Cape Hinchinbrook Light

Cape Hinchinbrook Light
Cape Hinchinbrook Light
Map
LocationHinchinbrook Island
Prince William Sound
Alaska
United States
Coordinates60°14′14″N 146°38′48″W / 60.23734°N 146.64665°W / 60.23734; -146.64665
Tower
Constructed1910 (first)
Foundationconcrete and rock
Constructionreinforced concrete tower
Automated1974
Height67 feet (20 m)
Shapeoctagonal tower with lantern
Markingsart deco architecture
white tower, black lantern
Power sourcesolar power Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorUnited States Coast Guard[2]
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1934 (current)
Focal height237 feet (72 m)
LensThird order Fresnel lens (original), Vega lens (current)
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]
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

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

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)
Mean daily maximum °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)
Mean daily minimum °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)
[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Inventory of Historic Light Stations: Alaska Lighthouses". National Park Service. February 13, 2002. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
  2. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Alaska". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "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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