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After several close calls by other explorers, Captain Robert Gray discovered the Columbia River on May 11,
1792. After sailing 10 miles up the river, and staying a few days, he named it
after his ship the "Columbia Rediviva".
A mere one hundred years later, the danger to ships entering the river was fully
realized. LV-50 (Light Vessel) took its place, 4.4 miles and 232 degrees off
Cape Disappointment, marking the main channel into the Columbia. Eight ships
served as the Columbia Lightship, the last was the 604, now stationed at the
Columbia River Maritime Museum. Notably the Columbia River station was the first
on the west coast, it was also the last. Today the channel is marked by a
functional, unmanned, lighted buoy.
The mouth of the Columbia is known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific." Hundreds
of ships have wrecked off the mouth of the Columbia's tricky, but navigable
channels. None of these wrecks are more famous than the wreck of the four masted
British barque Peter Iredale in 1906. She wrecked with 27 hands on board (two
were stowaways!). The wreck of the Peter Iredale is still an attraction on the
beach at Fort Stevens State Park, nearly 100 years later.
To fully appreciate duty on a lightship, you will need to make a trip to Astoria
and board the 604, close your eyes, picture duty onboard in cramped quarters,
surrounded by a sea of fog, with the constant rolling of the ship as strong
waves and winds toss the vessel to and fro.... perhaps it's best to quit here.
Most of us are just not cut out for sea duty on a lightship. Lightship crews
deserve our respect for this hazardous duty they performed!
Lightships that served as the Columbia:
LV-50 1891-1897 • LV-67 1897-1898 • LV-50 1898-1899
1899-1901 marked by a buoy
LV-50 1901-1905 • LV-67 1905-1906 • LV-50 1906-1909 • LV-88/WAL-513 1909-1939
LV-93/WAL-517 1939-1951 • WLV-604 1951-1979 (#640 Photos) |
