NEWS17-035
| Media contacts:
Toni Droscher, State Parks, (360) 902-8604
Janet Easley, Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse, (360) 665-5580 |
Activities and tours take place June 3, at Cape Disappointment State Park
OLYMPIA – May 22, 2017– Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse invite the public to help celebrate the 119th anniversary of the North Head Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment State Park in Ilwaco.
Numerous events will take place to commemorate the Lighthouse’s birthday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 3, at Cape Disappointment State Park, 244 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco (Directions)
Parking and a free shuttle to the lighthouse will be available at the Cape D Café, which is across from the main campground entrance. Parking is also available at the North Head Lighthouse parking area. A Discover Pass will not be needed for vehicle access to the park that day because June 3 is a State Parks free day, in recognition of National Trails Day.
This fun family event will feature music, kids’ entertainment—including a clown, an open house at the lighthouse keeper’s residence, guided historical hikes at noon and 1 p.m., and cake and refreshments. The lighthouse store and a small museum with related exhibits will also be open. A special tour offering at 3 p.m. explains the Maya Lin-designed art installations in the park—the cedar grove, the Confluence Boardwalk and the Fish Cleaning Table.
Though the lighthouse is undergoing restoration and is closed for tours at this time, the birthday celebration is a good opportunity to see the structure in the midst of a major renovation to improve its beauty, its structural soundness and its historic integrity. Now sheathed in scaffolding, with stucco and stone work in its future, the lighthouse is expected to be completely restored by late 2018. Event participants may take an easy walk to the lighthouse and enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the coast.
For more information, contact Stephen Wood, Parks Interpretive Specialist, (360) 642-3029; Janet Easley, Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse, (360) 665-5580 or Lona Niemi, also from the Keepers group, (360) 642-2502.
About the North Head Lighthouse
North Head Lighthouse is one of two lighthouses located near Cape Disappointment State Park. The other is Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, which sits on U.S. Coast Guard property. The North Head Lighthouse was completed in 1898. Information about visiting Cape Disappointment State Park is here: http://parks.state.wa.us/486/Cape-Disappointment
About the Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse
The Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse is part of the Friends of the Columbia River Gateway (FCRG) and provide volunteer and financial assistance to Washington State Parks to maintain and enhance the North Head Lighthouse. The FCRG organization generates funds through the sales of merchandise at two retail outlets within Cape Disappointment State Park. For more information, visit: http://northheadlighthouse.com/
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About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at http://adventureawaits.com/
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W.
P.O. Box 42650
Olympia, WA 98504-2650
Washington Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388