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Five Finger Lighthouse Since 1902, the Five Finger Lighthouse has stood on a rocky 3-acre island at the south entrance to Stephens Passage--the first American-built lighthouse in Alaska. Originally staffed by a crew of three, many did not stay long, likely due to isolation and occasional lack of food and resources. The original building burned in 1933, and was replaced in 1935 by the structure still in place. The U.S. Coast Guard operated the 71,00 candle-power light and station from 1939-1984,...
Frederick Sound humpback whales were in spectacular form last Saturday. More than 40 humpbacks surrounded the Five Finger Lighthouse waters and provided repeated breeches, pec slapping, lunge feeding and bubble net feeding like this near Cleveland Passage....
The Five Finger Lighthouse Society went into detail on their plans for the future of the Five Finger Lighthouse at a presentation last Thursday and gave an overview of the lighthouse and its history. The non-profit organization, which took over the lighthouse from the Juneau Lighthouse Association last year, looks to preserve the historic value of the lighthouse, make access to the island easier for visitors and educate the public on the lighthouse's significance. The Five Finger Lighthouse was...
The Juneau Lighthouse Association, which operates and maintains the Five Finger Lighthouse, has changed its name to the Five Finger Lighthouse Society and is currently revamping the organization and the lighthouse. FFLS is now based out of Petersburg and is recruiting members to join the organization and volunteers to help work on the lighthouse. Jeff Erickson, secretary of FFLS, said the infrastructure of the lighthouse needs to be rebuilt. Additionally, he said he would like to improve the liv...
Researchers at a lighthouse near Petersburg have been conducting behavioral studies of humpback whales, trying to understand their diverse communication system, and this summer the humans are ready to talk back. Dr. Fred Sharpe, a research biologist with the Alaska Whale Foundation and part-time Juneau Lighthouse Association keeper of the Five Finger Lighthouse in Frederick Sound, gave a talk in Petersburg to about 100 people last Thursday. Sharpe has spent 30 summers at the lighthouse and was...
Humpback whales swimming the northeast region of Fredrick Sound during summer months do their best to attract spectators, but a recent grant is helping researchers add streaming whale songs to the tourism experience. Thanks to a Scenic Byway grant allotted to the Juneau Lighthouse Association, whale-watchers visiting the Five Finger Lighthouse now have the option to listen live underwater. A hydrophone connected to a swinging mooring is outfitted with a converted whitewater kayak, which...
