Along the 8 mile trip we will watch for sea lions, orcas, porpoises, seals and other wildlife that inhabit the san juans. Patos island lighthouse washington the lighthouse people. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Inside they have old photos, scrap books, artifacts and you can climb the light tower. Her parents raised thirteen children while her father.
The light on the island news newspapers books scholar jstor august 2007 learn how and when to remove this. Her father was a noted lighthouse keeper in the pacific northwest until his death, while on duty, at the semiahmoo lighthouse in blaine, washington in 1919. Patos island lighthouse san juan islands, washing lighthouse. A list of significant historyrelated books the orcas museums recommend. Patos island is a small island in the san juan islands of the u. The lighthouse is now part of patos island state park. Washington rural heritage is a community memory project headquartered at the washington state library, a division of the office of the secretary of state. The lighthouse began operation in 1893 but the current light tower was built in 1908. Cleft of the rock cape perpetua lighthouse, oregon at. Light on the island waggoner guide books and fineedge. Patos island lighthouse, san patos island, suan juan islands, eastsound, san juan county, washington. Her parents raised thirteen children while her father served as the patos island lighthouse keeper from 190519.
When we went to patos island on the zodiac, the crew. A local group, keepers of the patos light, is responsible for the renovation of the lighthouse building. Artist james mann made this original watercolor painting of a pod of killer whales swimming in front of patos island lighthouse, with snowcapped mount baker looming in the background. Each pick up order will receive a sms message when ready for collection. Lighthouse tour of puget sound 2010 us lighthouse society. This special hard cover collectors edition of the san juan island classic, the. Patos island lighthouse is an active aid to navigation overlooking the strait of georgia at alden point on the western tip of patos island in the san juan islands, san juan county, washington, in the united states. Once at patos island we will hike to the patos island lighthouse which was completed in 1905. Be sure to visit the lighthouse, recently volunteers have been holding open house during peak summer months. So a lighthouse was built in the boundary pass at alden point on the western tip of patos island in 1893. Classic story of a young girl growing up on patos island in the san juan archipelago. Most of matia is a wildlife reserve and remains offlimits to hikers. The light on the island, by helene glidden, recounts her early years in the lighthouse on patos.
The fourthorder fresnel lens used in the lighthouse was saved by maritime author jim gibbs. San juan island tours l charter boat, fishing, sea kayak. The light on the island book king county library system. Patos island is a 207acre marine park with 20,000 feet of saltwater shoreline that is owned by the bureau of land management. Patos island lighthouse washington lighthouses home. This is a childs eye view of living on patos island in the san juan islands at the turn of the 20th century. But the ship captains who followed wanted a way to duck navigational problems. Bureau of land management, the lighthouse was renovated in 2008 with a new roof, doors, windows, gutters and downspouts, and new paint inside and out.
Chart from the light on the island by helene glidden, cowardmccann, inc. We had wanted to get into matia, the small island east of sucia, but the two mooring balls there were full wed checked twice now. It was a 210 acre area which was a famous hideout for smugglers as it was full of trees and caves. Her parents raised thirteen children while her father served as the patos island lighthouse keeper from 1905 19. Keepers of the patos light keepers of the patos light. Edward and estelle durgan, semiahmoo lighthouse, ca. In 1953 as a 10 year old living in upstate new york, i read the light on the island and was mesmerized by the adventures of angie and her family on patos island. Be the first to ask a question about the light on the island.
Readers can once again enjoy helene gliddens classic the light on the island, as this 50th anniversary edition retells the touching story of a young girl growing up on patos island in the san archipelago of washington state. History of patos island and the lighthouse keepers of the. Tricky anchoring at patos island, san juans sv violet hour. A trail on matia island leads through oldgrowth fir and cedar. The best known lighthouse keeper, edward durgan, moved to patos island with his wife and children in 1905. See more ideas about washington state, san juan islands and us coast guard. Committed to preserving patos island lighthouse and patos island. She originally wrote the light on the island as a memoir for her children. Patos island marine park photos patos island lighthouse.
Island new edition celebrates the 125th anniversary of the patos island lighthouse. The island, its lighthouse, and one of its betterknown keepers, edward durgan, were immortalized in a 1951 book, the light on the island, written by durgans. I read this book while vacationing on the northwest side of orcas island with little patos island in full view. Since 1893, it has been home to the patos island lighthouse, guiding vessels through boundary pass between canada and the united states. Patos island lighthouse patos island with mt baker in the background from shirley reeve east point lighthouse on saturna island in canada was a bonus we hadnt planned on. Patos island lighthouse the northernmost lighthouse in washington, patos island lighthouse is just past sucia island on the northwest point of patos island. Her parents raised thirteen children while her father served. The path to the patos island lighthouse is overgrown with weeds and blackberries since the coast guard automated the light and moved the lighthouse keepers off the outermost san juan island. Recommended reading orcas island historical museums. Patos island in san juan county is the northernmost of the san juan islands and is known for its remoteness and beauty. The light on the island book bellingham public library.
