USCG Station Cape Disappointment

USCG Station Cape Disappointment

United States Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment is the station to test the mettle of men and boat. Situated at the mouth of the Columbia River, it overlooks one of the most treacherous river bars in the world. Because of the large number of shipwrecks near the entrance, it is often called “The Graveyard of the Pacific.” During winter storms, wind-driven ocean swells often reach a height of 20-30 feet at the entrance of the bar.

To operate in the heavy surf conditions, one 52-foot and two 47-foot lifeboats are on duty. These boats are capable of being rolled over by breaking swells and of re-righting themselves with minimal damage. The courage and skill of crewmembers on these vessels is deserving of the highest possible commendation. These units respond to 400 emergency calls for assistance each year, a prodigious amount under such conditions.

Also co-located with the station is the oldest lighthouse on the Northwest Coast of the United States, Cape Disappointment Light, marking the north side of the Columbia River Bar. Less than two miles to the northwest is North Head Lighthouse, which provides a beacon for the northern approaches to the Columbia River Bar.

This special coin is fashioned in the shape of a “D”, befitting its namesake. The obverse features a Coast Guard boat in surf conditions against the background of Cape Disappointment Light. The reverse is the U.S. Coast Guard crest on a sea-blue background.