West Coast Lighthouses - East Brother Light Station Victorian Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast Inn East Brother Light Station Victorian Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast Inn CALL US NOW West Coast Lighthouses East Brother was one of about seventy lighthouses built on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Its history is linked to these other beacons in many ways. All were built and maintained by the federal government. All responded to similar changes in our culture and technology. And many were cared for by keepers who had worked at other lighthouses as well. In other respects, however, each lighthouse, including East Brother, has its own unique story to tell. Lighthouses in Central California, past and present. Lighthouses help mariners in several ways. Major sea coast lights serve as landfalls for ships arriving from across the ocean. These lighthouses and the smaller lights along the coast and in bays also act as guides for coastal vessels, in some cases warning them of dangerous reefs or shoals. Others mark turning points along the coast or at entrances to bays or harbors. Most also aid mariners as landmarks visible during the day.

They are, however, of little help day or night when there is thick fog. In the past many light stations were equipped with a fog signal such as a bell, steam whistle, or steam siren. Today such devices have given way to electronic fog signals and radio beacons. These modern aids and ship-based radar have frequently made lighthouses of secondary importance in navigation. Nevertheless, there is still nothing quite as reassuring as seeing a light, particularly when steering a vessel near shore to enter a harbor or bay. Several events shaped the early history of West Coast lighthouses. These in turn set the stage for construction of later stations such as at East Brother Island. First was the acquisition by the United States of Oregon Territory in 1846 and California in 1848. No lighthouses were built in California under Spain or Mexico. Lighthouses would have been of little benefit since so few ships served the small population in Alta California at that time. There is a report that the Spaniards sometimes hung a lantern on a stake at Ballast Point when a ship was expected at San Diego Bay, but this was hardly a lighthouse. Thus the United States started from scratch in planning a system of lighthouses for the Pacific Coast.

Another dramatic event, the discovery of gold in 1848, changed the face of California almost overnight. Hundreds of ships, each filled with hopeful gold-seekers, set sail for the Golden Gate. The gold rush touched off continued immigration which brought growth in agriculture, lumbering, construction and other activities. As cities and towns swelled with activity, so did commerce and shipping. California's population of immigrants grew from less than 15,000 in early 1848 to 223,856 in 1852. By 1870 the state's population had expended to over 560,000. The third significant event in the early development of West Coast lighthouses was the establishment of the Lighthouse Board. This administrative body took over the duties of the fifth auditor of the Treasury Department, who had supervised the nation's lighthouse system from 1820 to 1852. On August 31, 1852, Congress passed an act requiring the President to appoint three high ranking officers from the Navy, three engineers from the Army, and two civilian scientists to constitute the Lighthouse Board.

The Secretary of Treasury served as the board's ex-officio president. The diverse makeup of the Lighthouse Board enabled it more easily to administer the varied duties of a growing lighthouse establishment, which included maintaining lightships, buoys, fog signals and other navigational aids. The board intended to improve the quality and dependability of United States lighthouses, bringing them up to the level of those in France, England, and Scotland. The Lighthouse Board held its first meeting October 9, 1852. One of its early tasks was to divide the nation into twelve lighthouse districts. The entire West Coast became the Twelfth District with headquarters in San Francisco. (Later Oregon and Washington were made into the Thirteenth District.) Each district had a Naval officer as an inspector in charge of personnel and daily operations, and an Army engineer to oversee new construction and repairs at the different light stations. The Lighthouse Board planned most of the lighthouses eventually built on the West Coast, but not all. By the time they met, arrangements had already been made to construct the first set of lighthouses here. Earlier, on April 20, 1852, the government contracted with the firm of Francis A.

Gibbons and Francis X. Kelly of Baltimore, Maryland, to build eight lighthouses. These were to be constructed at Point Loma near San Diego, Point Conception, Point Pinos near Monterey, Southeast Farallon Island, Battery Point (Fort Point) and Alcatraz Island on San Francisco Bay, and at Humboldt Harbor-all in California. They were also hired to build a lighthouse at Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River in what is now Washington. Gibbons and Kelly purchased the bark Oriole, gave her new fittings, and loaded the ship with all materials necessary to build the lighthouses with the exception of stone, which would be quarried near each lighthouse site. The shipload of materials with crew and workmen set sail from Baltimore August 12, 1852, and arrived in San Francisco on January 29, 1953. Gibbons and Kelly agreed to build the eight lighthouses for just $136,000-all that Congress had appropriated. From early on the builders were plagued by unexpected difficulties.

Just three months after the Battery Point lighthouse was constructed (but before the lens arrived from France), the Army selected that very site for a fort. The structure was razed before ever being lighted, and eventually a second lighthouse was built. After construction of lighthouses at Battery Point, Alcatraz, Point Pinos, and Southeast Farallon Island, the workmen sailed north to Cape Disappointment. The site was aptly named. Here the Oriole was wrecked and her cargo destroyed. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but work was delayed while replacement materials were purchased. At Point Loma the problems continued. Additional time and materials needed to build a road to the site made the cost nearly double the $15,000 originally budgeted for the job. At Point Conception and Southeast Farallon Island the lighthouses had to be rebuilt because the lenses, when they arrived, were too big to fit. Finally, on June 1, 1854, the Alcatraz Island lighthouse became the first to be lighted on the West Coast. Not until October of 1856 did the last of these first eight lighthouses, Cape Disappointment, go into operation.

Each lighthouse was a simple, rectangular, masonry dwelling known as a Cape Cod structure. Most had a circular tower rising from the center, through at several locations the on-site decision was made to offset the tower or detach it from the dwelling. The design was devised by Ammi B. Young, an architect employed by the Treasury Department. By the end of the 1850s eight more lighthouses were built on the West Coast. They were similar in design to the first eight, but were built by local contractors and for even less money than the amount paid to Gibbons and Kelly. The second eight were built at Santa Barbara, Point Bonita, and Crescent City in California, at Umpqua River in Oregon, and at Willapa Bay, Cape Flattery, Smith Island, and New Dungeness in Washington. During the early 1860s, while the nation was preoccupied with the Civil War, no lighthouses were built on the West Coast. In fact, during the war 164 East Coast lights were discontinued and many were badly damaged.

