Health concerns cancel Alki Point Lighthouse tours until at least next year

| Safety | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(File photo, from U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary)

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, whose volunteers manage weekly tours of the historic Alki Point Lighthouse, had already announced tours were canceled for last Sunday and this Sunday, as often happens for midsummer staffing challenges. But now there’s new word that tours are canceled for the rest of the season and won’t resume any sooner than next year. Here’s the explanation:

Recent testing has revealed a higher level of lead in the lighthouse structure (from old paint) than was previously found. The Coast Guard, out of an abundance of caution, will not allow public access to the site until the lead level can be significantly reduced.

We are hopeful that a remediation plan and funding will come through and that the lighthouse will again be able to welcome visitors at some point, although we do not have a timeline yet.

The lighthouse was built in 1913 and is a West Seattle icon. We’ll follow up Monday to try to find out more about how the problem was found and what process will ensue to try to mitigate it.

Richard Paul August 2, 2025 (5:56 am)

After all these years. 112 to be exact. And now they tell us. What do you say to the thousands of people who visited throughout all these years? Sorry? Tell visitors to stop sucking on the walls? How many have died or gotten sick? Poor excuse to close.

Bluto August 2, 2025 (3:49 pm)

Some of my fondest childhood memories are sucking on those walls and my brains is function good.
- David von Wolffersdorff August 2, 2025 (9:32 pm)
  
  Thanks for the humor, Bluto:)
Debra Alderman August 3, 2025 (1:04 pm)

Actually it is extremely unlikely anyone has been harmed by the lead that is present in the lighthouse. Lead exposure is mainly a health hazard for young children with prolonged exposure such as in their home. No only has ever lived in the lighthouse and no one has worked in the lighthouse since the 1970s. Visitors only spend a few minutes inside and are advised to wash their hands after their short visit. That being said, the Coast Guard is wise to do some restoration which will address the lead paint issue. If you want to read about health affects of prolonged lead exposre, visit the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/prevention/paint.html

AlkiParade August 3, 2025 (8:44 am)

I wonder if the housing units are also affected. I saw two large moving vans empty out the left house on Friday morning. I know they have personnel changes that could explain that, but it looked like a pretty thorough emptying. Are renovations planned?