KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Port of Kennewick’s lighthouse stands proudly along the Columbia River, marking a special spot in the Tri-Cities area.
Today, people celebrate National Lighthouse Day, commemorating the 1789 congressional approval for the establishment of lighthouses and related structures.
Built in 2010, the 62-foot-tall structure serves as a Private Aid to Navigation on all U.S. Coast Guard charts. The Port of Kennewick constructed it to revitalize the historic waterfront district and create a destination in east Kennewick.
The lighthouse features a spiral staircase with 84 steps, a solar-powered LED light that flashes every four seconds and a 3,700-square-foot plaza. The plaza is available for public events, making it a popular spot for photos and gatherings.
Tana Bader-Inglima, Deputy CEO for the Port of Kennewick, says the lighthouse and port serve as a special place in the community, offering a wide variety of things to do for visitors.
Clover Island, originally a 162-acre site, has a rich history of industrial activity, including shipbuilding. The island was reduced to 16 acres in the early 1950s due to the construction of the McNary Dam and shoreline levees.
Today, the Port’s boundaries include parts of Richland, Benton City, all of Kennewick and south past Finley.
The Port of Kennewick is also celebrating its 110th anniversary as the fifth oldest port in Washington and the first port district in Eastern Washington. It is the newest Lighthouse in the Pacific Northwest and the furthest constructed upriver on the Columbia.
Visitors can collect unique stamps for their passports at the Clover Island Inn, which is open seven days a week. The lighthouse plaza and its surrounding amenities continue to draw locals and tourists alike to this scenic and historic location.
