Salish Sea Lighthouses
Welcome to Salish Sea Lighthouses
This website gives a basic guide to lighthouses and structures in the Washington State inland waterway known as the Salish Sea.
There are two distinct areas to make it more manageable for displaying the lighthouses.
Northern Lighthouses – this includes the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the San Juan Islands.
Puget Sound Lighthouses – Lighthouses located in the Puget Sound region.
Washington State Ferries
Getting around the Salish Sea can be fun using the Washington State Ferries. For cross Puget Sound and San Juan sailings check this page out.
U.S. Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard was responsible for erecting the lighthouses throughout the Salish Sea. The Coast Guard continues to do their job in law enforcement and search and rescue in the region.
August 7 - Lighthouse Day!
Yes, there is a national Lighthouse Day that is celebrated every August 7th.
It was on this day in 1789, that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouse, beacons, buoys and public piers. In Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the signing of the Act and the commissioning of the first Federal lighthouse, Congress passed a resolution which designated August 7, 1989 as National Lighthouse Day.
The Salish Sea!
The Salish Sea is the name of the inland waters of Washington State and and southern British Columbia. This inland sea stretches from the Strait of Georgia out to the Strait of Juan de Fuca down through the Puget Sound to Olympia, Washington State.
Where did the name Salish come from?
The Salish Sea is named in honor of the tribes of the First Nations people that lived in the region for thousands of years.
The Lighthouses found in the Salish Sea are numerous! This website will only explore the lighthouses in Washington State.
Since lighthouses were built and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, there is a section about the Coast Guard in general and photos of Salish Sea Coast Guard facilties
Volunteering and Donating to Lighthouses
Each lighthouse has it own issues and conditions. Obviously, restoring and maintaining lighthouse is expensive and must rely on donations and volunteers to keep them open.
We all benefit by supporting lighthouses. They provide a glimpse into our past and provide a tourist destination.
Visiting lighthouses and exploring their importance and history provides a great learning activity. Visit a Lighthouse soon!
Marine Life
The Salish Sea is home to a diverse range of marine mammals, including orcas, humpback whales, gray whales, porpoises, seals, and sea lions. These species thrive in the rich and productive waters of the region, making the Salish Sea an important habitat for marine life. Conservation efforts are underway to protect and preserve the unique ecosystem and the well-being of these marine mammals in the area.