By 1866, however, most of these beacons had been repaired and relighted, and the Lighthouse Board again turned its attention to constructing new lighthouses. In the 1850s and 1860s the Pacific's ragged edge devoured numerous ships. The loss of these vessels, their cargo, and many lives underscored the need for additional lighthouses. In California during the late 1860s and early 1870s twelve more lighthouses, many with fog signals, would be constructed-among these East Brother. Find Us On... Lighthouses of the U.S.: Northern California **** Point Pinos 1855 (Francis Kelly and Francis Gibbons). Active; focal plane 89 ft (27 m); white light occulted every 4 s. 43 ft (13 m) round concrete tower rising from the roof of a 1-1/2 story stone Cape Cod keeper's house. Building painted white; lantern and gallery black; roof is red.

The original 3rd order Henry-Lepaute Fresnel lens has been in continuous use since 1855; the original eclipsor , a rotating opaque panel, is on display. Iris Shreve Garrott's photo is at the top of this page, Anderson has an excellent page for the lighthouse, Wikipedia's article has a good photo by Hugh Mason, English has a good photo , Trabas has a photo , Marinas.com has aerial photos , and Google has a satellite view and Ryan Constantino's photo sphere . The original stone light tower was replaced with a concrete tower after being damaged by the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. This is the oldest active lighthouse on the U.S. Pacific coast, beautifully restored and maintained by the Pacific Grove Historical Society. The 150th anniversary of the station was celebrated in 2005. In August 2006 ownership of the lighthouse was transferred from the Coast Guard to the City of Pacific Grove. Starting in 2010 there has been a gradual restoration of the building, carried out with mostly volunteer labor and grants from various local sources. These efforts are continuing.

Located on Asilomar Avanue in the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course, at the entrance to Monterey Bay. Site and tower open Thursday through Monday afternoons (small suggested donation). Owner/site manager: City of Pacific Grove ( Point Pinos Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-634; Admiralty G3992; USCG 6-0290. Point Sur Light, Big Sur, November 2007 Flickr Creative Commons photo by Curtis Brown Santa Cruz County Lighthouses * Santa Cruz West Breakwater (Walton Lighthouse) (4) 2001 (station established 1964). Active; focal plane 36 ft (11 m); green light occulting every 4 s. 42 ft (13 m) round reinforced concrete tower with a copper-roofed lantern and a small gallery. Tower painted white with a green band. Fog horn (blast every 30 s). Anthony Solis has a photo with the Abbott lighthouse in the background, Marinas.com has aerial photos , and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view . Built with private donations and Coast Guard approval, this lighthouse replaced a series of minor aids to navigation.

Charles Walton, a local businessman, contributed a significant part of the cost in memory of his late brother Derek Walton, a merchant seaman. The lighthouse originally had a red band, but the daymark was changed in March 2003 after boaters protested that a green beacon should not have a red daymark. Located at the end of a jetty on the west side of the marina entrance. Accessible by walking the breakwater, or there's a good view from Twin Lakes State Beach , 5th Avenue at East Cliff Drive. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-1001; Admiralty G4002; USCG 6-0300. *** Santa Cruz (3) (Mark Abbott Memorial) 1967 (station established 1869). Active (privately maintained); focal plane 60 ft (18 m); white flash every 5 s. 39 ft (12 m) square brick tower attached to a 1-story brick museum. The building is unpainted red brick; lantern and gallery painted white.

The lantern and 5th order Fresnel lens (1890) were transferred from the Oakland Harbor Light (see below), but the badly deteriorated lantern was replaced in 1996. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, Marinas.com has aerial photos , and Google has a street view and a satellite view . The lighthouse replaces an 1869 lighthouse that was sold and demolished in 1948 (foundation ruins of that building remain). The Coast Guard has a historic photo of the original lighthouse, and Huelse has a postcard view . The present building is a surfing museum built as a memorial to Mark Abbott, a surfer who drowned nearby in 1965. In December 2008, the Santa Cruz City Council voted to close the museum as a cost-saving measure, but it was rescued by contributions from supporters. In 2013, a new lens was installed, restoring the original sweeping beam of the light. The lighthouse may be endangered by erosion of the cliff on which it stands; El Niño waves were expanding a cave below the lighthouse in the spring of 2016.

Located on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, on Lighthouse Point overlooking Steamer Lane , a famous surfing site. Site open, museum open in the afternoons Thursday through Monday, also on Wednesdays between July 4 and Labor Day (early September). Owner/operator: City of Santa Cruz . Site manager: Santa Cruz Surfing Museum . ARLHS USA-1000; Admiralty G4001; USCG 6-0305. Mark Abbott Memorial Light, Santa Cruz, August 2008 Flickr Creative Commons photo by C.M. Hanchey San Mateo County Lighthouses [Año Nuevo (2)] 1890 (station established 1872). Inactive since 1948. The light tower, a square skeletal structure with enclosed watch room, was overturned in 1976 and lies across the beach. The keeper's house and other light station buildings are incorporated in a scientific research facility operated by the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California at Santa Cruz. The Coast Guard has a historic photo of the 1872 lighthouse and a second historic photo of the light station, and Google has a satellite view .

The lighthouse was replaced by a lighted whistle buoy (USCG 6-0315). The Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno discovered this cape on New Year's Day 1603 and named it Punta de Año Nuevo, New Year's Point. Año Nuevo is best known today for its large breeding population of elephant seals. Located on an rocky island just offshore about 8 miles (13 km) south of Pigeon Point on CA 1. Visitor center on the mainland open daily; during the winter breeding season there are guided tours of the island, for which reservations are required. Owner: California State Parks. Site manager: Año Nuevo State Park . ARLHS USA-017. * Point Montara (3) 1881 (lighthouse relocated here in 1928; this station established in 1875). Active; focal plane 70 ft (21 m); white flash every 5 s. 30 ft (9 m) steel tower; FA 251 lens (1970). Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black.

