West Point Seattle, as the name suggests is the extreme western point in Seattle. This extreme point juts into Puget Sound from the Magnolia neighborhood. This bay also marks the northern extent of Elliott Bay, while Alki Point marks the western extent of the bay. West Point had a Duwamish name which literally meant 'Thrust far out'. It was named West Point in 1841 by the US Navy Lieutenant Charles Wikes.
The major tourist attractions of West Point are :
- Discovery Park Lighthouse or the West Point Lighthouse
- West Point Treatment Plant
The West Point Lighthouse is also known as the Discovery Park Lighthouse. It is a 23 foot high, first manned light station located on the West Point in Seattle. For the first 44 years it was illuminated with a kerosene lamp and only in 1826, was attached to the electric grid in 1926. Finally it was automated in 1985 and was Washington's last station to be automated. $25,000 were invested to build the lighthouse.The famous lighthouse was added to the National Register
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of Historic Places in 1977. Seattle's Department of Parks overtook the custody of the lighthouse from the United States Coast Guard to incorporate it into the Discovery Park.
The West Point Water Treatment Plant is one of the distinctive landmark located four miles to the northwest of Seattle downtown. The building of this water plant was initiated in 1958 by Metro. This was an agency who were given the responsibility of setting up a regional wastewater treatment system. Construction of the primary water treatment plant was completed in the year 1966. Expansion and up gradation of the second water treatment plant was completed in 1996. As a part of the regional wastewater treatment system of the King County, it caters to 1.4 million people. Everyday Westpoint cost effectively treats wastewater, which accumulate from household, schools, agencies, businesses and industries in Seattle, other neighboring counties and areas of Lake Washington.
The West Point Seattle has been developed and reshaped as a major waterfront recreational spot. Tourists come here to enjoy the beauty and the serenity of the surrounding.
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