National Register of Historic Places

Dofflemyer Point Light

Olympia, Thurston County, Washington
Listed
April 30, 1995
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
93001339

About this property

The Dofflemyer Point Lighthouse is a U.S. lighthouse in Boston Harbor, Washington, and was one of the first in the state of Washington to be automated. It sits at the northeastern entrance to Budd Inlet north of Olympia. It is the southernmost light in Puget Sound and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dofflemeyer Point defines the eastern side of the entrance to Budd Inlet, which leads south to Olympia, the state capital. Dofflemyer Point was named after Isaac Dofflemyer, a pioneer settler. A lens lantern atop a twelve-foot stake was established at the Point in 1887. As of 2023, the present day 30-foot (9.1 m), pyramidal concrete tower, designed by architect Rufus Kindle, replaced the first light in 1934. In the 1960s, the Coast Guard automated the Dofflemyer Point Lighthouse, using photoelectric cells to turn the light on and off. However, a contract keeper was still required to maintain the light and tower, and to activate the fog signal when needed. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1987 and a radio-beacon, which transmitted a radio signal used in locating a mariner's position, was installed. On May 1, 1995, the Dofflemyer Point Lighthouse was officially designated by the Washington State Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as an historic place and listed on the Washington Heritage Register. The lighthouse sits on private property and is not open to the public.

Location

211 NE. 73rd
Olympia, Thurston County, Washington
47.14042, -122.90716

Categories

MARITIME 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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Dofflemyer Point Light

This page lists Dofflemyer Point Light. 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 Dofflemyer Point Light report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Weyerhaeuser South Bay Log Dump Rural Historic Landscape
Listed
2.9 mi
Meyer House
Industrial
6 mi
Hale, Calvin and Pamela, House
Industrial
6.2 mi
Georgia-Pacific Plywood Company Office
Industrial
6.2 mi
LOTUS (motor vessel)
Industrial
6.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Dofflemyer Point Light listed on the National Register?

Dofflemyer Point Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 1995.

What type of historic resource is Dofflemyer Point Light?

Dofflemyer Point Light is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Dofflemyer Point Light?

The period of significance for Dofflemyer Point Light is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Dofflemyer Point Light?

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 Dofflemyer Point Light will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Thurston County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Thurston County.

Explore ThurstonCounty ›

More historic places in Washington

Browse all historic places in Washington.

View Washingtonhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Washington history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Washingtonhistory ›

Research the history near this site

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

Research your locationView a free sample report