The original 4th order Fresnel lens (1912, transferred from earlier tower) is on display at the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City. 2-story wood duplex keeper's house (1875) and wood fog signal building (1902). C.M. Hanchey's photo is at the top of this page, English has a closeup , Trabas has a photo by Klaus Potschien, Marinas.com has aerial photos , and Google has a satellite view and a street view by Chris Romero. Point Montara was established as a fog signal station in 1875; a post light was added in 1900 and replaced by a wooden skeletal tower in 1912. The present lighthouse was built in 1881 at Mayo's Beach on the bay side of Cape Cod, Massachusetts . Shipped to California as surplus after being deactivated in 1922, it was installed at Point Montara in 1928.

(This long-forgotten history was rediscovered by lighthouse researchers in 2007 and reported by Colleen MacNaney in the June 2008 issue of Lighthouse Digest.) The light station has been restored by California State Parks and is used as a youth hostel operated by Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels. In 2007 the Coast Guard was seeking to transfer ownership of the lighthouse to the National Park Service. Located at the end of 16th Street just off CA 1 at the southern edge of Montara. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: California State Parks ( Montara State Beach ). ARLHS USA-629; Admiralty G4010; USCG 6-0335. San Francisco County Lighthouses Note: The city of San Francisco occupies a peninsula that encloses the west side of San Francisco Bay , a magnificent natural harbor. The bay is connected to the Pacific through a strait, the famous Golden Gate . Farallon Island 1855. Active; focal plane 358 ft (109 m); white flash every 15 s.

41 ft (12.5 m) brick tower, lantern removed; Vega VRB aerobeacon. Tower painted white. The original 1st order Fresnel lens is on display at the visitor center of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park on Fisherman's Wharf. The original keeper's house was demolished in 1969; two 1876 assistant keeper's houses survive. Lighthouse Digest has a photo , Wikipedia has an article with several photos, the Coast Guard has a historic photo showing the former lantern, and Google has a satellite view . The California Academy of Sciences maintains a webcam atop the tower. The tower has deteriorated noticeably in recent years, so in 2012 it was added to the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List . The Farallon Islands are a group of small islands and rocks 27 mi (43 km) west of the Golden Gate. Located on the highest point of Southeast Farallon Island. The island is closed to the public as a bird sanctuary, but the lighthouse can be seen from Oceanic Society half-day cruises to observe wildlife in the area. Site and tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service ( Farallon National Wildlife Refuge ). ARLHS USA-281; Admiralty G4014; USCG 6-0355. Mile Rocks 1906 (James A. McMahon). Active; focal plane 49 ft (15 m); white flash every 5 s. Circular 1-story steel building mounted on a massive stone caisson, painted with red and white horizontal bands; rotating aerobeacon. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens was moved to the Old Point Loma Light in San Diego (see the Southern California page). Continuously operating fog horn (blast every 30 s). Trabas has a photo by Michael Boucher, another photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos , and Google has a satellite view . The original light tower had four stories crowned by a lantern; the Coast Guard has a historic photo , and Huelse has a postcard view . All of the tower except the first story was demolished in 1966, and a landing pad for helicopters was built on top of the surviving story.

Located on a rock off Land's End at the south entrance to the Golden Gate, about 2 miles (3 km) southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge (US 101). There's a good view from the Land's End Trail in Lincoln Park , San Francisco. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-496; Admiralty G4054; USCG 6-0365. * Fort Point (3) 1864 (station established 1855). Inactive since 1934. 27 ft (8 m), 9-sided pyramidal cast iron skeletal tower, partially enclosed under the lantern, mounted on top of Fort Winfield Scott. Tower painted white, lantern black. Keeper's house demolished. A closeup photo is available, and the Coast Guard has a historic photo . Located directly beneath the south anchorage of the Golden Gate Bridge ; Scott Fisher has a good photo of the lighthouse under the bridge, and Google has a satellite view . Site open (free) Friday through Sunday, lighthouse closed. Owner: U.S. National Park Service. Site manager: Fort Point National Historic Site .

ARLHS USA-295. Yerba Buena Island (Goat Island) 1875. Active; focal plane 95 ft (29 m); white light occulted every 4 s. 25 ft (7.5 m) octagonal cylindrical wood tower; 5the order Fresnel lens (1886). Fog horn (blast every 30 s). Tower painted white with black trim; lantern roof is red. The 2-story Victorian wood keeper's house is the residence of the Coast Guard district commandant. Original brick fog signal building and oil house. The lighthouse is adjacent to the San Francisco Coast Guard Station . English has a nice photo , Trabas has a view from the bay by Michael Boucher, the Coast Guard has a historic photo showing the entire light station, Marinas.com has aerial photos , Huelse has a historic postcard view , and Google has a satellite view . The Coast Guard has a page on the history of the station. Located at the southern tip of Yerba Buena Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay.

The island is crossed by the I-80 expressway between the two spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge , but access is restricted. There are good views from the ferries between Oakland and San Francisco. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-908; Admiralty G4140; USCG 6-4595. Alcatraz Light, San Francisco Bay, July 2007 Flickr Creative Commons photo by Johnny Grim Alameda County (Oakland Area) Lighthouses Note: Oakland is a port city on the east side of San Francisco Bay. * Lightship WLV-605 Relief 1951. Decommissioned 1975. 158 ft (48 m) 2-masted steel lightship. Hull painted red, superstructure white with gold trim, masts gold. C.W. Bash's photo is at right, a page with many photos is available, English also has a good photo , and Google has a satellite view .

