A Visit to the Mukilteo Lighthouse

Point Elliot Lighthouse - Mukilteo, WA

One of my favorite local historic and scenic places is the Mukilteo lighthouse, Mukilteo is a small town located on the shores of Puget Sound about 25 miles north of Seattle and just south of Everett, Washington. It is the only lighthouse in Snohomish County and is the most accessible and easy to visit lighthouse in the greater Seattle area.

Built in 1905, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and also listed on Washington State's Heritage Register. It underwent a renovation in 1987 to return it as closely as possible to its original appearance, so it looks very much today like it did when it was built .

The ownership of the light station was transferred from the US Government to the city of Mukilteo in 2001 and it has become the town's main attraction and the centerpiece of the city park. An annual festival is held each September to celebrate this historic landmark. The lighthouse is still in use as a navigational aid and the US Coast Guard maintains the navigational equipment. including the signal light and foghorn.

The light station is open to the public every weekend from April through September. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. Tours are offered by the local historical society and the site can also be used as a unique picturesque venue for weddings.

As you can see from the picture, the Mukilteo Lighthouse is also very photogenic little light station and even a mediocre photographer (like me!) can take some lovely photos.

Where is the Mukilteo Lighthouse?  

Map and Driving Instructions to Mukilteo from Seattle:

 From Interstate 5 roughly 22 miles north of Seattle, take Highway 526 west 3.5 miles to where it ends at Highway 525. Turn right on Highway 525 and follow it to the Whidbey Island Ferry Landing in Mukilteo.

The light station is to the left, just south of the ferry landing

The Mukilteo Light Station

Quick Facts About the Mukilteo Lighthouse

• Built in 1905
• Lighthouse Tower is 38 Feet Tall
• Fourth Order Fresnel Lens
• Began Operation March 1, 1906
• White Light Flashes Every 5 Seconds
• Beacon is Visible for 12 Miles

The History of the Point Elliot Light Station

A Historical Photo of the Mukilteo Lighthouse - Photo credit US Coast Guard - Public Domain

The Elliot Point light station was designed by architect C.W. Leick and construction began in 1905. This same plan was used to build two other Pacific coast lighthouses - the ones at Ediz Hook, Washington and Cape Arago, Oregon. The buildings were all built from wood and the total construction cost was approximately $27,000.
The tower is 38 feet tall and the station originally included a fog signal building, a keeper's house, an assistant keeper's house a well and pump house with a windmill to power the well pump.
The light has a fourth order Fresnel lens and a large fog horn pointed toward the sea. The station was completed and put into service in 1906. The white light from the beacon flashes every 5 seconds and is visible for up to 12 miles. The fog horn sounds for 3 seconds every 27 seconds and may be heard up to 8 miles away.
The original light was a kerosene lamp which required refueling and maintenance every 3 hours 24 hours a day. The oil light was replaced with an electric light bulb in 1927 and the original rotating Fresnel lens was replaced with a fixed lens.. The light bulb was replaced with a 150 watt halogen bulb in 1972. The fog horn was also replaced in the 1970s. The light and foghorn were both automated in 1979 and an automatic fog sensor was added in 1981.

Mukilteo Lighthouse Hours

A sign on the front gate provides information about the lighthouse including the hours it is open.

Mukilteo Light Station Hours and Rules

Step Inside the Gate for a Tour

The Mukilteo Lighthouse

The lighthouse and surrounding grounds are maintained by the city and volunteers from the Mukilteo Historical society. Members of the historical society serve as hosts when the lighthouse is open to lead tours, answer questions and provide a wealth of information about the history of the area.

Photos and Exhibits Inside the Lighthouse

The old fog signal building contains a fascinating display of the history of the lighthouse.

Architechural Drawings of the Mukilteo Lighthouse

Among the displays is a framed copy of some of the original architect drawings and plans.

A 1908 Photo of the Light Station

Mukilteo Light Station, 1908

 I took a picture of this old photo of the light station taken in 1908. The main keeper's house is to the right of the tower and attached fog station, and the assistant keeper's residence is to the left. The windmill has since been replaced by a garage which now houses more artifacts from the past.

What is a Fresnel Lens?

