Where memories endure and tradition continues: A place shaped by millennia, geology, and generations of stewardship.
For thousands of years, Callam Bay and Slip Point has been home to the Makah and Elwha Klallam people. A site of village life, ceremony, and enduing connection long before the lighthouse stood watch. The Keepers recognize this deeper history, and the human presence that shaped Slip Point and continues to guide its restoration.
The history of Slip Point Lighthouse reflects the challenges of navigating the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the importance of coastal navigation along Washington’s northern shoreline.
A Light for a Busy Strait
Slip Point Lighthouse stood on the eastern rim of Clallam Bay, guiding mariners through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It was built to close a large dark gap between Cape Flattery and Ediz Hook, two existing aids that left about sixty miles of shoreline without a fixed light. The first light at Slip Point was shown on April 1, 1905, serving the growing mill town of Clallam Bay and coastal traffic that relied on safe passage along this coast.
Building the Station
Construction began in 1904. Because early federal funds were tight, the “lighthouse” started as a fog signal building with a lens lantern mounted on a shelf (pictured). Keepers reached it via a long wooden catwalk from their 1½-story residence on the other side of the point. In 1916 a square tower with a fourth-order Fresnel lens rose from the side of the fog building, increasing the light’s range and reliability.
Changes Through the 20th Century
The U.S. Coast Guard took over operation in 1939. In 1951 the original building and attached tower were replaced by a modern fifty-foot skeletal tower with a beacon and fog signal. The station was automated in 1977. Around 2000 the tower light was discontinued and a buoy now marks the point for navigation.
What Remains Today
The keeper’s residence (pictured), survives and is one of the best preserved examples of early 1900s Lighthouse Service housing on the Washington coast. The site’s concrete footings and catwalk traces can still be found within Clallam Bay Spit Community Beach County Park. In 2023 the light station location was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its importance to the maritime story of the Strait.
Timeline at a glance
- 1904 Construction begins on keeper’s quarters (pictured) and fog signal building.
- April 1, 1905 First light shown at Slip Point.
- 1916 Square tower with fourth-order Fresnel lens added to the fog building.
- 1939 U.S. Coast Guard assumes operation.
- 1951 Original structure removed and replaced by a fifty-foot tower with beacon and fog signal.
- 1977 Automation.
- Ca. 2000 Fixed light discontinued and replaced by a buoy.
- 2023 Keepers Cottage and grounds listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Keeping up with the Keepers
When the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned Slip Point Light in 1951, the story of its keepers didn’t end—it evolved. After automation, the site shifted from Coast Guard maintenance to periods of vacancy and later served as a Clallam County Sheriff’s substation until 2019.
In 2001, Congress authorized the transfer of the 23.6-acre light station to Clallam County for public use. Local resident Susan Heiny, now president of the Clallam Bay–Slip Point Lighthouse Keepers, helped lead the effort to secure the conveyance and preserve the property for future generations.
In 2022, Don Crawford, Director of Clallam County Parks, Fairs, and Facilities, led the successful nomination of Slip Point Light to the National Register of Historic Places, officially listed on May 16, 2023. That same year, the Lighthouse Keepers became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated to restoring the site and sharing its maritime legacy.
Working with County Commissioner Mike French, the Sheriff’s Office, and community partners, the Keepers continue to advocate for restoration and public access—ensuring this historic light remains a beacon for generations to come.
“Slip Point Light guided ships for nearly a century. Now, we’re guiding it into the next one.” Clallam Bay–Slip Point Lighthouse Keepers. Visit our Get Involved page to join us.
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