Built by Rice Brothers Shipyard in Boothbay, Maine, the ship served as the Overfalls off Cape Henlopen, Delaware, until 1960, then as Blunts off Cape Mendocino until 1969, when it became the relief lightship for the Pacific coast. After decommissioning the ship was donated to Olympia, Washington, but efforts to operate it as a museum there failed. The vessel was sold into private ownership in 1979. After sailing it to California and maintaining it for seven years, the owner, Alan Hosking, donated the ship to the U.S. Lighthouse Society in late 1986. Docked in Oakland, it was carefully restored by USLHS volunteers. In 2002 the ship sailed under its own power to a new berth at Jack London Square in Oakland. In 2008 the Society moved its headquarters to Washington state, and in 2012 it sold the Relief to The Anchor Program, which uses the vessel to train underprivileged youth and young adults in maritime trades. Site open, ship closed. Owner/site manager: The Anchor Program . ARLHS USA-693.

Lightship Relief, Oakland Harbor, July 2007 Flickr Creative Commons photo by C.W. Bash Contra Costa County (Richmond Area) Lighthouse Southampton Shoals 1905. Inactive since 1960. Square wood tower with lantern on a 2-story Victorian keeper's house. The original 5th order Fresnel lens is on display at the Angel Island Interpretive Center. The lighthouse originally had 3 stories and was located on Southampton Shoals, northeast of Angel Island and southwest of Point Richmond in San Francisco Bay. The upper two stories were relocated to Tinsley Island in the San Joaquin River delta about 15 miles (25 km) northwest of Stockton, where the building is used as a yacht club. The Coast Guard has a historic photo of the light on station, Marinas.com has aerial photos of the present location, and Google has a satellite view . Accessible only by boat, and permission to land should be obtained in advance. Site and tower open by appointment. Owner/site manager: St. Francis Yacht Club . ARLHS USA-777.

East Brother Island Light, Richmond, March 2013 Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Frank Schulenburg Solano County (Vallejo Area) Lighthouse * [Carquinez Strait] 1910. Inactive since 1951. 2-1/2 story wood keeper's house; the light tower, formerly attached, has been removed. English has a good photo , Marinas.com has aerial photos , and Google has a street view and a satellite view . Originally located at the end of a pier in Carquinez Strait, which connects San Pablo Bay with Suisun Bay. The lighthouse has been restored and relocated about 1 mile (1.5 km) east to the Glen Cove Marina, off Glen Cove Parkway in Vallejo. Modern additions have altered the appearance of the building; the Coast Guard has a historic photo showing its original appearance. In 2015 the building was opened for weddings, business meetings, and other events. Site open. Owner: Western Water Ways, Inc. Site manager: The Lighthouse at the Glen Cove Marina . ARLHS USA-142. * Point Blunt (2) 1956 (station established 1915).

Active; focal plane 60 ft (18 m); green flash every 5 s. Navigation light displayed from the roof of a square fog signal building. Fog horn (blast every 15 s when needed). The Coast Guard has a photo of an earlier light, and Google has a satellite view . Located on the southeastern point of Angel Island , off Tiburon in San Francisco Bay about 4 miles (6.5 km) northeast of the Golden Gate Bridge. Island accessible by ferries from Tiburon, San Francisco, Oakland, or Vallejo. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Angel Island State Park . ARLHS USA-617; Admiralty G4119; USCG 6-4335. [Point Knox] 1900 (fog bell station established 1887). Inactive since the 1960s. A post light was added to the station in 1900.

The keeper's house and other buildings were burned in 1963, but remarkably the original fog bell remains, mounted in a sawhorse-style wood frame in the center of the foundation pad of the keeper's house. Located at the southwestern corner of Angel Island, below a sheer bluff; Google has a satellite view . Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner: California State Parks. Site manager: Angel Island State Park . ARLHS USA-1288. Point Stuart 1915. Inactive. Light centered on the roof of a 1-story fog signal building. Anderson has a recent photo , and Google has a satellite view . This lightbeacon was maintained by keepers from Point Knox. The light, which marked the entrance to Raccoon Strait between Angel Island and the mainland, has been replaced by an offshore lightbuoy (CCG 6-4350). Located on the west side of Angel Island about 1/2 mi (800 m) north of Point Knox. Practically inaccessible (the light is on a platform halfway up a steep bluff). Site and tower closed. Owner: California State Parks. Site manager: Angel Island State Park .

ARLHS USA-1204. **** Point Cabrillo 1909. Active; focal plane 84 ft (25.5 m); white flash every 10 s. 47 ft (14.5 m) octagonal cylindrical wood tower on a 1-story wood fog signal building. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens was restored to use in 1999. Original 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. This is a complete light station, including two assistant keeper's houses (1908), oil house (1912), and other buildings. Matthew High's photo is at right, Anderson has an excellent page for the lighthouse, Trabas has a photo by Klaus Potschien, Dave Dunne has another fine photo , the Coast Guard has a historic photo , Marinas.com has aerial photos , Huelse has a historic postcard view , and Google has a satellite view and Jonathan Fleming's street view . The North Coast Interpretive Association began an extensive restoration of the light station in 1996.

Restoration, completed by the end of 2001, included the lighthouse, oil house, and the blacksmith and carpentry shop, which currently houses a marine science exhibit. In May 2001, the California Coastal Conservancy sold the lighthouse and 300 surrounding acres to California State Parks for $4 million. These funds were transferred to the Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association (PCLK) to support continued restoration and operation of the light station. In 2004-05 an assistant keeper's house was restored and became a museum. The principal keeper's house was opened for overnight stays in 2006. A second assistant keeper's house was restored in 2009. There was great alarm in May 2011, when California State Parks announced that the light station would be closed in 2012 as a cost-cutting measure. PCLK negotiated an agreement with the state that keeps the station open under the association's management. In 2014 the Coast Guard proposed to deactivate the light and remove the lens, but after discussions it dropped these plans.

