Alki Point Lighthouse

Lit in 1913, the Alki Point Lighthouse serves as a navigational aid for mariners on the southern point of Seattle's Elliott Bay. Less than a quarter mile from heavily trafficked Alki Beach, most visitors to West Seattle often miss this hidden historic landmark.

Clearly visible from the sound, the lighthouse is almost unnoticeable for pedestrians passing by on Alki Aveneue. In fact, the lighthouse is only one of numerous Coast Guard buildings that occupy Alki Point. The property is also the main residence for the Commander of the Coast Guard's 13th District, which includes Washington as well as all of Oregon.

The property and lighthouse are open for tours to the public, but only for exceptionally limited times during the summer: it is open June through the end of August on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you are visiting during the off season, you can easily walk around the property via the beach at low tide to gain views of the lighthouse, the entire property, and to look west over the Puget Sound toward the Olympic Mountains.

In total, Alki Point Lighthouse is one of 19 U.S. lighthouses still standing on the Puget Sound, not all of which are currently in use. The others include (from north to south):

• Patos Island Lighthouse
• Turn Point Lighthouse
• Lime Kiln Lighthouse
• Cattle Point Lighthouse
• Burrows Island Lighthouse
• New Dungeness Lighthouse
• Admiralty Head Lighthouse
• Point Wilson Lighthouse
• Marrowstone Point Lighthouse
• Bush Point Light
• Mukilteo Lighthouse
• Skunk Bay Lighthouse
• Point No Point Lighthouse
• West Point Lighthouse
• Point Robinson Lighthouse
• Browns Point Lighthouse
• Gig Harbor Lighthouse
• Dofflemyer Point Lighthouse

Note: Dogs or other pets are not permitted on the Alki Point property.