Guard Island Light
Aug. 27, 2019
Guard Island Light, Tongass Narrows, Ketchikan, Alaska
Guard Island Light, Tongass Narrows, Ketchikan, Alaska
Guard Island Light, Tongass Narrows, Ketchikan, Alaska
Built in 1904.
GUARD ISLANDS LIGHT
TONGASS NARROWS ENTRANCE/CLARENCE STRAIT
Station Established: 1904
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1924
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1969
Deactivated: n/a
Foundation Materials: CONCRETE
Construction Materials: CONCRETE
Tower Shape: SQUARE ON OIL HOUSE
Markings/Pattern: WHITE
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL 1904
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
- Construction began in the summer of 1903 but halted for the winter. The light was completed in lit by September 1904. Classified as a minor light it had a fixed white fourth order lens. This was one of only three stations in Alaska where families were permitted to live.
- Improvements were made in 1922 when a reinforced concrete fog-signal building replaced the bell struck every 20 seconds by clock work machinery. The original bell tower was also improved and heightened.
- In 1938-39 a radio telephone and a radio beacon monitoring system were installed.
- In 1956 the radio beacon was modified for both marine and aircraft navigation.
- Station was automated in 1969.