New Dungeness Lighthouse

Sequim, Washington




With the help of Wayne Wheeler (Executive Director, USLHS) we obtained a license from the Coast Guard beginning in September of `94 to man and maintain the New Dungeness Light Station just north of Sequim in the State of Washington. It was the first to be lit (1857) in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the first north of Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River. This station is at the very remote end of a 5 & 1/2 mile long sandspit and consists of the lighthouse building and a keepers house with outbuildings on 32 acres. We maintain a beautiful one acre lawn in the midst of sand and scrub vegetation and driftwood logs thanks to an artesian well that provides limitless supplies of wonderfully fresh water. The Dungeness Spit is the longest natural sandspit in the US and possibly the world. Our access is by 4x4 vehicle at lowest low tide along the beach as there are no roads.

Since September, 1994, our volunteer keepers have manned the light continuously, 24 hours a day year-round. Teams of two couples, sometimes with children, are taken out on Saturdays, or Friday evenings, and the previous keepers are then relieved. In the winter the low tides occur only at night. This makes for interesting trips at very odd hours. In spite of storms and ever-changing driftwood, we have so far not missed a scheduled crew change.

Once there, the keepers stay in the keepers house, a separate residence from the light building, built in 1904. It is fully furnished and all the keepers need bring is their food and clothing for the week. Keepers have specific house and ground and lighthouse keeping duties. In addition, they are expected to be tour guides for visitors. In our first year, 4250 visitors signed our guest book and all got a tour to the top of the tower. Most walked out, some came by boat and kayak, one group by seaplane.

Our membership at present is over 450 adults from all over the United States and even some in Canada. We are presently booked through the year 1997. Membership dues are $30.00 per year in the Chapter and one must belong to the US Lighthouse Society as well. We can mail an application wherein one check will enroll you in both organizations, $50.00 for the first year. A fee is charged per person in order for us to maintain the facility to CG standards as required by our lease.

Remote as the lighthouse is, the shipping lanes pass right by and the lights of Victoria, B.C. are visible at night. The scenery includes the Olympic Mountains to the south, the Cascades to the east, the San Juan Islands to the north and Vancouver Island to the northwest.

Wildlife is abundant, and includes bald eagles, seals, sea lions, hawks, occasional foxes, skunks, deer and many types of birds.

For a brochure and application, send a self addressed, stamped business-sized envelope to:

New Dungeness Chapter, Dept. E
US Lighthouse Society
PO Box 1283
Sequim, WA 98382-1283
(360) 693-9166

You mail E-Mail us at gswen@aol.com for general information, however to receive a brochure and application, you must follow the above instructions.



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