Guide to the Historic American Engineering Record
Cape Spencer Light Station records
1924-1973
Collection number: HMC-0391.
Creator:
Historic American Engineering Record.
United States. National Park Service.
Title: Historic American Engineering Record Cape Spencer Light Station records.
Dates: 1924-1973.
Volume of collection: 0.41 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Plans and photographs of a light station located at the entrance to Cross Sound in Southeast Alaska.
Organizational history:
The Cape Spencer Light Station, located at the entrance to Cross Sound in southeast Alaska, was first lighted in 1913 with a small, unmanned beacon. In 1923, Congress approved funding for a fully manned light station and work began the following year. The manned station was lit on December 11, 1925. In 1926, the station was equipped with a 200-mile radio beacon, making it the first station of its kind in Alaska. The station operated as a manned station until 1974, when it was changed to an automated station. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in December 1975.
Collection description:
The collection consists primarily of elevation plans; electrical and mechanical drawings; and as built drawings of the interior and exterior of Cape Spencer Light Station. Included are elevation plans of the Fog Signal Building, A-C conversion drawings, Automated Station drawings, helipad and dock plans, and other drawings. There are also twenty-seven black and white, 5×7 photographs of the interior and exterior of the station, taken for the Historic American Engineering Record.
Arrangement: Materials are arranged by type of document.
Digitized copies: Selected items have been digitized and can be viewed on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Materials in the collection are in the public domain.
Preferred citation: Historic American Engineering Record Cape Spencer Light Station records, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: The collection was presented to the archives by the Alaska Regional Office of
the National Park Service in 1991.
Processing information: This collection was described prior to 1993. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Gwen Higgins in 2018.
Container list:
Item numbers reflect the order of items in the folder, with multiple items printed on a single sheet of paper denoted by letters.
| Folder | Item | Description | Date |
| 1 | 1-27 | Photographs of the interior and exterior of the Cape Spencer Light Station, taken for the Historic American Engineering Record. | undated |
| OSF 1 | 1a | Cape Spencer Light Station – Gasoline House, drawing no. M-135, scale: ½” = 1′ | 1932 |
| OSF 1 | 1b | Cape Spencer Light Station – Cargo Basket, drawing no. 32.5101, scale: 1″ = 1′ | 1951 September 24 |
| OSF 1 | 2a | Cape Spencer Light Station – Radio Room Exhauster, drawing no. M-615 | 1958 October 31 |
| OSF 1 | 2b | Cape Spencer Light Station – Derrick Sheave Replacement, drawing no. M-674, scale: 1½” = 1′ | 1960 November 1 |
| OSF 1 | 3a | Cape Spencer Light Station – Derrick Boom Tag Line, drawing no. M-771, scale: 1″ = 10′ | 1964 May 27 |
| OSF 1 | 3b | Cape Spencer Light Station – 5-Ton Derrick, Alterations in Design; drawing no. 32.2403, scale: 1½” = 1′ | 1924 October 25 |
| OSF 1 | 4 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, North Elevation; drawing no. 32.2501; scale: ¼” = 1′ | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 5 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, South Elevation; drawing no. 32.2502; scale: ¼” = 1′ | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 6 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, East Elevation; drawing no. 32.2503; scale: ¼” = 1′ | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 7 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, West Elevation; drawing no. 32.2504; scale: ¼” = 1′ | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 8 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, Foundation Plan; drawing no. 32.2505; scale: ¼” = 1′ | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 9 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, Floor Plan; drawing no. 32.2506; scale: ¼” = 1′ | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 10 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, Roof Plan; drawing no. 32.2507; scale: ¼” = 1′ | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 11 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, Typical Section; drawing no. 32.2508; scale ¾” =1′ | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 12 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, Tower and Platform; drawing no. 32.2509 | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 13 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, Reinforcement Details; drawing no. 32.2510 | 1925 June 17 |
| OSF 1 | 14 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, Details, Windows and Door Frames; drawing no. 32.2511 | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 15 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fog Signal Building, Details, Coal Room Window and Entrance Door; drawing no. 32.2512; | 1925 March 9 |
| OSF 1 | 16a | Cape Spencer Light Station – Approximate Location of Buildings and Wharf; drawing no. 32.2517; scale: 1″ = 20′ | 1925 January 5 |
| OSF 1 | 16b | Cape Spencer Light Station – Lantern Ventilator; drawing no. 32.4511; scale: 1″ = 1′ | 1944 June 6 |
| OSF 1 | 17a | Cape Spencer Light Station – Landing Ladder, As Built Drawing; drawing no. M-493 | 1953 |
| OSF 1 | 17b | Cape Spencer Light Station – Cast-Iron Base Ring for Lens Pedestal; drawing no. 32.2519; scale: 1½” = 1′ | 1925 July 6 |
| OSF 1 | 17c | Cape Spencer Light Station – Derrick Boom Plates; drawing no. 32.3502; scale: ¾” = 1′ | 1935 August 6 |