A Display About Fresnel Lenses at the Mukilteo Lighthouse

The Fresnel (pronounced Fray-nell) lens was invented by Augustin-Jean Fresnel, a French physicist. I'm not a physicist, so my understanding is that the glass is shaped and arranged in such a way to create prisms which capture and bend the light to magnify and increase its intensity. The first Fresnel lens to be used in a lighthouse was installed in 1823 in a lighthouse in France. Fresnel lenses have many other uses including automobile headlights, theater spotlights, projector lights, camera optics, aviation lights or to focus sunlight to make more efficient solar panels.This display in the Mukilteo Lighthouse explains the "Order" of Fresnel lenses for lighthouses. Each lighthouse lens is categorized into an "Order" based on the size of the lens. It is on a scale of 1 through 6 with 1 being the largest, brightest lens and the 6th being the smallest and least bright.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse has a 4th Order lens which is not an exceptionally bright lens. Since the passages in Puget Sound are fairly narrow, the 12 mile range of the beacon is more than adequate to fulfill its purpose as an aid to navigation.

 A Multi-bull's eyed fourth order Fresnel Lens

Multi-Bulls-eye 4th Order Fresnel Lens

This gorgeous multi-bulls-eyed Fresnel Lens from the Desdemona Sands Lighthouse is a work of art!  It was removed and replaced with a modern airport type beacon light and is now on display at the Mukilteo Lighthouse.

Climbing the Stairs to the Light Tower

The Spiral Staircase to the Mukilteo Light Tower

After looking at all the displays, I started up the narrow, spiral staircase to the light tower. I couldn't really get a good photo to show how the stairway winds up the tower. The interpretive displays explained that the original kerosene lamp needed to be refueled every 3 hours. As I climbed the steep stairs, I thought of how many times the keepers made this climb each year to keep the beacon lit.

The Fresnel Lens 

Fourth Order Fresnel Lens - Mukilteo Lighthouse

This is a photo of my first glimpse of the Fresnel lens looking up from the stairwell.

Mukilteo Lighthouse Halogen Lightbulb

Of course the days of the kerosene lamps are long gone, but it was still amazing to see what a tiny light powers the beacon. This 150 watt halogen bulb can be seen brightly for 12 miles with the magic of a Fresnel lens. It reminded me of pulling back the curtain and finding the Wizard of Oz.

The View From the Top of the Lighthouse Tower 

A View of  Puget Sound and a ferry from the Mukilteo Lighthouse

This is the view from inside the tower facing approximately northwest toward Whidbey Island. A Washington State ferry was making one of its runs from the nearby ferry dock across Puget Sound to the island. Images of the light are mirrored on the window on both sides of the ferry.

Rainbows from the Fresnel Lens Prisms 

The Fresnel Lens From Outside

I took this photo from the outside deck of the tower looking in at the lens showing the rainbows from the prisms.

The Mukilteo Light

After walking back outside to the grounds, I took this photo of the lighthouse tower as seen from below.

The Life of a Lighthouse Keeper

Mukilteo Lightkeepers House - Quarters A

There are two keeper's houses at the Mukilteo light station. Quarters "A", as the coast guard called it, was the main keeper's residence. It is not open for tours, but this is the outside of the building facing the street away from the lighthouse and Puget Sound.

Mukilteo's First Lighthouse Keeper

Peter N. Christiansen, the first Mukilteo Lighthouse Keeper 

The first keeper who climbed the stairs to tend the light in the tower, was Peter N. Christiansen. He was born in Norway and served in the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Navy before becoming a lighthouse keeper. Before being assigned to the Mukilteo Lighthouse, P.N Christianson served as the assistant keeper at the Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington.

The Christiansen Family -  First Residents of the Mukilteo Lighthouse

Peter Christiansen served for almost 20 years as the first keeper of the Mukilteo lighthouse. He lived in the keepers house with his wife and four children until his sudden death from what was believed to be a heart attack in 1925. After his death, Peter Christiansen's wife, Theodine, assumed the duties as the second lighthouse keeper for 2 years. She was one of the first female lightkeepers. This plaque and photo of the Christiansen family is displayed near the entrance of Keeper's Quarters "A" facing Puget Sound.

Mukilteo Assistant Lightkeepers House - Quarters B

The Assistant Keeper's Residence, (called Quarters B by the Coast Guard), now houses interpretive displays and a gift shop. This view is from near the water's edge of Puget Sound looking inland.

Lighthouse Keeper Uniform

Inside the old Assistant Light Keepers Residence is an interesting museum about not only the history of the Mukilteo lighthouse, but also the history of lighthouses and the lighthouse service including a display of a light keepers uniform.

