Cape Hinchinbrook Light

The Cape Hinchinbrook Light is a lighthouse located near the southern end of Hinchinbrook Island adjacent to Prince William Sound, in Alaska, United States.

Cape Hinchinbrook Light
Cape Hinchinbrook Light
Alaska
LocationHinchinbrook Island
Prince William Sound
Alaska
United States
Coordinates60°14′14″N 146°38′48″W
Year first constructed1910 (first)
Year first lit1934 (current)
Automated1974
Foundationconcrete and rock
Constructionreinforced concrete tower
Tower shapeoctagonal tower with lantern
Markings / patternart deco architecture
white tower, black lantern
Tower height67 feet (20 m)
Focal height237 feet (72 m)
Original lensThird order Fresnel lens (Now on display)
Current lensVega lens
Light sourcesolar power
Range19 nautical miles (35 km; 22 mi)
CharacteristicFl W 15s.
obscured from 134° to 135° and 138° to 283°
emergency light, Fl W 6s. of reduced intensity if main light is extinguished.[1]
Admiralty numberG6592
ARLHS numberALK-002
USCG number6-1125
Managing agentUnited States Coast Guard[2]
Heritageplace listed on the National Register of Historic Places 
Cape Hinchinbrook Light Station
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
Area6.9 acres (2.8 ha)
ArchitectD.A. Chase; Edwin Laird
Architectural styleArt Deco
MPSLight Stations of the United States MPS
NRHP reference No.05000728[3]
AHRS No.COR-095
Added to NRHPJuly 29, 2005

History

Cape Hinchinbrook Lightstation, 1948

The Cape Hinchinbrook Lighthouse was first established in 1910 to mark the entrance to Prince William Sound. Congress authorized the construction of a lighthouse at this point in 1906 appropriating $125,000 for its construction. However, the full amount was not authorized in one lump sum. The money was appropriated over a number of years with $25,000 in 1906, $50,000 in 1907 and the rest in 1908. As a result, construction did not begin until 1909. In the winter of 1909 a temporary fixed white light was established on the second story of the building under construction. Due to the earthquakes in 1927 and 1928, which caused instability in the cliff around the lighthouse, it was felt a new light should be built on solid rock. The new 67-foot (20 m) octagonal tower was completed in 1934. The lighthouse was automated in 1974 and a solar-powered Vega lens was installed. The original third order Fresnel lens is on display at the Valdez Museum and Historical Archive in Valdez, Alaska.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Cape Hinchinbrook Light Station in 2005. The listing was for a historic district including two contributing buildings, three contributing structure, one contributing site, and three contributing objects.[3][4]

Climate

Climate data for Cape Hinchinbrook Light, Alaska
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 54
(12)
50
(10)
47
(8)
63
(17)
68
(20)
81
(27)
81
(27)
76
(24)
72
(22)
64
(18)
52
(11)
55
(13)
81
(27)
Average high °F (°C) 33.3
(0.7)
35.4
(1.9)
36.1
(2.3)
41.3
(5.2)
47.4
(8.6)
54.7
(12.6)
58.3
(14.6)
58.4
(14.7)
53.9
(12.2)
45.8
(7.7)
39.6
(4.2)
35.3
(1.8)
45.0
(7.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 29.8
(−1.2)
32.1
(0.1)
32.3
(0.2)
37.5
(3.1)
43.4
(6.3)
50.1
(10.1)
54.3
(12.4)
54.8
(12.7)
50.2
(10.1)
42.2
(5.7)
36.3
(2.4)
32.0
(0.0)
41.3
(5.2)
Average low °F (°C) 26.2
(−3.2)
28.7
(−1.8)
28.5
(−1.9)
33.6
(0.9)
39.3
(4.1)
45.4
(7.4)
50.3
(10.2)
51.1
(10.6)
46.5
(8.1)
38.5
(3.6)
33.0
(0.6)
28.6
(−1.9)
37.5
(3.1)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19)
1
(−17)
4
(−16)
18
(−8)
22
(−6)
22
(−6)
36
(2)
40
(4)
30
(−1)
24
(−4)
8
(−13)
1
(−17)
−2
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.65
(144)
5.46
(139)
4.50
(114)
6.31
(160)
8.40
(213)
4.56
(116)
7.70
(196)
9.12
(232)
12.86
(327)
11.37
(289)
7.37
(187)
8.36
(212)
91.66
(2,329)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 16.9
(43)
18.9
(48)
18.4
(47)
9.7
(25)
0.5
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
3.7
(9.4)
9.5
(24)
16.0
(41)
93.6
(238.7)

See also

References

  1. "Inventory of Historic Light Stations: Alaska Lighthouses". National Park Service. 2002-02-13. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  2. Cape Hinchinbrook The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 7 June 2016
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. Robert M. Weaver (February 27, 2003). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Cape Hinchinbrook Light Station / Cape Hinchinbrook Lighthouse (AHRS Site No. COR-095)". National Park Service. and accompanying photos
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