Farallon Island Lighthouse, California

FARALLON ISLAND LIGHT

Location: SOUTHEAST FARALLON ISLAND
Nearest City: SAN FRANCISCO
County: SAN FRANCISCO
U.S.C.G. District: 11
Year Station Established: 1855

Historical research suggests that nearly 180 vessel and aircraft losses occurred between 1595 and 1957 in the waters of what is now Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary has collaborated with state and federal agencies and the private sector to gather resource documentation and to create opportunities to locate and record submerged archaeological resources. Some of these archaeological resources have been located and inventoried by the National Park Service (NPS).


Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1855
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1972
Foundation Materials: BRICK
Construction Materials: BRICK
Markings/Patterns: WHITE
Shape: CONICAL W/OUT LANTERN
Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
Tower Height: 41
Original Optic: FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1855
Present Optic: VEGA VRB
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane: 358
Fresnel Lens Disposition: ORIGINAL FIRST ORDER LENS TRANSFERRED FROM TREASURE ISLAND MUSEUM TO SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME NHP MUSEUM FOR DISPLAY AT VISITOR CENTER ACROSS FROM THE HYDE STREET PIER
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s): N/A

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Year Constructed:
Construction Materials:
Architectural Style:
Fog Signal Type: STEAM FOG SIGNAL

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES (2 HOUSES)

Year Constructed: 1876
Number of Stories: 2
Architectural Style: VICTORIAN DUPLEXES
Construction Materials: WOOD

Other Structures: DURING MILITARY OCCUPATION: 2 CISTERNS, OIL HOUSE, RADIOBEACON, GENERATOR BUILDING; ORIG. BRICK KEEPERS (RAZED 1969), HANDCART RAILWAY

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION IN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Owner/Manager: U.S. COAST GUARD AND FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Open to the Public? NO (MAY BE VIEWED FROM WATER ON BOAT TRIPS DURING SUMMER & FALL)

Web Site:

National Register Status: PART OF LISTING; Reference #77000332
Name of Listing: FARALLONE ISLANDS
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
ORIGINALLY SOUND SIGNAL WAS WAVE-ACTIVATED WHISTLE; LANTERN REMOVED TO ACCOMODATE DCB-224; ISLAND IS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FOR THE PROTECTION OF MARINE MAMMALS AND NESTING SEABIRDS