1903 Scotch Cap Lighthouse Site

 lighthouse, United States Coast Guard, historic ruins

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The Scotch Cap Light was built in 1903. It consisted of a wood tower on an octagonal wood building 45 feet high and was 90 feet above the sea. It was located on the southwest end of Unimak Island and on the east side of the Unimak Pass into the Bering Sea. It was the first station established on the outside coast of Alaska. Prior to the introduction of the helicopter, access to the stations was so difficult that it was impractical to arrange for leave of absence in the ordinary way. Instead each keeper got one full year off in each 4 years of service. The station was initially equipped with a third-order fixed white light.

The light was discontinued after the 1940 lighthouse was lit. All that remains of this lighthouse is the foundation.