Lighthouse Souvenirs from the Gift Shop

The Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival

Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival Banner

Each year in the 2nd weekend in September, the city of Mukilteo has a festival to celebrate the lighthouse.

• Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival - Celebrate By the Bay
  The Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival Association -  In 2004 Mukilteo service and community groups formed the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival Association (MLFA) to carry on the spirit and tradition of the Annual Lighthouse Festival. 

Planning a Visit to the Mukilteo Lighthouse?

Silver Cloud Inn Mukilteo

If you are looking for lodging in Mukilteo, the Mukilteo Silver Cloud Inn is within walking distance of the lighthouse.  It is right on the waterfront overlooking Puget Sound and the ferry dock.  There are several other hotels, but they are further away from the waterfront and lighthouse.

More Information About Lighthouses in Washington State

There are several organizations who are a great source of information about lighthouses in Washington State.

• The Lighthouses of Washington at Lighthousefriends.com
  Information about lighthouses in Washington state.

• Map of Lighthouses in Washington StateWashington Lighthouses A map where you can click on a lighthouse name or icon for more information about a lighthouse in Washington State.

Cle Elum River Boondocking

One of my favorite RV boondocking camping areas near Seattle is about 100 miles east on I-90 in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.  There are several campgrounds that can be accessed from the forest service roads branching off from the Salmon La Sac Road, but past the campgrounds are numerous old logging roads that provide dispersed camping spots for those who prefer more solitude.

Camping along the banks of the Cle Elum River

To get to the Salmon La Sac Road, from I-90, take exit 80 to Roslyn.

On the way, you will pass through the historic town of Roslyn which was used as the filming location for the TV Series, Northern Exposure.

After leaving Roslyn, a few miles further the road goes through the even smaller town of Ronald.

The Road to Salmon La Sac

A few scattered housing tracts extend for few miles out of town before the road enters the national forest.  After a total of about 10 miles from Ronald, just past the Cle Elum River Campgrund  is a signpost.  Take the left turn to French Cabin Creek.  After turning left, is a bridge over the Cle Elum River.

Cle Elum River Bridge

After crossing the bridge there are numerous camping sites.  From about April to October there are minimal amenities like garbage dumpsters and porta-potties and there is a small fee for camping.  For the rest of the year if the snow is gone, you can use it for free and have the entire area largely to yourself.

Or you can continue on past the campground and go either right or left at the Y in the road.

 A Fork in the Road - with the Knox Creek and Thorp Lake Sign

Taking the left fork leads to numerous sites on or near the Cle Elum River.

A side- road to a camping site

Of course it is a good idea to walk down these small side roads first to make sure they are passable and not too rough or narrow for your RV.  Underbrush and trees grow fast in the Pacific Northwest and some side roads may be too overgrown for many RVs.

A bridge across French Cabin Creek

Go slowly over the old bridge over French Cabin Creek - it is a little bumpy.  Beyond the bridge to the left is another great free boondocking camping area in the trees that extends down to the river.

A large camping area under the trees

If you take the right fork toward the Thorp Lake Trail and Knox Creek Trail, there are side roads with camping sites there, too.  The road is rough as it climbs through a series of switchbacks.  After it flattens out there are several campsites, mostly on the side roads left of the main road.

A creek flowing over the road

Although not along the shores of the river, there are several sites along French Cabin Creek.  In fact you will need to drive through French Cabin Creek to get to this campsite.

A Camping Spot with a View of Red Mountain

The creek is usually only a couple of inches deep and if it is safe to cross, on the other side of the creek is another of my favorite sites camping sites with a view of Red Mountain.

If you want more information about camping in the area, visit the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest website.

RV Laundry Woes

The Quest for Quarters

Coin-op Laundry Sign

Our RV isn't equipped with a washer and dryer so we realized we would need to use the coin-op laundry at the RV park or a laundromat to do our wash.  The RV park where we are living has a nice laundry room and it is just a short walk up the road.  I used apartment house laundry rooms and laundromats before I owned my own home umpteen years ago so I didn't think it would be a big deal.  Been there, done that - I can do it again!  But when you've owned your own home for over 40 years, including your own own washer and dryer, it is easy to forget those long ago laundromat irritations.

Bag of Quarters for the coin-op laundry

The laundry room doesn't have a change machine, so we find ourselves on a constant quest for quarters!  We do most of our banking online or through ATMs, so we seldom have any reason to go into a bank  until now.  To skip an extra stop at a bank, every time we go into a grocery store, we ask if we can trade a $10 bill for a roll of quarters - sometimes they will - sometimes not.

