Up in Alaska in the middle of nowhere, there is a lonely lighthouse. This lighthouse stands isolated inside the middle of the Lynn Canal somewhere between the route from Juneau to Haines and Skagway.
I took this picture after departing Skagway as the ship we were on board made its way south and back through the Inside Passage toward civilization. I was standing on deck when I first spotted the Eldred Rock Light. I was immediately struck by how small this lighthouse looked on this small island with the ocean around it and massive mountains in the distance. These were the mountains of the Chilkat Range to the west and the Kakuhan Range to the east.
Looking at the lighthouse, it was very easy to realize how massive the mountains were, how vast the ocean was, and how far away help was if anything were to happen historically. In reality, Haines was only about 20 miles away. However, thinking about ships cruising through this canal, it was very easy to imagine why mariners of the past would want a light on this small island in the middle of the channel. It could easily be treacherous. Instead, today this lighthouse offers a beacon of hope for a safe voyage through the Lynn Canal.
The Eldred Rock Light was built after the American Schooner, the Louisa Downs, was wrecked near Eldred Rock in 1867 and another incident near it in 1898. The Eldred Rock Light was activated on June 1, 1906. It was the last of 12 lighthouses that were built in Alaska between 1902 and 1906. The structure of the lighthouse was two stories, the lower being made of concrete and the upper wood. It also has an octagonal tower. In 1973, the light was automated by the United States Coast Guard and then downgraded to a minor light.
Initially, when I saw this lighthouse I had no clue what it was or where exactly it sat. I just knew the ship had left Skagway and was heading south, which wasn’t a lot to go on. On Saturdays I like to watch Aerial America and the episode that was on this morning was about Alaska. At one point, I glanced up from my work on DapsMagic.com as I heard them talking about a lighthouse (I do love lighthouses and would love to visit more and take more photos of them). It turned out it was Eldred Rock Light! This got me going down a rabbit hole about this lighthouse and the area around it. The above is a much-abbreviated look at what I found about it.
As I sit here at Starbucks writing about this lighthouse. I’m struck by how long it was manned. People lived on this island, 20 miles away by boat from the closest town (Haines is not large) for 67 years. This was before GPS, updated charts (not to mention digital charts!), modern materials, reliable engines, modern weather forecasting, depth sounders, or even modern survival gear! And yet, for nearly 7 decades a lighthouse keeper lived on Eldred Rock to maintain this lighthouse and keep mariners safe. What a job. What a sacrifice. What a view.
If you have never traveled up the Inside Passage of Alaska, I highly suggest it. It is absolutely beautiful and the majesty and power of nature are on full display. If you like, I will write more about some of my favorite places in Alaska’s Inside Passage in the future. Let me know in the comments. What do you think of this lighthouse? Have you seen it before (in person or somewhere else)? Let me know your thoughts, opinions, and experiences in the comments!
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