National Historic Landmark

Lightship WAL-604, COLUMBIA

Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon
Listed
December 20, 1989
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
89002463

About this property

United States lightship Columbia (WLV-604) is a lightship located in Astoria, Oregon, United States of America. Columbia was formerly moored near the mouth of the Columbia River. Commissioned in 1951, Columbia was the fourth and final lightship stationed at the mouth of the Columbia River. Built by Rice Brothers Shipyard in Boothbay, Maine, Columbia was launched with her sister-ship, Relief (WLV-605). The new WLV-604 replaced the aging vessel LV-93, which had been in service on the Columbia River since 1939. From 1892 until 1979, the Columbia River lightships guided vessels across the Columbia River Bar and an area known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. Columbia was the final lightship to be decommissioned on the U.S. West coast. She was replaced by an automated navigational buoy soon after. The buoy has since been retired. Because of its importance, the Coast Guard had a permanent 18 man crew stationed on board, consisting of 17 enlisted men and one warrant officer who served as ship's captain. Everything the crew needed had to be on board. In the winter, weeks of rough weather prevented any supplies from being delivered. Life on board the lightship was marked by long stretches of monotony and boredom intermixed with riding gale-force storms. The crew worked two to four week rotations, with ten men on duty at all times. In 1978, Columbia was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was removed from the Register in 1983 due to relocation from its historic location. She was returned to the Register in 1989 when she was declared a National Historic Landmark, listed under the name Lightship WAL-604, "Columbia". WLV-604 is now located at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, alongside the navigational buoy that replaced her in 1979. Media related to US Lightship Columbia at Wikimedia Commons Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club station: W7BU, Lightship COLUMBIA museum. Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. OR-159, "Lightship Columbia, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, Clatsop County, OR", 5 photos, 4 data pages, 1 photo caption page National Historic Landmark Nomination for Lightship Columbia

Location

1792 Maritime Dr.
Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon
46.19039, -123.82386

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Svenson Blacksmith Shop
Industrial
0.1 mi
Fort Astoria
Early Republic
0.2 mi
Astor, John Jacob, Hotel
Industrial
0.2 mi
Grace Episcopal Church and Rectory
Industrial
0.3 mi
Grace Episcopal Church Rectory, Old
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Fort Stevens Bombardment
1942Modern
8.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Lightship WAL-604, COLUMBIA listed on the National Register?

Lightship WAL-604, COLUMBIA was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 1989.

What type of historic resource is Lightship WAL-604, COLUMBIA?

Lightship WAL-604, COLUMBIA is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Lightship WAL-604, COLUMBIA a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Lightship WAL-604, COLUMBIA has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Lightship WAL-604, COLUMBIA?

The period of significance for Lightship WAL-604, COLUMBIA is recorded as the industrial era.

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