National Register of Historic Places

Cape Decision Light Station

Sitka, Wrangell-Peterburg County, Alaska

Listed

February 2, 2005

Type

District

Period

Industrial

Ref No.

04001568

About this property

Cape Decision is a lighthouse located on Kuiu Island adjacent to Sumner Strait in Southeast Alaska. The first attempt to light these waters was an acetylene lantern placed on the Spanish Islands, just off the southern end of Kuiu Island. The lantern was proved ineffective and consequently Congress appropriated $59,400 in 1929 for a lighthouse and construction began in September of that year. However, weather and inadequate funds delayed the completion of the station until it finally became active in March 1932. The total cost ended up in excess of $150,000. The lighthouse became automated in 1974 and in 1989 fire damaged the tram, dock, boathouse, hoist house, paint shed, and helipad. The original third order Fresnel lens was replaced in 1996 with solar powered aero beacon. The lens is on display in Clausen Museum in the nearby community of Petersburg. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. It is currently an active aid to navigation. The lighthouse is currently owned and maintained by the Cape Decision Lighthouse Society. Media related to Cape Decision Lighthouse at Wikimedia Commons "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Alaska" (PDF). United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Alaska". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. AK-56, "Cape Decision Light Station, South Kuiu Island on Sumner Strait, Petersburg, Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area, AK", 47 photos, 4 photo caption pages

Location

Sitka, Wrangell-Peterburg County, Alaska

56.00062, -134.13605

Everything a full report reveals about Cape Decision Light Station

This page lists Cape Decision Light Station. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Cape Decision Light Station report

Or see a real report first

Questions about this property

When was Cape Decision Light Station listed on the National Register?

Cape Decision Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 2, 2005.

What type of historic resource is Cape Decision Light Station?

Cape Decision Light Station is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Cape Decision Light Station?

The period of significance for Cape Decision Light Station is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Cape Decision Light Station?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Cape Decision Light Station will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More historic places in Alaska

Browse all historic places in Alaska.

View Alaskahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Alaska history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Alaskahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Cape Decision Light Station will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your location View a free sample report