The Lightship Columbia was built in 1950 and was the last lightship used on the Pacific Coast. Lightships were stationed at dangerous locations where a lighthouse could not be constructed or would have to be located too far away to assist in safe navigation. The Columbia Bar where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean is known as The Graveyard of the Pacific and is one of the most deadly bar crossings in the world. The Columbia was retired in 1979 and replaced by a 40′ wide x 42′ tall navigation buoy.
