The original Cape Beale Lighthouse and Keepers Residence, built in 1874 off the West Coast of Vancouver Island, was the first lighthouse established on the west coast of the Island and the third in British Columbia.
The first lighthouse established in B.C. was Fisgard Lighthouse at Esquimalt Harbour (Fort Rodd Hill), which opened in November 1860. The second lighthouse was Race Rocks Lighthouse near Sooke, established in December 1860.
This image was captured by Wright Porritt, a renowned B.C. Postcard photographer from the turn of the 20th century.
The Cape Beale Lighthouse that people can see today from the coast off of Tofino was built in 1958 to replace the original lighthouse. There are several buildings on the site now, but the principal reason for the lighthouse has not changed in more than 100 years: to serve as a landfall and major coastal light on the shipwreck-prone west coast of Vancouver Island.
To learn more about the Cape Beale Lighthouse, Parks Canada has a link on its website https://www.pc.gc.ca/
Porritt's historical photography is featured in many of the 24,000 photos included in the AV Museum's online digital archives, accessible at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com.
* A version of this photo that appeared in the July 2, 2025 Alberni Valley News incorrectly stated that Cape Beale Lighthouse was the first lighthouse in British Columbia. This information has been updated.