Located on a spectacular headland nearly surrounded by the ocean, at the end of Lighthouse Road, off CA 1 about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Caspar and 4 mi (6.5 km) north of Mendocino. For most visitors there is a 1/2 mile (800 m) walk from the parking area, but handicapped visitors can drive to the lighthouse. Site open sunrise to sunset; lighthouse, keepers home and marine science exhibit open daily from 11am to 4pm. Owner: California State Parks ( Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park ). Site manager: Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association . ARLHS USA-619; Admiralty G4362; USCG 6-0450. Sunset at Point Cabrillo Light, Mendocino, November 2007 Flickr Creative Commons photo by Matthew High Humboldt County Lighthouses #[Cape Mendocino (3) (original site)] 1951 (station established 1868). Inactive since 2013. Light mounted on a steel pole.

A photo is available showing the dual aerobeacon installed in 1951, but Anderson's 2005 photo shows a simpler light. Google has a satellite view of the location. The historic 1868 lighthouse was relocated in 1998 to Shelter Cove (see above). The keeper's house has been demolished, but the oil house remains at the original site. The modern light was on a level site about 350 yards (300 m) northwest and 93 ft (28 m) higher than the original location on a ledge of the cliff face; it was removed after being deactivated in May 2013. Located on a towering cliff at the cape. Mattole Road (quite rugged and difficult) leads to the cape from Ferndale; 4-wheel drive is strongly recommended. The site is signed as closed, but it is not fenced. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-129H; ex-Admiralty G4374; ex-USCG 6-0480. [Table Bluff (original site)] 1892. Inactive since 1961.

The lighthouse has been relocated (next entry), but its foundation remains on the original site. A 1-story wood fog signal and radio building survived for many years. Google has a satellite view . The Wildlife Conservation Board and Coastal Conservancy purchased the land from private owners and conveyed it to the Bureau of Land Management. In 2012, the Bureau demolished the fog signal building and all the remaining structures of the station. Located at the end of Table Bluff Road, five miles west of US 101 north of Loleta. Site open. * Table Bluff (relocated to Woodley Island) 1892. Inactive since 1961 (a decorative white light is displayed). 35 ft (10.5 m) square cylindrical wood tower, painted white with black trim; lantern and gallery painted black. The original 4th order Fresnel lens (1856; transferred from Humboldt Harbor Light) was sent to the Old Point Loma Light in San Diego in 1953, but it has been retrieved for display at the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum . The keeper's house, formerly attached, was demolished in 1953.

(The original lighthouse was a sibling of the Ballast Point Light in San Diego, which is also demolished.) Keith Whitfield has a 2008 photo , English also has a photo , Marinas.com has aerial photos , and Google has a street view and a satellite view . Originally located on the South Spit near the entrance to Humboldt Bay, the tower was relocated in 1987 to the end of Startare Drive on Woodley Island in Arcata Bay, just off the Samoa Bridge on CA 255 in Eureka. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District . Site manager: Woodley Island Marina . ARLHS USA-832. [Humboldt Harbor] 1856. Inactive since 1892. The lighthouse collapsed in 1933, but foundation ruins remain. The cupola from the top of the lantern was discovered on the beach in 1987 and is on display at the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum , along with the original 4th order Fresnel lens. Formerly located on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay behind the Humboldt Bay Coast Guard Station . Google has a satellite view of the location.

ARLHS USA-1108. * Trinidad Head 1871. Active; focal plane 196 ft (60 m); white light occulted every 4 s. 25 ft (7.5 m) square brick tower with lantern and gallery; 375 mm lens (1947). Fog horn (blast every 30 s). Lighthouse painted white; lantern and gallery painted black. Keeper's house replaced by modern Coast Guard housing in 1969. Original 4th order Fresnel lens transferred to Trinidad Memorial Light. Wood fog signal building (1900); active fog horn mounted on the outside of the building. The Coast Guard has a historic photo of the station, Huelse has a postcard view , Marinas.com has aerial photos , and Google has a satellite view . A giant wave, one of the highest ever recorded, struck the tower on New Year's Eve 1914. Ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management in May 2014. In April 2015, BLM asked for suggestions on how to offer public access on a regular basis.

Located high on a majestic bluff over the Pacific, beyond the end of Lighthouse Road on the southwest side of Trinidad. A short but challenging hiking trail leads to the top of the headland, from which the lighthouse can be seen. Site open, tower generally closed but open for special events and educational field trips. Owner/site manager: U.S. Bureau of Land Management ( Trinidad Head Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-855; Admiralty G4408; USCG 6-0525. Trinidad Memorial Light, Trinidad, November 2007 Flickr Creative Commons photo by Teri Vogel Reading (Redding) Rock Date unknown. Active; focal plane 98 ft (30 m); white flash every 4 s. Approx. 17 ft (5 m) post mounted on a square equipment shelter. Steve and Kay Van Slyke have a distant view , and Google has an indistinct satellite view . Located atop Reading (pronounced "Redding") Rock, an isolated pillar about 9 mi (15 km) northwest of Orick. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: U.S.

Bureau of Land Management ( California Coastal National Monument ). Admiralty G4410; USCG 6-0540. Del Norte County Lighthouses [Crescent City Entrance] Date unknown. Active; focal plane 55 ft (17 m); white flash every 5 s. 55 ft (17 m) steel mast mounted on a concrete base. Fog horn (blast every 10 s). Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo , and Google has a satellite view . Located at the end of the west (main) breakwater of Crescent City. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty G4415; USCG 6-0550. St. George Reef 1892 (George Ballantyne). Reactivated (inactive 1975-2012, now privately maintained); focal plane 146 ft (44.5 m); white flash every 12 s. 90 ft (27.5 m) square granite tower, incorporating keeper's house, mounted on a massive concrete and granite base; the total height is about 140 ft (43 m).

Solar-powered lens; the original 1st order Fresnel lens is on display at the Del Norte County Museum . Anderson has a fine page for the lighthouse, Mike Marler has a 2007 photo , a 2010 photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos , but the lighthouse is not seen in Google's satellite view . The tower took 10 years to build and is considered the nation's most expensive lighthouse. Preservation efforts have been underway for more than a decade. In spring 2000, the lantern room was accidently destroyed when a helicopter carrying it ashore for restoration came in too low. A replica lantern built by Fashion Blacksmith of Crescent City was installed in April 2002. Lighthouse Digest has a February 2006 feature on the ongoing restoration. Plans have been completed for an onshore visitor center. The lighthouse was reactivated in March 2012. Located on Northwest Seal Rock, 3 miles (5 km) off Point St. George northwest of Crescent City. Accessible only by helicopter or by boat through very dangerous seas.

