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This preserve incorporates a nearshore kelp bed that grows upon a mix of rocks, boulders and ridges of hardpan and bedrock. The uplands consist of eroding sandstone bluffs and the shoreline is primarily composed of cobble, pebble, and gravel. Most of the upland is adjacent to the Fort Casey Conference Center and also includes the northern portion of Fort Casey Historical State Park. Fish surveys have documented large rockfish, black rockfish, lingcod, and striped seaperch. The area is near a popular salmon fishing site and several species of salmon are expected to move in and out of the reserve. Other biological resources include a variety of encrusting organisms, red rock crab, sea stars, red sea cucumber, red sea urchins and green sea urchins.
In 1858 the United States purchased acres costing $400 for the location of the lighthouse on Admiralty Inlet. The original Red Bluff lighthouse was completed in the months prior to the Civil War and was among the West's earliest navigational aids. It had a fourth order Fresnel lens, and the light could be seen 16 miles away. In 1890, the original wooden lighthouse was relinquished to the U.S. Army, who demolished it to make room for soldiers and guns in Fort Casey. Its 30 ft replacement, constructed of brick and stucco, was built in 1903. It was the last brick lighthouse designed by renowned German architect Carl Leick. This lighthouse proved to be too far up the bluff to be useful for navigation. It was deactivated in 1922, and its lantern moved to the New Dungeness Lighthouse. Later, the Army used the lighthouse as a training facility for the K-9 dog program. The lighthouse has since been restored by Washington State Parks.
The two 10-inch guns on disappearing carriages that are mounted at Fort Casey were transferred from the Philippines in the 1960s, along with two three-inch guns. The 10-inch guns are M1895MI (No. 26 and No. 28 Watervliet) on disappearing carriages M1901 (No. 13 and No. 15 Watertown). The three-inch guns are M1903 (No. 11 and No. 12) on barbette carriages M1903 (No. 6 and No. 7).
A stretch of land more than two miles wide that separates Admiralty Inlet and Crocket Lake.
A small day use park with beach access, trailhead access and dramatic views of the Olympic Mountains and the busy Admiralty Inlet shipping lanes.
The historic Ferry House, built c. 1858, was a place where early travelers to the island, arriving by boat, could get lodging, food, postal services, supplies, and overland transportation to Penn Cove, where they could continue their journey by ship. Some mistakenly think this is the Ebey House, but that structure no longer stands. The NPS is working on restoring the Ferry House to preserve it for future generations.