Cape Disappointment Lighthouse at the mouth of the Columbia River in Washington State. The Cape was named "Disappointment" by Captain John Meares who had expected to find a good harbor just beyond it. ÊHe was disappointed to find rocky shoals instead, and turned back...never discovering the mighty river on the other side of the shoals. Later, Lewis and Clark finished their 2,000 mile trek to the coast and celebrated their journey's end at Cape Disappointment.