Helicopter tours to the lighthouse were suspended in 2012 due to objections from state aviation safety officials. Following various modifications to improve safety, tours are expected to resume in 2017. Visible very distantly from Point St. George; Pamela Elbert Poland has a photo of this view. Site and tower closed. Owner: Del Norte County . Operator/site manager: St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society . ARLHS USA-793; Admiralty G4418; USCG 6-0561. Battery Point Light, Crescent City, June 2005 Flickr Creative Commons photo by Marcel Marchon Lake Tahoe Lightbeacons Note: Lake Tahoe is a large and very scenic lake located in the Sierra Nevada range on the border of California and Nevada. The lake is about 22 mi (35 km) long and 12 mi (19 km) wide and has a surface elevation of 6225 ft (1897 m). For reasons unknown, Lake Tahoe is the only landlocked lake in the U.S. with navigational aids on the lake maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.

It is doubtful whether any of these aids can be called lighthouses, but the following two sites are of some interest to lighthouse enthusiasts. [Rubicon Point] 1916. Only active for a few years (accounts of its history vary). 12 ft (3.5 m) square wood tower; no lantern. Looks like an outhouse. Lorne Hull has a page for the light, Jitendra Agrawal has a closeup photo , and a 2009 photo is available, but the tiny building has not been located in Google's satellite view of the point. Located on the southwest shore of the lake at an elevation of about 6300 ft (1920 m). Believe it or not, this structure is said to have been built by the Coast Guard. The Tahoe Heritage Foundation is interested in restoring the structure. Site and tower open. Owner: California State Parks. Site manager: D.L. Bliss State Park . ARLHS USA-917. OLDEST - continually operating lighthouse -- Pacific Grove, California - Superlatives on Waymarking.com you are not logged in.

[log in] OLDEST - continually operating lighthouse -- Pacific Grove, California - Superlatives on Waymarking.com Welcome to Waymarking.com! We hope you've been able to find what you are looking for. We would also like to encourage you to take some time to browse some of the other aspects of our site. We recommend viewing our featured waymarks , or perhaps the newest waymarks . You can also create a free membership to track your progress online and share your locations with others. Click here to view the complete waymark directory N 36° 38.003 W 121° 56.028 10S E 595321 N 4054732 Quick Description: The oldest continually operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the US, with the oldest lens (originally manufactured in 1853). Location: California, United States Date Posted: 1/27/2009 7:04:06 PM Waymark Code: WM5P0M .KML File (Google Earth) Long Description: Point Pinos lighthouse is the oldest continually-operating lighthouse on the Pacific coast.

(The lighthouse on Alcatraz was constructed before this one, but was interrupted in its operation.) The official lighting was held Feb 1, 1855. Interestingly, this was also the first lighthouse to have a woman light keeper - Charlotte Layton - who served from its official inception till 1861. Her husband Charles Layton had been hired as light keeper but was killed in pursuit of a bandito before the construction was finished. The light tower is closed to the public but the light house is open weekends with docents available to discuss its century and a half of history. Type of documentation of superlative status: Interpretive sign in lighthouse Location of coordinates: front door California lighthouses, california coast lighthouses, California Coast Lighthouses <SCRIPT SRC="" LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <a href=""> <img src="" border="0" height="60" width="468"></a> </NOSCRIPT> Enter email address & click "Subscribe" Go Los Angeles Card Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City built in 1856. Today the Del Norte County Historical Society maintains a Maritime Museum at Battery Pt.

and shines the light as a private aid to navigation. Trinidad Memorial Light . The original light, built in 1871, was located at Trinidad Head. It's lantern was removed and placed into the memorial light in Trinidad. Punta Gorda Lighthouse is located in the very remote coastline of northern California near Petrolia. The light served the area from 1912 to 1951, all that remains today is the tower and empty lantern. Point Cabrillo Light was completed in 1909 and included an air-siren fog signal and a 47-foot tower with a third-order Fresnel lens. Today, Point Cabrillo Preserve is 300 acres of protected open headland along the Mendocino Coast. The lighthouse is currently being restored. Point Arena Lighthouse , was established in 1870 and is over 100 feet tall. The light was automated in 1977, the fog signal building is now a museum and the keeper's residences are available for lodging. Open daily, hours vary. Mile Rocks Lighthouse , intriguing lighthouse built on a pair of rocks off of Point Bonita.

The larger of the two rocks is 40 feet by 30 feet, and rises about 20 feet above sea level. Built in 1904, the tower was removed in the 1960's and the light was automated. Alcatraz Island Light is located in San Francisco Bay and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This light was built in 1909 to replace the original lighthouse built in 1854, which was the first lighthouse built in California. Point Bonita Lighthouse is also part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area located north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was built in 1877. Open weekends. Fort Point Light , the second lighthouse in California, is another light that is part of the Golden Gate NRA. It was built by the U.S. Army and lit in 1855. Open Wed - Sun Point Montara Lighthouse . Established in 1900. A fog signal originally marked the point beginning in 1872. Now operated as a youth hostel, visitor hours are limited. Part of the Golden Gate NRA.

Point Reyes Light Station is located at the Point Reyes National Seashore and was established in 1870. Pigeon Point Light was built in 1871 and is 20 miles south of Half Moon Bay at Pescadero. The grounds are open daily with tours of the lighthouse and watch house operated on weekends. Point Piï¿½os was the third lighthouse established on the West Coast in 1854 and is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. The lighthouse has been restored and refurbished, much as it was in 1854 Santa Cruz Light , built in 1868, as a wooden structure with a tower. This light was demolished in 1948, the current light was built as a memorial to an 18 year old drowning victim. The Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse currently houses the Santa Cruz Surfer's Museum. Point Sur Lighthouse established in1889 is located at Point Sur State Historic Park. It is the only complete light station in California (all original buildings are still intact), and an ongoing restoration project is underway. Open weekends and Wednesdays. Piedras Blancas Light is in San Simeon.

