Race Rocks Light

Race Rocks Light is one of the first two lighthouses that were built on the west coast of Canada, financed by the British Government and illuminated in 1860. It is the only lighthouse on that coast built of rock, (granite) purportedly quarried in Scotland, and topped with sandstone quarried on Gabriola Island. The Islands of Race Rocks are located just off the southern tip of Vancouver Island, about 16 km (10 mi) southwest of Victoria, British Columbia.

For the light in New York State, see Race Rock Light.
Race Rocks Light
LocationNext to Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Canada
Coordinates48°17′52.9″N 123°31′53.1″W
Year first constructed1859–1860
Year first lit26 December 1860
Automated1997 
Constructionstone tower
Tower shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patterntower with black and white bands, red lantern
Tower height24.4 metres (80 ft)
Focal height36 metres (118 ft)
Range19 nautical mile 
CharacteristicFl W 10 s
Fog signal(3) 60 s
Admiralty numberG5300
CHS numberCCG 0189
NGA number13760
ARLHS numberCAN-426
Managing agentRace Rocks Marine Protected Area[1]
Heritagerecognized federal heritage building of Canada 

History

The lighthouse was built between 1859–1860 by the crew of HMS Topaze and outside labourers under a contract awarded to John Morris by the British Government.[2] It was illuminated on 26 December 1860, six weeks after the smaller Fisgard Island lighthouse built at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour near Victoria. In 2010, both lighthouses celebrated their sesquicentennial. See A complete history of the Light Station and Ecological Reserve.

It has a 24.4 m (80 feet) cylindrical tower with black and white bands, and flashes a white light every 10 seconds. Its foghorn sounds three blasts at one-minute intervals.[3]

The lighthouse has been automated since 1997 at which time Lester B. Pearson College took over the management of the station and the surrounding Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. Restoration of the interior and exterior of the historic light tower was carried out in 2009.[4]

Keepers
  • George Nicholas Davies (1861 – 1866)
  • Thomas Argyle (1866 -1888, retired)
  • Albert Argyle (1888- 1889)
  • W.P. Daykin (Dec. 6 1889 – Jan 1891 transferred to Carmanah)
  • Frederick Mercer Eastwood (Jan 31 1891 – 1919)
  • James Thomas Forsyth (1919 –1932)
  • Henry I. McKenzie (1932 –1933)
  • Andrew Ritchie (1933 – 1940)
  • Thomas Westhead (1940 – 1948)
  • Arthur Anderson (1948 – 1950)
  • Percival C. Pike (1950 – 1952)
  • Gordon Odlum (1952 – 1961)
  • Charles Clark (1961)
  • Ben Rogers (1961 – 1964)
  • J. Alan Tully (1964 – 1966)
  • Trevor M. Anderson (1966 – 1982)
  • Charles Redhead(1982 – 1989)
  • Mike E. Slater (1989 – 1997)[5]

See also

Notes
  1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of British Columbia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  2. First contact with Easter Island
  3. "Race Rocks". Notmar – List of Lights: Pacific Coast. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2007. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  4. "Race Rocks,Restoration of Lighthouse". Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  5. Race Rocks Light Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved April 28, 2016

References


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