I find myself putting a $5 bill into vending machines and pressing the coin return without buying anything to get $5 in quarters.  I've become a quarter hoarder!

I've started to measure the cost of doing laundry measured in quarters. The washing machines cost 5 quarters per load.

Coin Operated Washing Machine

The dryer costs 4 quarters for 1 hour of drying time.  A total of 9 quarters to wash and dry a load.  I look at my plastic baggie of quarters - do I have enough?

Coin Operated Dryer

Then there was the week (or was it 2 weeks) when 3 out of the 5 dryers in the laundry room were out of order.  During that time, when I needed to do laundry, I set my alarm to get up early so I could be the first one to put my clothes in the washer.  Then I could be sure there would be a working dryer available when my clothes were done in the washing machine.

Out of Order Dryers

In defense of the RV park, I think the manager called for repairs promptly, but apparently it took some time for a repair service to schedule an appointment or there were parts that needed to be ordered before the repairs could be completed.



The lesson here is don't turn into a quarter hoarder!    If you think you may ever want to go on extended trips or live in your RV full time, I would look for a model with a washer and dryer.  Since I  don't have that option, I am considering purchasing a small portable dryer, does anyone have any experience with the one pictured below?

Any other compact washer or dryer recommendations?

Prepping an RV for Winter Living

Before we started living in our RV full-time, my husband just drained the tanks and water lines, added antifreeze, plugged in a dehumidifier, covered it and parked it over the winter.  We tried using it a couple of times on camping trips in the colder months and from those experiences knew our RV wasn't well-insulated for living in it year round. 

Winterized water line in the RV Park

To keep the water lines from freezing we followed the suggestions of the RV park staff.  The hydrant and waterlines were wrapped with roof de-icing cable and then covered with foam pipe insulation.

The roof and gutter de-icing cables were recommended over the heating tape and cables that are usually used by home-owners for metal plumbing pipes

Foam pipe insulation on the RV water line 

To give the hydrant a little extra protection from the cold, a plastic 5-gallon bucket was placed on top upside down.

Since the Pacific Northwest usually has fairly mild winters, the temperature doesn't often go below much below freezing for more than a day or two.  So we kept an eye on the weather forecast and only turned on the heating cables when the temperature was predicted to be below freezing because we didn't really like how warm it kept the cold water coming from the tap.  That worked fine until we went away to visit relatives for 5 days over Thanksgiving.   We checked the forecast before we left and the low temperatures at night were predicted to be in the mid 30s and daytime highs in the 40s. The Seattle area is notorious for having inaccurate weather forecasts, so we should have known better.  We did take the precaution of shutting off our water heater and the water at the hydrant.  A couple of days after we left the temperatures dropped lower than we expected and we came home to our 5th wheel to find an icicle hanging from our kitchen faucet - darn- didn't get a photo!  We were able to unthaw the pipes quickly and fortunately there was no damage.

Thermostat for the roof de-icing cable

We did some research and bought a fairly inexpensive little thermostat that is made for use with the de-icing cable.  We plug the de-icing cable into the thermostat unit and it turns on the cable automatically when the temperature drops below 50 degrees.  So far it has worked fine and now our cold water isn't warm all of the time.  Unfortunately it looks like this product is no longer available which is too bad because it worked great.

We knew our vents were also a source of heat loss, so we bought some vent pillows to insulate them better.   We did notice that they need to be removed periodically to prevent condensation and  mold growth.  

Insulation for RV vents

We just wait for a fairly sunny day every 3-4 weeks to remove the pillow, wipe away any moisture and let the pillow and vent dry for a few hours.

The windows in our RV are single pane so we knew they were causing a huge heat loss and were also forming a lot of condensation.   We bought about 4 of these inexpensive window film insulation kits on sale.  We used my hair blow-drier to heat the film to shrink it.  The window film made a huge difference both in reducing the amount of cold drafts and the amount of condensation on the windows for very little cost.

Film window insulation

We did need to buy an additional roll of the adhesive tape that is used to attach the edges of the film to the windows.

The film wasn't that difficult to install and is virtually invisible on the windows.  I took this close-up of the only window where I could find a little visible wrinkle. 

Film insulation on the inside of an RV window

These few items really helped to make our 5th wheel more warm and comfortable over the winter months.