It was built in 1875, however its lantern has been removed and is in the town of Cambria. The lighthouse grounds are closed. San Luis Obispo Light is a Victorian structure with 40-foot tower and fourth-order Fresnel lens. It is situated at the remote San Luis Head near Avila Beach, just outside the harbor. Completed in 1890, the light can currently be seen by boat or day hikes on the Pecho Coast Trail. Anacapa Island Light is located at the entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel and is part of the Channel Island National Park. The light, which can be reached by boat, is the original light built in 1932 and was automated in 1968. The grounds are open and tours are available. California's Lighthouses | Lighthouses | California Coast | Places To Go Places to Go When people often think of lighthouses, they usually think of the famous towers that dot Cape Cod or the coast of Maine. But California has 15 historic lighthouses, including the oldest and tallest lighthouses on the West Coast. Plan your next coastline road trip around tours of California's scenic lighthouses!

Here's an overview of lighthouses across California along with nearby campgrounds, RV parks and resorts that could serve as "base camps" for lighthouse focused road trips: Crescent City Area -- Battery Point Lighthouse: Built in 1856, this 45-foot, Cape Code style lighthouse survived a 1964 tsunami that destroyed much of Crescent City. The lighthouse is considered to be haunted. To reach the lighthouse from US 101, take Front Street heading west and then make a left of A Street. Nearby campgrounds include: -- Crescent City Redwoods KOA in Crescent City: (707) 464-5744 or -- Hiouchi RV Resort in Crescent City: (707) 458-3321 or -- The Redwoods RV Resort in Crescent City: (707) 487-7404 or -- Village Camper Inn in Crescent City: (707) 464-3544 or Mendocino Coast -- Point Arena Lighthouse: The original tower was built in 1870, but was destroyed during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

The current 115-foot lighthouse was built in 1908 and became the nation's first steel-reinforced lighthouse. It is located one mile north of the town of Point Arena along State Route 1. The lighthouse is open daily. -- Point Cabrillo Lighthouse: This lighthouse was originally built after the 1906 earthquake to warn ships carrying lumber to stay away from the coastal shoals. The lighthouse is located two miles north of Mendocino and can be reached by taking Point Cabrillo Drive off State Route 1. The lighthouse is open daily.

Nearby campgrounds include: -- Caspar Bach RV Park Campground in Mendocino: (707) 964-0526 or -- Fort Bragg Leisure Time RV Park in Fort Bragg: (707) 964-5994 or -- Sportsmans RV Park in Fort Bragg: (707) 964-2612 or -- Pomo RV Park & Campground in Fort Bragg: (707) 964-3372 or San Francisco Bay Area -- Alcatraz Lighthouse: Alcatraz Island was actually the site of the first operational U.S. lighthouse on the Pacific Coast. It was originally built in 1852 and its beacon was first lit in 1854 to guide ships through San Francisco Bay. Like other lighthouses, it was damaged during the 1906 earthquake. It was replaced with an 84-foot-tall tower in 1909 when the Alcatraz prison was constructed. The tower can be seen by taking a ferry and guided tour of Alcatraz Island.

-- Pigeon Point Lighthouse: Located along State Route 1 in Pescadero, 50 miles south of San Francisco, this 115-foot lighthouse has been in operation since 1872. It is considered to be California's most photographed lighthouse. The inside of the lighthouse is not open to the public, but docents lead history walks around the grounds. -- Point Bonita Lighthouse: Point Bonita is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Exit US Highway 101 north at Alexander Avenue or US Highway 101 south at the last exit before the Golden Gate Bridge and follow the signs. It was originally built in 1855. However, the lighthouse keepers' quarters were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. Full moon tours are offered during the summer months. -- Point Montara Lighthouse: This lighthouse is located along State Route 1 about 25 miles south of San Francisco between Montara and Moss Beach. A foghorn was first installed at the site in 1872. A light tower was subsequently built in 1900. The grounds are accessible but there are no tours inside the lighthouse.

-- Point Reyes Lighthouse: Originally built in 1870, this lighthouse was used for 125 years. It is located in an area considered to be the foggiest location in California. The lighthouse and visitors center at Point Reyes National Seashore are open year round. Nearby campgrounds include: -- Candlestick RV Park in San Francisco: (415) 822-2299 or -- San Francisco RV Resort & Campground in Pacifica: (888) 479-5144 or -- Marin Park, 10 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge: (888) 461-5199 -- Pillar Point RV Park in Half Moon Bay: (650) 712-9277 or -- Pelican Point Point RV Park in Half Moon Bay: (650) 726-9100 Monterey Bay Area Point Pinos Lighthouse: This is the oldest active lighthouse on the West Coast. Originally built in 1855, its light has been in operation ever since.

However, it was severely damaged during the 1906 earthquake and was rebuilt with reinforced concrete in 1907. It is considered to be one of California's prettiest lighthouses. The lighthouse located in Pacific Grove. It is open Monday through Thursday. Point Sur Lighthouse: This picturesque lighthouse is located off of State Route 1 19 miles south of Carmel. It has been in continuous operation since 1889. It is considered one of the 10 most haunted lighthouses in the U.S. Ghost tours are offered as fundraising events in October.

Nearby campgrounds include: -- Big Sur Campground and Cabins in Big Sur: (831) 667-2322 or -- Carmel by the River RV Park in Carmel: (831) 624-9329 or -- Fernwood Resort in Big Sur: (831) 667-2422 or -- Marina Dunes Beach Resort in Marina: (831) 384-6914 -- Riverside Campground & Cabins in Big Sur: (831) 667-2414 or Greater San Luis Obispo Area -- Piedras Blancas Lighthouse: This 115-foot lighthouse is located along State Route 1 just north of Hearst Castle. Completed in 1875, it is open for tours. -- Point San Luis Lighthouse: This lighthouse is located near San Luis Obispo on the grounds of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant and is not visible from public roads. The light at this "Prairie Victorian" style lighthouse was first turned on in 1890.

