There's a lighthouse on an island in BC known as "Little Alcatraz"
Looking to explore new heritage sites in British Columbia this summer? There are a handful of scenic lighthouses to check out, and each comes with its own story. For one, the Triple Islands Lighthouse is a National Historic Site known by locals as “Little Alcatraz,” sitting on Triple Islands – a group of three islets at the western entrance of Brown Passage.
The heritage lighthouse was completed in 1920 after four years of construction, all in an effort to guide marine traffic and deep-sea ships navigating to and from Prince Rupert.
The massive concrete station features an octagonal 23-metre-high tower attached to a rectangular structure housing the keepers’ quarters and machinery.
Its construction on exposed bedrock posed a ‘treacherous’ challenge, and is still considered as one of the most ‘hazardous’ projects in Canadian Maritime history.
The lighthouse is also associated with BC’s shipwreck history, including the wreckage of the SS Prince Albert.
At the time of its construction, the town of Prince Rupert was on the rise, with the intention of becoming a gateway to Asia. The lighthouse marked a historic point in its history as Prince Rupert became a major international port.
According to Parks Canada, the Maritime community blossomed into a mix of fishing vessels, commercial transport, and tourist cruise ships through Brown Passage and Hecate Strait.
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So there you have it, history buffs. If you haven’t ventured to British Columbia’s own “Little Alcatraz,” it’s worth adding it to your road trip map this summer!
Triple Islands Lighthouse
Where: Skeena-Queen Charlotte A, BC
