The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was first lit in 1856 and is the oldest functioning lighthouse on the West Coast of the USA. This Historic Lighthouse, located on a 200-foot-high cliff in Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington State, was constructed to alert sailors entering the nearby river bar known as "the graveyard of the Pacific." Cape Disappointment headland is so named due to English Captain John Meares avoiding a hazardous river bar in 1788 while on an expedition to find a Gateway to the Pacific Ocean. Four years later in 1792, American Ship Captain Robert Gray crossed over that dangerous bar and named the river after his ship the 'Columbia' but he did not travel through to the Pacific Ocean.

When Thomas Jefferson became President of the United States in 1801 he had the vision that England, France and Spain could be forced out of North America if a water trade route existed from Sea to shining Sea. In January, 1803, he sent a confidential letter to Congress seeking authorization for the launch of The 'Corps of Discover' to explore the waterways to the western ocean. The prospect of boundless trade opportunities became available in April, 1803, with The Louisiana Purchase, one of the world's most historical events. Two months later President Jefferson sent a letter to Captain Meriwether Lewis, Secretary of the President of the United States, stating the object of his Mission was to follow the Missouri River west from St. Louis in an attempt to find the "most direct and practicable water communication across the continent, for the purposes of commerce." The 'Lewis and Clark Expedition' completed their Mission 28 months and 8,000 miles later when they crossed the treacherous river bar with "waves breaking with tremendous force in every direction" (William Clark, November 18, 1806) and arrived at the base of Cape Disappointment.

With the consideration that Confederate Armies may attack, the Federal Government installed cannons at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1862. Thirteen years later this fortress was named in recognition of General Edward R. Canby and continued to expand. After WW II, the 27 miles along the Pacific Ocean transferred to the State of Washington and, in part, to the United States Coast Guard and was re-named Cape Disappointment State Park.

About the Author

Betty Jo Sheley, www.showlinehomesecurity.com Buy here Security Products for Home and Personal Protection. Author participated in Mayoral Conflict Resolution Institute, Community Think Tank Studies. You may reprint this article if you include my name with my active link.