It is open for guided tours only and is not visible from public roads. Nearby campgrounds include: -- Bay Pines Travel Trailer Park in Morro Bay: (805) 772-3223 or -- Cypress Morro Bay in Morro Bay: (805) 772-2515 -- Morro Dunes Travel Trailer Park and Resort Campground in Morro Bay: (805) 772-2722 or -- Pismo Coast Village RV Resort in Pismo Beach: (888) 782-3224 or -- Rancho Colina in Morro Bay: (805) 772-8420 Greater Los Angeles Area -- Point Vicente Lighthouse: This 67-foot lighthouse is located in Rancho Palos Verdes about one quarter mile south of Hawthorne Boulevard. Built in 1926, it remains one of the brightest lights along the Southern California coast. It is open the second Saturday of each month. -- Point Fermin Lighthouse: Built in 1874, this was the first lighthouse in San Pedro Bay.

Unlike other California lighthouses, which stand by themselves, Point Fermin is integrated into a Victorian style house. Volunteers from the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society serve as tour guides and help keep it open to the public. The lighthouse is located on the south side of San Pedro just west of the southern end of S. Pacific Avenue. Children under 40 inches tall are not allowed in the lighthouse tower. Nearby campgrounds include: -- Dockweiler Beach RV Park in El Segundo: (310) 322-4951 or -- Golden Shore RV Resort in Long Beach: (562) 435-4646 or Greater San Diego Area -- Old Point Loma Lighthouse: Located inside Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of the Point Loma Peninsula, this Cape Cod style lighthouse was built in 1855. The lighthouse is open daily.

Nearby campgrounds include: Campland by the Bay in San Diego: (858) 581-4200 or Mission Bay RV Resort in San Diego: (877) 219-6900 or California Lighthouses Since I live on the East Coast, I have few opportunities to visit West Coast lighthouses. However, I have made a few trips to the San Francisco area. There are several lights within easy driving distance of the Bay area, and some of the most breathtaking lighthouse locales. Visitors to San Francisco usually visit Fisherman's Wharf, with it's view of the infamous Alcatraz Island. Few realize, however, that Alcatraz Light was the first built on the West Coast. Just across the Golden Gate Bridge, The astoundingly beautiful Point Bonita Lighthouse commands a breathtaking view of the bridge, the bay, and the sea. Just to the north, the reclusive Pt. Reyes Lighthouse seems a thousand miles from San Francisco, and further up the coast are the lights at Pt. Arena and Pt. Cabrillo . Up near the Oregon border, at Crescent City, is Battery Point Light .

Not too far south of San Francisco are two lighthouses which serve as youth hostels: Point Montara in Pacifica, and Pigeon Point Lighthouse , which has the same design as many lighthouses built during the 1870's. Further down the coast, near Monterey, Point Pinos Lighthouse anchors one of the most beautiful sections of the Pacific coast, stretching about 20 miles south to Point Sur Lighthouse . Just southwest of Los Angeles are two exceptional lights: Pt. Vicente and Pt. Fermin . Finally, down near the Mexican border at San Diego, Old Point Loma Lighthouse is one of the origianal west coast lighthouses. San Francisco - San Francisco, California, USA San Francisco City by the Bay San Francisco’s popularity has been built with its frequent choice as location for popular movie and television shows and made its landmarks recognisable worldwide. Tourism is the backbone of the San Francisco economy with more than 16 million visitors arriving in San Francisco every year and making Pier 39 near Fisherman’s Wharf the 3rd most popular tourist attraction in the USA.

The climate of San Francisco has made it ideal for outdoor activites with more than 320 km of bicycle paths and bike lanes throughout the city. Skateboarding has two homes in San Francsico at Marina Green & Embarcadero and on the San Francisco Bay its all about Sailing, Windsurfing and Kitesurfing. The city’s Major League Baseball team “San Francisco Giants” can be found playing at AT&T Park just next to South Beach park which was opened in 2000 as part of a redevelopment of the area. There are more than 200 parks within the San Francisco area but the biggest and best-known park is Golden Gate Park which reaches from the Pacific Ocean east to the centre of the city. The most famous of the national parks is the island of Alcatraz which is located 2.4km offshore from Pier 33.Alcatraz island which is often referred to as “The Rock” was officialy designated as a US Military Prision on the 21st March 1907, and the construction began on the main cell block in 1909 and was completed in 1912.

Robert F Kennedy closed Alcatraz penitentiary on the 21st March 1963 and it has now no longer a federal prison but is still the site of the oldest operating lighthouse of the west coast of the USA. The island of Alcatraz was declared as a National Historical Landmark in 1986 and has appeared a number of times in popular culture and media as official no prisoner has ever successfully escaped. The Rock, Alcatraz Island - San Francisco Bay, California - YouTube The Rock, Alcatraz Island - San Francisco Bay, California Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Mar 21, 2013 You can not escape from "The Rock", as it is commonly known. Alcatraz was a high security federal prison from 1934 to 1963. The main prison building was constructed from 1910 to 1912.

It housed 1,576 total prisoners who continually caused trouble at other federal prisons. 36 prisoners made 14 attempts to escape The Rock; none are known to have survived. The island also contains the oldest operating lighthouse on the American west coast. Alcatraz is now a museum and a major San Francisco tourist attraction. 1.5 million visitors annually tour the grounds. The white structure covers the iconic water tower since it is undergoing renovation for visitor safety. This video was captured in March, 2012 with a Canon HFS-100 camera and was edited with Adobe Premier Pro 6.0. Music is "Oppressive Gloom" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a CC Attribution 3.0.

Question: On which island is the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the USA
Answer: Alcatraz