Where the Warning Beacons Shine on the Pacific Coast

If you plan a quick jaunt to an accessible lighthouse near you, or a tour of many, here are a few along the Pacific Coast.

Even if you head out when skies are clear, be prepared for bitter winds and rain in winter, wear sturdy, comfortable shoes and take along binoculars.

Restored to its original appearance as a tourist attraction, the old Point Loma Lighthouse is the focal point of the Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma in San Diego.

“The last lighthouse keeper was Capt. Israel,” said Howard Kennedy, 74, a volunteer at the center. “He was there for 20 years until they closed it down in the 1890s.”

Rooms Renovated

The rooms in the old lighthouse can be viewed through glass doors and have been renovated to look as they did when the Robert Israel family lived there.

For 36 years it was the highest elevated lighthouse in the country. Then in 1891, a new Point Loma Lighthouse was built on Pelican Point, 400 feet below the old light, which was so often obscured by low clouds that it became impractical as a navigational aid.

The view from Point Loma is said to be one of the best harbor views in the world.

Another interesting day trip could include taking in the Point Fermin Lighthouse and the lighthouse at Point Vicente, both on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Centerpiece of Point Fermin Park, the Point Fermin Lighthouse is a Victorian gingerbread structure built in 1874 of California redwood. Painted white with Wedgwood blue trim, it is circled by a white picket fence and lovely gardens.

Now Supervisor’s Home

The exterior of the house was restored in the early 1970s by the Point Fermin Lighthouse Preservation Committee and is now the home of park maintenance supervisor Julian Jimenez. Though the house and yard are off limits to the public, they can be viewed from the park. The lighthouse function was taken over by a white skeleton tower in 1945, and the tower was reduced to a pole light in 1970.

Other nearby points of interest are the Cabrillo Marine Museum, 3720 Stephen White Drive in San Pedro, and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, Berth 84 at the foot of 6th Street in San Pedro, depicting the history of the L.A. Harbor.

Drive north on Palos Verdes Drive West to Point Vicente Lighthouse, which is closed to the public but is worth viewing from the adjacent Point Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West, south of the junction of Hawthorne Boulevard and Palos Verdes Drive West.

Built in 1926 by the U.S. Lighthouse Service, the classic lighthouse is on a cliff 185 feet above the sea.

Legend of the Ghost

There are several legends surrounding this gentle-looking lighthouse. From the time it was built, keepers complained of a strange apparition of a woman in flowing gowns who circled the exterior or ran to the edge of the cliff.

After careful study, an assistant keeper concluded that the ghost was created by an unusual reflection of the light as if rotated. Still, some believe that what they see is the spirit of a woman who jumped from the cliff to join her lover lost at sea.

Following is a list of other California lighthouses, north of Los Angeles, which are open to the public. If you plan a visit to any of them, it’s best to call ahead.

Point Sur Lighthouse--This granite lighthouse south of Carmel was built in 1889 and automated in 1972. It had been closed to the public for many years. The California Parks Department recently acquired it and opened it to free public tours at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Access may be limited due to the deteriorated road. Call (408) 667-2315 for information.

Point Pinos--This 1856 structure is the oldest West Coast lighthouse still in service with the original Fresnel lens. It is on the Monterey Peninsula. Women ran this station for about 40 years and it is nicely refurbished with period furniture and Lighthouse Service artifacts. It is open, generally, from 1 to 5 p.m. on weekends. Donations are accepted. It is under the jurisdiction of the town of Pacific Grove (next to Monterey). The Pacific Grove Natural History Museum will provide more information if you call (408) 372-4212, or write: 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, Calif. 93950.

Santa Cruz--The Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse is a small brick building erected in the early 1960s by Mark Abbott’s parents as a memorial to their son who died nearby in a surfing accident. The light is on the site of the original 1869 lighthouse at the entrance to the Santa Cruz Harbor, between Monterey and San Francisco. The building is open weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and contains lighthouse paintings and historical surfing artifacts. There is no fee. Located at Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz, Calif. 95062; call (408) 426-1922.

Pigeon Point--A classical 115-foot 1872 brick structure. The tower, which is south of the San Francisco Bay, is open for tours by appointment on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The quarters are available for dormitory-style overnight accommodations through the American Youth Hostel organization. Tours are $1.50 for adults and 75 cents for children. Lodging is $7.50. Call (415)879-0633 between 5 and 9 p.m. for more information, or write: Pigeon Point Road, Pescadero, Calif. 94060.

Point Montara--This 1875 lighthouse started out as a fog signal station on the foggy approach to the Golden Gate, South of Pacifica, and became a lighthouse around the turn of the century. It is still working, though automated. The wooden Victorian keepers quarters are now occupied by the American Youth Hostel organization and are undergoing restoration. The adjacent modern housing unit is available for overnight guests. Lodging is in bunk beds and inexpensive ($7.50 a night; you help with small chores in the morning.) Call (415) 728-7177, or write: AYH, 16 St. Cabrillo Highway, Montara, Calif. 94037.

East Brother Light Station--A beautifully restored 1873 redwood Victorian lighthouse situated on a small island in San Francisco Bay. This complete 19th-Century light station is operated by a local nonprofit group as a bed-and-breakfast inn. The overnight accommodations include a 10-minute boat ride to the island and a five-course dinner for four couples; breakfast, too, of course. The keepers may fire up the diesels and blow the old diaphone fog horns. Day use is also available. The bed and breakfast, at $250 per couple, is usually booked months in advance, so call early for reservations: (415) 233-2385, or write: 117 Park Place, Point Richmond, Calif. 94801.

Point Bonita--Constructed in 1877, this working lighthouse is dramatically situated on a spine of land that guards the north side of the Golden Gate. The trail to the lighthouse is 3/4 of a mile and very scenic. You must cross a 180-foot suspension bridge to get there. The station is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Tours are available from 1 to 3 p.m. weekends by appointment. Because of trail conditions, children under 12 are not permitted. For reservations and directions, call (415) 331-1540.

Point Reyes--A beautiful 16-sided cast-iron tower dramatically perched on the cliffs of Point Reyes, north of San Francisco. It is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service and is open to the public at no charge Thursdays through Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More than 300 steps lead down to the structure. Call (415) 669-1534 for further information, or write: Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes, Calif. 94956.

Point Arena--This 115-foot tower was constructed in 1908 replacing the original (1872) tower destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. The current tower was constructed by a San Francisco chimney company and is believed to be one of the first lighthouse towers made of reinforced concrete. It is a vital navigation aid for ships approaching the picturesque but dangerous Mendocino Coast. There is a modest museum in the fog signal building. The station is operated by the nonprofit Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers organization and is open to the public year-round from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; summer weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults and 50 cents for children. Call (707) 882-2777 or write: P.O. Box 11, Point Arena, Calif. 95468.

Crescent City (Battery Point)--This 1856 structure at the northern tip of the state was one of the first lighthouse on the West Coast. It is cared for by the Del Norte County Historical Society and is nicely renovated. There is a museum featuring a Fresnel lens, along with many lighthouse artifacts. The lighthouse is open April through September at low tide (you must cross a low isthmus). Admission is $1.50. For access information, call (707) 464-3089, or write: Box 1149, Crescent City, Calif. 95531.