Patos island light is situated 1 mile west of patos island. The light on the island tales of a lighthouse keepers family in the san juan islands book. Readers can once again enjoy helene gliddens classic, the light on the island as this 50th anniversary edition retells the touching story of a young girl growing up on patos is. Patos island lighthouse, san patos island, suan juan islands, eastsound, san juan county, washingtonbuilt in 1893.
Today the lighthouse is part of the patos island state park, which has a hiking trail, is open to boaters, and has camping and pit toilets. This is a fun little book originally published in 1951 by the daughter of the patos island lighthouse keeper from 190519. Jan 08, 2014 today the lighthouse is part of the patos island state park, which has a hiking trail, is open to boaters, and has camping and pit toilets. History of patos island and the lighthouse keepers of. Apr 21, 2017 the path out to the patos island lighthouse took us along a cement sidewalk from the remnants of the old dock, past the site of the keepers quarters, to the lighthouse itself. Jan 17, 2012 the best known lighthouse keeper, edward durgan, moved to patos island with his wife and children in 1905. Dont miss our winter exhibit on the history of patos island lighthouse from its inception in 1893 through its automation in 1974, then the rehabilitation in 2008 by the bureau of land management. A friend, who was with my family on vacation, also read and became hooked on the labrege familys adventures as lighthouse keepers in the early 1900s. The other is a ten minute walk out to the lighthouse and most of it is akin to a road. My problem with the book is that i dont know if it is a true memoir or a little bit memoir padded with stories. The stair railing from the original keepers dwelling at yaquina head is installed in the tower, and among many maritime treasures are two fourthorder fresnel lenses one from semiahmoo lighthouse and the other from patos island lighthouse. A small light station became operational there in 1893, and a 38foot tower was added to the building in 1908.
Readers can once again enjoy helene gliddens classic, the light on the island as this 50th anniversary edition retells the touching story of a young girl growing up on patos island in the san juan archipelago. Patos island had several lighthouse keepers beginning in 1893, but one lighthouse keeper in particular, edward durgan, had the extraordinary good luck of having a writer in his family. Patos island lighthouse or patos island light station is located the west tip of the patos island at alden point. The project brings together unique local history materials from libraries, museums, and private collections of citizens across washington state. The light is automated now and the other buildings are gone. Patos island in san juan county is the northernmost of the san juan islands.
History of patos island and the lighthouse keepers of the patos light. A specific land use plan for the little patos island wsa was published in 1982. The light on the island, written as fiction but based on fact, by his daughter helene glidden, is a delightful and sometimes harrowing account of life on a remote island, as seen. Continue on our journey of visiting the remaining two san juan islands lighthouses, patos island and turn point, in my next blog. Helen durgan glidden wrote a delightful book entitled the light on the island. Patos island lighthouse exhibit san juan islands washington.
The path out to the patos island lighthouse took us along a cement sidewalk from the remnants of the old dock, past the site of the keepers quarters, to the lighthouse itself. Washington state parks manages the campground at active cove on the west side of the island and maintains the two mooring buoys and a 1. The name comes from the spanish pato, meaning duck, which was given to the island in 1792 by commander dionisio alcala galiano of the sutil and captain cayetano valdes. Patos island lighthouse united states coast guard assets. Inside they have old photos, scrap books, artifacts and you can climb the. The true story of a man who, in 1928, at the beginning of his sophomore year, suddenly quit george washington university, left his wealthy family, chose the readers can once again enjoy helene gliddens classic, the light on the island as this 50th anniversary edition retells the touching story of a young girl growing up on patos island in. Womensonly san juan islands tour san juan islands trip. Helene reminisces about the adventure and heartbreak experienced on a beautiful but remote island where smugglers, old timers, and god weave in and out of their lives. Living on an island with a lighthouse, surrounded by marine animals and birds, rowing about in boats, exploring the beaches, coves and woods of patos was a dreamworld away from mine. We will depart orcas island and head for patos island. Curated by and in partnership with keepers of patos light, this exhibit was on display this summer on patos and will be available on orcas until march 2019. Patos island washing is the northern most island of the san juan islands and one of the least visited, but it is also one of the most intriguing.
I really liked this book, im a fan of history books. We were able to fulfill one of my long time wishes, to get ashore on patos island. Gibbs, whose life has been devoted to all things maritime, began his career in the coast guard. Gliddens book after our trip to the lighthouse, and would like to go back again someday, because now i know more about the lighthouse and the island itself. Two childhood friends, linda hudson of lopez island and carla chalker of wisconsin, formed the nonprofit keepers of the patos light in 2007 after visiting the island, which they had read about fifty years earlier in the light on the island. It was manned until 1974 when the light was automated. In the meantime, you may also be interested in our visit to 10 lighthouses on the oregon coast, plus two on the washington coast, that my husband and i. Patos island marine state park washington state parks and.