| OSF 1 | 18 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Electric Drive for 3rd Order Mercury Float Pedestal; drawing no. 32.4402; scale: 1″ = 3″ | 1944 September 22 |
| OSF 1 | 19 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Fire Alarm and Floodlight Protection Facilities; drawing no. 772 | 1955 April |
| OSF 1 | 20 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, As Built 1st Floor Plans; drawing no. 869, 1 of 17; scale: ¼”= 1′ | 1956 July |
| OSF 1 | 21 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, 1st Floor Plan; drawing no. 869, 2 of 17; scale: ¼” = 1′ | 1956 August 3 |
| OSF 1 | 22 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Main Building 1st Floor Plan; drawing no. 869, 3 of 17 | 1956 December 26 |
| OSF 1 | 23 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Waste Heat Recovery Piping, as Built Mechanical Drawing (Schematic); drawing no. 869, 4 of 17 (2 copies) | 1958 October 27 |
| OSF 1 | 24 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Engine Room Piping, as Built Mechanical Drawing; drawing no. S-869, 5 of 17; scale: ½” = 1′ | 1958 April 1 |
| OSF 1 | 25 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Heating System and Machinery Installation Details, as Built Mechanical Drawing; drawing no. 869, 6 of 17 | 1958 July 2 |
| OSF 1 | 26 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Piping-Domestic Water, Sewer and Vents, as built Mechanical Drawing; drawing no. 869, 7 of 17 | 1966 December 13 |
| OSF 1 | 27 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Electrical-Wiring-Lighting, First Floor, as Built Drawing; drawing no. 869, 8 of 17 | 1957 July 9 |
| OSF 1 | 28 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Electrical-Wiring-Lighting, Basement Floor, as Built Drawing; drawing no. 869, 9 of 17; scale: ¼”= 1′ | 1957 July 10 |
| OSF 1 | 29 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Electrical Layout, Power Wiring, as Built Drawing; drawing no. 869, 10 of 17; scale: ½” = 1′ | 1956 August 3 |
| OSF 1 | 30 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Electrical Layout, South and West Elevations, As Built Drawings; drawing no. 869, 11 of 17; scale: ½” = 1′ | 1957 July 22 |
| OSF 1 | 31 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Schematic Wiring and Switchboard Details, As Built Drawing; drawing no. 869, 12 of 17 | 1959 May 9 |
| OSF 1 | 32 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Tram Hoist; drawing no. S-869, 13 of 17 | 1957 September 16 |
| OSF 1 | 33 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Main Floor Plan, Architectural Modifications, As Built Drawing; drawing no. 869, 14 of 17 | 1958 April 3 |
| OSF 1 | 34 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Miscellaneous Details, As Built Drawing; drawing no. 869, no. 15 of 17 | 1958 March 24 |
| OSF 1 | 35 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Miscellaneous Details, As Built Drawing; drawing no. 869, no. 16 of 17 | 1958 March 31 |
| OSF 1 | 36 | Cape Spencer Light Station – A-C Conversion, Miscellaneous Details, As Built Drawing; drawing no. 869, no. 17 of 17 | 1958 April 3 |
| OSF 2 | 1 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Main Light Lens Pedestal; drawing no. 917, 1 of 2; scale: 1″, 1½”, 6″= 1′ | 1958 April 30 |
| OSF 2 | 2 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Main Light Lens Pedestal; drawing no. 917, 2 of 2; scale: 3″ = 1′ | 1958 April 5 |
| OSF 2 | 3 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Erection Diagram, 80′ Signal Tower for Radio Station drawing no. S-293, 1 of 2 | 1958 June |
| OSF 2 | 4 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Helipad Plan and Details; drawing no. 1666 | undated |
| OSF 2 | 5 | Cover and Index for Cape Spencer Light Station drawing no 2086 | undated |
| OSF 2 | 6 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Main Light-Details, Mechanical Drawing; drawing no. 2086, 1 of 8 | 1971 |
| OSF 2 | 7 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Plot Plan and Fuel Oil Piping, Mechanical Drawing; drawing no. 2086, 2 of 8 | 1971 October 1 |
| OSF 2 | 8 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Floor Plan, Mechanical Drawing; drawing no. 2086, 3 of 8 | 1971 October 1 |
| OSF 2 | 9 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Elevations, Mechanical Drawing; drawing no. 2086, 4 of 8 | 1971 October 1 |
| OSF 2 | 10 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Equipment Removal, Electrical Drawing; drawing no. 2086, 5 of 8 | 1971 October 1 |
| OSF 2 | 11 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Revised Plan, Electrical Drawing; drawing no. 2086, 6 of 8; scale: ½” = 1′ | 1971 October 10 |
| OSF 2 | 12 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Details, Electrical Drawing; drawing no. 2086, 7 of 8 | 1971 October 1 |
| OSF 2 | 13 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Main Light and Panel Schedule, Electrical Drawing; 2086, 8 of 8 | 1971 October 1 |
| OSF 2 | 14 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Monitor Wiring, Electrical Drawing; drawing no. 2086, 9 of 10 | 1973 November 28 |
| OSF 2 | 15 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Automated Station, Interconnection Diagram, Electrical Drawing; drawing no. 2086 | undated |
| OSF 2 | 16 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Dock Sections | 1961 March 31 |
| OSF 2 | 17 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Dock Plan | 1961 March 31 |
| OSF 2 | 18 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Dock Sections; drawing no. 1136 | 1961 March 31 |
| OSF 2 | 19 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Five Ton Derrick, Details; drawing no. 8821-A | 1964 May 25 |
| OSF 2 | 20 | Cape Spencer Light Station – Five Ton Derrick, Details | undated |