"... On a case-by-case basis Congress appropriated funds for design and construction of important facilities. These included lighthouses: Cape Arago (1866), Cape Blanco (1870), Yaquina Bay (1872), Cape Foulweather (1873), Point Adams (1875), Tillamook Rock (1881), Warrior Rock (1888) at the mouth of the Willamette River, Cape Meares (1890), Umpqua River, Heceta Head, Coquille River (all 1894), and Desdemona Sands (1905 [error ???, 1902, see below]). The goal was to create a system of stations with interlocking lights. On a clear night at sea, a mariner might expect to sight at any point a distinctive beacon on shore to pinpoint the location. Fog signals powered by steam engines blasted warnings from a number of the stations to tell captains to drop anchor or beat a retreat until the mists cleared. ..." [Oregon State "BlueBook" website, 2006]

"... The light-house is not upon the top of the cape, but upon a spur a little to the west of the southeast point, and about 95 feet below the highest part. The tower is whitewashed, placed 192 feet above the level of the sea, and being 40 feet in height and projected against a dark green background shows well in daylight.

The light is a fixed white light, of the first order of Fresnel; was first exhibited October 15, 1856, and shows from sunset to sunrise. Under a favorable state of the atmosphere it should be seen from a height of: 10 feet at a distance of 21 miles ... 20 feet at a distance of 22 1/2 miles ... 30 feet at a distance of 23 3/4 miles ... 60 feet at a distance of 26 1/3 miles.

Its geographical position, as determined by the Coast Survey, is: Latitude 46^o 16' 32.7" north ... Longitude 124^o 02' 13" west ... Or, in time 8h 16m 08.9s.

Magnetic variation 20^o 45' east, in July, 1851, with a yearly increase of 1.4'.

Counting round seaward from the south, it commands a horizon of about 135 degrees, that is, from S.SE. to W.NW.; so that vessels coming from the northward cannot see the light until nearly in the latitude of the river. Placed on the top of the cape, it could have been easily made to show over the northwest part of it, and would also have commanded the entire river and Baker's bay.

From Cape Disappointment we have the following bearings and distances of objects to the northward: Point Grenville NW. by N. 1/2 N., 62 miles ... Destruction island NW. by N., 84 miles ... Flattery rocks NW. 5/8 N., 118 miles.

The last line passes tangent to the coast in latitude 47^o 58', where there are two well marked rocks ... ..."

"... A fog-bell of 1,600 pounds has been placed on the bluff in advance of the light-tower, and will be sounded during foggy or other thick weather night and day. The distinctive mode of striking we have not yet found published. The machinery is on a level with the ground, in a frame building, whitewashed, and with the front open to receive the bell. ..."

From the 1869 "Coast Pilot":

"... A fog-bell of sixteen hundred pounds has been placed on the bluff in advance of the light-tower, and is sounded during foggy or other thick weather, night and day. The machinery is on a level with the ground, in a frame building, white-washed, and with the front open to receive the bell, which strikes nine consecutive blows each minute. ..."

The fog bell was discontinued on September 1, 1881, because, according to the 1889 "Coast Pilot":

"... The Fog-bell at Cape Disappointment was discontinued September 1, 1881, because it could not be heard when a vessel was approaching the bar. ..."

From 1889 until 1969 the Cape Disappointment fog bell resided at the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on Sauvie Island. Today the bell resides at the Columbia County Courthouse in St. Helens, Oregon, and sits at the front entrance to the new building.