Built: 1892

Type: Lightship

Height:  66 feet

Status: Non-Active

Location: Columbia River Maritime museum in Astoria

Deactivated: 1979

Lens: 375 mm / Rotating Locomotive Headlights

Notes: LV 50 was a wooden-hulled vessel constructed in San Francisco and housed two coal-fired boilers, which produced steam for a twelve-inch fog whistle. Three oil lamp lenses, used to alert vessels at night, topped the ship's two masts. The ship had no engine for propulsion, but was equipped with sails in case the anchor chain, which held the vessel at a position roughly five miles west of the Columbia River's mouth, broke. 
During a severe storm on the evening of November 28,1899, the chain did break. The crew quickly set the sails and kept the vessel from grounding. After several attempts to tow the ship to safety failed the next day, the vessel was intentionally grounded at McKenzie Head near Cape Disappointment. Eighteen months later, after the ship was successfully hauled 700 yards overland, LV 50 was launched into Baker Bay in the Columbia River. The ship returned to station in August of 1901, after a trip to Portland for repairs. 
In 1909 LV 88, a steel-hulled ship driven by a steam-powered propeller, replaced the wooden lightship. During her time on station, LV 88 received several enhancements. The ship was outfitted with a radio in 1920, and a radio beacon in 1925. Electric lights replaced her kerosene lamps in 1927, and the steam engine was upgraded with a diesel electric engine in the 1930s. In 1939, LV 88 swapped stations with LV 93, which was serving at Washington's Umatilla Station and was constructed with the same general plans as LV 88. LV 88 served at Umatilla Station until 1959, followed by one year of service as a relief lightship before she was retired. During World War II, LV 88 left her station, was outfitted with a 3" gun, and served as an examination vessel. 
LV 93 served at the Columbia River station until 1951, when WAL 604 was assigned to the station. WAL 604 was originally staffed with a crew of sixteen. The crew was divided into three groups. Each group worked forty-two days on followed by twenty-one days off, and the groups were scheduled so that two groups were on the ship at all times. 
Joseph McCarthy served two stints on the lightship: as a seaman from 1951 to 1953, and as captain from 1966 to 1967.

Columbia Lightship 604, is at moorage at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon. Three lightships preceded the 604. No. 50 was built in San Francisco and served from 1892-1909. This was the first lightship stationed on the U.S. Pacific Coast. In 1909 No. 50 was replaced by No. 88, which served until 1939. The 604 occupied the station from 1951-1979. The ship was built by Rice Brothers in East Boothbay, Maine, along with her sister the 605. The steel ship had a displacement of 617 tons, was 128 feet long, had a beam of 30 feet, and a draft of 11 feet. She was powered by a 550-horsepower Atlas Imperial direct reversible diesel engine built in Oakland, CA. The 375 mm lens was visible for 13 miles. (The lens was later replaced by a set of rotating locomotive headlights.) There were two diaphone fog signals and two anchors - one mushroom anchor weighing approximately 7000 pounds and a smaller fluke anchor as a backup. Directions: The 604 is located at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria. The lightship can be seen anytime, and visitors can go on board during museum hours. Columbia River Maritime Museum 1792 Marine Drive Astoria Oregon 97103 Hours: 9:30-5:30 daily (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas) Phone: (503) 325-2323