# Point Adams Light

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**Point Adams Light** was a [lighthouse](/source/Lighthouse) near the mouth of the [Columbia River](/source/Columbia_River) on the [Oregon Coast](/source/Oregon_Coast) of the [United States](/source/United_States). The lighthouse was designed by [Paul J. Pelz](/source/Paul_J._Pelz), who also designed Point Adams's sister stations, [Point Fermin Light](/source/Point_Fermin_Light) in San Pedro, California, [East Brother Island Light](/source/East_Brother_Island_Light) in Richmond, California, [Mare Island Light](/source/Mare_Island_Light), in Carquinez Strait, California (demolished in the 1930s), [Point Hueneme Light](/source/Point_Hueneme_Light) in California (replaced in 1940), and [Hereford Inlet Light](/source/Hereford_Inlet_Light) in North Wildwood, New Jersey, all in essentially the same style. It operated from February 15, 1875, until 1899, when it became obsolete by the extension of the south [jetty](/source/Jetty) and the establishment of the [Lightship *Columbia*](/source/Lightship_Columbia) in 1892. The lighthouse was considered a fire hazard and demolished in 1912.[2]

It was located about a mile south of [Point Adams](/source/Point_Adams)—named by [Captain Robert Gray](/source/Robert_Gray_(sea-captain)) in 1792 [\[1\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20070830053721/http://www.iinet.com/~englishriver/LewisClarkColumbiaRiver/Regions/Places/point_adams.html)—near what is now Battery Russell in [Fort Stevens State Park](/source/Fort_Stevens_State_Park). The combination of the Point Adams Light with the [Cape Disappointment Lighthouse](/source/Cape_Disappointment_Lighthouse) on the north side of the river effectively framed the entrance to the Columbia.

The keeper's quarters and light were a combined structure, similar to the [Yaquina Bay Light](/source/Yaquina_Bay_Light), in Newport,[2] and used the same structure, materials, and optics as [Point Fermin Light](/source/Point_Fermin_Light) south of [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles,_California).[1]

The light was changed from alternating red and white to fixed red on January 21, 1881,[3] to reduce confusion with the nearby just-completed [Tillamook Rock Light](/source/Tillamook_Rock_Light).[2] The change caused HMS *Fern Glen* to run aground, evidently unaware of the change. At the same time, the fog signal was removed: it had long been criticized by mariners as being inaudible over waves crashing on shore.[1]

The keeper considered the biggest maintenance problem to be the prevention of sand accumulation at the base of the lighthouse. Fences were unsuccessfully attempted at one point.[2]

After decommissioning, the light was replaced by the [Desdemona Sands Light](/source/Desdemona_Sands_Light) in December 1901.[4] It was finally burned down by the Lighthouse Service in 1912.[1]

## See also

- [List of lighthouses on the Oregon Coast](/source/List_of_lighthouses_on_the_Oregon_Coast)

## References

1. ["Point Adams Light"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040315192800/http://www.rudyalicelighthouse.net/NWLts/PtAdams/PtAdams.htm). Rudy and Alice's Lighthouse Page. Archived from [the original](http://www.rudyalicelighthouse.net/NWLts/PtAdams/PtAdams.htm) on 2004-03-15. Retrieved 2007-09-18.

1. Hewitt/Noack. ["Point Adams Lighthouse"](http://www.discoveroregonlighthouses.com/adams.html). Discover Oregon Lighthouses. Retrieved 2007-09-18.

1. Lyn Topinka. ["Point Adams Lighthouse and Fog-whistle ..."](https://web.archive.org/web/20080528073756/http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/point_adams.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/point_adams.html) on May 28, 2008. Retrieved 2010-01-08.

1. ["Desdemona Sands Lighthouse"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110105213614/http://rudyalicelighthouse.net/NWLts/Desdmna/Desdmna.htm). Rudy and Alice's Lighthouse Page. Archived from [the original](http://www.rudyalicelighthouse.net/NWLts/Desdmna/Desdmna.htm) on 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2007-09-18.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Point Adams Light](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Adams_Light) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Adams_Light?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.