Ginger Nichols Remembers Destruction Island Lighthouse

Destruction Island Lighthouse, 1940, with lightkeeper Al Beyers. The island was groomed and well-maintained at this time. Photo from Coast Guard Museum Northwest.

Lonely Destruction Island Lighthouse, three miles off Kalaloch, Washington was named for a massacre that took place there between explorers and the local natives. Only a few buildings remain on the island. It is in the care of U.S. Fish & Wildlife. Sadly, USFW has done nothing to preserve this historic lighthouse. Photo by the author, taken from a plane.

The keepers' residence, gone now. National Park Service image here and below. Al Beyer below with his small daughter and friends.

Landing and boom during the Coast Guard era, circa 1960. Coast Guard photo.

Helo landing about 1970. Note the first order lens in the tower--beautiful! Coast Guard photo. Below is the lens as it now sits on display at the lifesaving museum in Westport. Author photo.