Cape Disappointment was within a 45 minute drive from Fort Clatsop. It's also part of the Lewis and Clark Historic Park. After lunch we headed that way to check out the lighthouse and the remains of Fort Canby.

Cape Disappointment, Dead Man's Cove, Washington, WA
Dead Man's Hollow at Cape Disappointment

Dead Man's Hollow? Cape Disappointment? There's a story behind that somewhere....

Dead Man's Hollow (Cove) was so aptly name when in 1853, the boat Vandalia foundered at the mouth of Columbia River. All aboard were lost and some of the bodies drifted into this hollow.

Cape Disappointment was name thus in 1788 by Captain John Meares. After seeking out shelter from a turbulent sea in vain, Meares left the following log in his journal:

Disappointment continued to accompany us...we can safely say no river San Rogue exists.

Out of frustration, Meares christened the cape, "Cape Disappointment." He had just missed the mouth of "river San Rogue" --which is now known today as the mouth of the Columbia River.

View of the ocean from Cape Disappointment, Dead Man's Cove, Ilwaco, Washington, WA

It's a short 1/2 mile hike up from the parking lot to get to the lighthouse. Along the way you can see the Coast Guard station (and often times you can see them training). This was also a long the way:

Fortifications of Fort Canby near Cape Disappointment lighthouse, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA
Sometime between 1896 and 1908, new fortifications were built.

Cape Disappointment lighthouse, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA
Don't ask....

Cape Disappointment lighthouse, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA

View from Cape Disappointment lighthouse of Lewis & Clark interpretive center, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

Cape Disappointment lighthouse, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA

Hike hiking trail to Cape Disappointment lighthouse, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA

Cape Disappointment lighthouse, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA
The lighthouse from the interpretive center.

We hiked back to the Interpretive Center and discovered these larger fortifications along the way:

Fort Canby at Cape Disappointment, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA
Known as Fort Canby, this was built in 1862.

interior of Fort Canby at Cape Disappointment, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA

interor of Fort Canby at Cape Disappointment, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA

interior of Fort Canby at Cape Disappointment, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA

Columbia River harbor defenses, Fort Columbia, Fort Stevens, Fort Canby at Cape Disappointment, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA
Sea invaders would have no chance...

Empty canisters at Fort Canby at Cape Disappointment, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA

Fort Canby at Cape Disappointment, Ilwaco, Washington state, WA

The only thing we found a Disappointment here was the wet, gloomy weather! All in all, our Lewis and Clark trip was very humbling to say the least.