Location of North Head Lighthouse

North Head Lighthouse
2 miles Southwest of
Ilwaco, Washington
Website: www.parks.wa.gov

After the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was built, it became apparent that a second lighthouse at the mouth of the Columbia River was needed since ships coming from the North could not see the light from the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. The North Head Lighthouse, built two miles north of the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, went into operation on May 16, 1898.

From the 1942 Coast Pilot

North Head Light is shown from a white conical tower on the western point of North Head. The light is 194 feet above the water, and visible 20 miles. The light is obscured east of 181 degree. Near the light there is a United States Weather Bureau storm-warning display station, with telegraph and telephone to Astoria and Portland, and equipped with international code signals for reporting vessels and receiving messages. From the southward, Cape Disappointment shows as three low knobs, separated by low flat ridges. North Head Light shows on the western slope of the western knob. Cape Disappointment Light shows on the western slope of the eastern knob

The lighthouse is 65 feet tall and sits on solid basalt more than 190 feet above sea level.