lighthouse

 



The southern-most of all the lighthouses in the San Juan Islands, Cattle Point Lighthouse, is located on San Juan Island.   The name stems from the appearance of cattle in 1853. The major trading company, Hudson’s Bay, came here to establish a ranch of sheep and cattle, which they dropped off near the current location of the lighthouse. In 1857 a ship was stranded there, and the cattle it carried swam ashore near the point. It wasn’t until 1888, though, that the area became a navigational aid using a lens lantern. A soldier named Jekle, who had chosen to stay on the island after it had been officially named part of the United States, served as its keeper. Over 30 years later, a radio compass station was established by the U.S. Navy, and seaman were put in charge of maintaining it. The lighthouse, standing 34 feet tall, was erected in 1935 after the compass station closed.

 

San Juan Island, Washington