatoosh Island, near Neah Bay, Washington, in preparation for transferring the decommissioned lighthouse over to the Makah tribe, which already owns the island. Using helicopters to reach the remote island, they’ve removed an unneeded generator and fuel tank. The tribe, which considers the island culturally important, also says it has no current plans to change the island’s usage, which is as an archaeological research site by permit only
Tatoosh Island, besides being a fishing camp for processing halibut and whale, was the site of gatherings for the Makah tribe from 1855 to 1934, as it was out of sight of the US Government Bureau of Indian Affairs, who restricted such gatherings. It is historically significant and is a treasure trove for archaeologists and environmentalists. It also is a birders delight, as it is a major stop for migrating birds and supports nesting populations of murres, gulls, puffins, and storm-petrels. Because of the environmentally sensitive nature of the island, only researchers with permits are allowed to visit.
Tribal Leaders Discussing Use of Buildings
Although there is no timeline for the transfer, the tribe is discussing how the buildings and lighthouse will be used. As always in these transfers, the Coast Guard will maintain acccess to the lighthouse for maintaining the optic. However, they will only need to visit once a year as the power has been changed from the aforementioned generator to solar power. Three thirty inch panels were installed last year when a new LED optic was placed on a thirty foot steel tower, which has replaced the original lighthouse beam. It’s visible for 14 miles.
Besides the lighthouse, the only building left on site is the lighthouse keeper’s residence, as all others have been demolished. And speaking of lighthouse keepers, the Lighthouse Friends site has some great stories about them, but I can’t resist telling here about the gunfight at the lighthouse:
One of the first principal keepers, Francis James, became enraged with an assistant keeper and threw hot coffee in his face. The men decide to settle the dispute with a gunfight. Outside the lighthouse, the men took three shots at each other before calling it a draw and shaking hands. An assistant keeper later confessed to having removed the bullets from the shells.
Be sure to read the rest of the tales of Cape Flattery. Like all lighthouse history, it’s fascinating.
Photo Credit: Lighthouse on Tatoosh Island by mariusstrom. Some rights reserved.
Keep up with Lighthouse News. Get articles by 
Email or in a 
Reader.
