California Lighthouses


Point Pinos Lighthouse, California

POINT PINOS LIGHT

State: CALIFORNIA
Location: SOUTH ENTRANCE TO MONTEREY BAY
Nearest City: PACIFIC GROVE
County: MONTEREY
U.S.C.G. District: 11
Year Station Established: 1855

Point Pinos Light

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1855
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1975
Foundation Materials: STONE
Construction Materials: BRICK TOWER ON STONE HOUSE
Markings/Patterns: WHITE
Shape: CONICAL ON SQUARE HOUSE
Relationship to Other Structures: INTEGRAL
Tower Height: 43
Original Optic: THIRD ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1855
Present Optic: THIRD ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Present Lens Installed: 1855
Height of Focal Plane: 89
Fresnel Lens Disposition: ORIGINAL LENS STILL IN OPERATION
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s): N/A

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1855
Number of Stories: 1.5
Architectural Style: CAPE COD INTEGRAL
Construction Materials: STONE

Other Structures: OIL HOUSE, CISTERN, RADIOBEACON

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION/MUSEUM/COAST GUARD HOUSING

Owner/Manager: U.S. COAST GUARD LEASE TO CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE/MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Open to the Public? YES (Go to Lighthouses to Visit for access information)

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #77000312
Name of Listing: POINT PINOS LIGHTHOUSE
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
OLDEST ACTIVE LIGHTHOUSE ON WEST COAST; EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST 16 CONSTRUCTED ON WEST COAST; RUN BY WOMEN KEEPERS FOR 25 YEARS; RESTORED BY PACIFIC GROVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY


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