Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site

Infobox_Lighthouse
name = Fisgard Lighthouse

---

caption =
location = Esquimalt Harbour
coordinates =
yearbuilt =
yearlit = 1860
automated = 1929
yeardeactivated =
foundation =
construction = Bricks
shape = Conical
marking = White tower, red lantern
height = 14.6 m
elevation = 21.6 m
lens =
currentlens =
intensity =
range =
characteristic = Iso 2s
fogsignal =
admiralty =G5306
NGA =13740
ARLHS =CAN-176

Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site in Colwood, British Columbia, on Fisgard Island at the mouth of Esquimalt harbour, is the site of Fisgard Lighthouse, the first lighthouse on the west coast of Canada. [cite web
url=http://members.shaw.ca/rkcampbell//fisgard/noticetomariners.jpg
title=Notice to Mariners
last=Young|first=William A.
date=1860-12-01
publisher=Colonial Secretary's Office
accessdate=2008-06-16] A causeway from the adjacent Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site provides access by land.

The former lighthouse keeper's residence is open to the public and contain displays and exhibits about the site's history. The attached tower is not open to the public as it is an operational aid to navigation.

Fisgard Lighthouse was built in 1860 to guide vessels through the entrance of Esquimalt harbour.It was automated in 1929. It shows a white isophase light of 2 s period in a sector from 322° to 195°at 21.6 m above mean sea level. In other directions it shows red shutters.The white 14.6 m tower is floodlit below balcony level. [cite web
url=http://www.notmar.gc.ca/go.php?doc=eng/services/list/2007-pacific/p180e2007
title=Fisgard Sector
date=2007
work=Notmar - List of Lights: Pacific Coast
publisher=Fisheries and Oceans Canada
accessdate=2008-06-16]

Fisgard Lighthouse and its sister station Race Rocks, were constructed in 1859-60, to ease the movement of naval ships into Esquimalt harbour and merchant ships into Victoria harbour. The light stations were also seen as a significant political and fiduciary commitment on the part of the British government to the Colony of Vancouver Island, partly in response to the American gold miners flooding into the region: some 25,000 arrived in 1858 for the Fraser gold rush.

Local legend claims that the brick and stone used in construction were sent out from Britain as ballast; in fact local brick yards and quarries supplied these materials, while the lens, lamp apparatus and lantern room were accompanied from England by the first keeper, Mr. George Davies, in 1859. The cast-iron spiral staircase in the tower was made in sections in San Francisco.

Fisgard first showed a light from the tower at sunset on 16 November 1860.

References

External links

* [http://www.pc.gc.ca/voyage-travel/pv-vp/itm12-/page3_e.asp Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites] – Parks Canada
* [http://members.shaw.ca/rkcampbell//fisgard/fisgard.htm More Fisgard History]
* [http://www.fisgardlighthouse.com/ History and visitor information]