North Head Light House North Head lies near the mouth of the Columbia River, approximately two miles north of Cape Disappointment. The Cape Disappointment light, installed in 1856, was obscured to ships approaching from the north by the headland extending southwest from the light. This obstruction led to many shipwrecks. To remedy the situation, a lighthouse was built at North Head, which faces the ocean directly and would be clearly visible to ships traveling from the north. The 65-foot tower stood on a 130-foot cliff. North Head is one of the windiest places in the country. The lantern room windows were equipped with handrails for keepers cleaning the glass. Winds of 126 miles per hour were recorded on January 29, 1921, before the instrument blew away. North Head light house today is still an operating facility ferrying ships safely into the Columbia River.
