California's Majestic Lighthouse's

ThunderBird

2012-02-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

Longitude: -119.930358100
Latitude: 39.204842500
Elevation: 6266 FT(1910 M)

Directions: :

Year first lit: 1936

Active:

Deactivated:

Automated:

Keepers dwelling:

Construction:

Tower shape:

Tower Height:

Focal plane:

Original lens:

Range:

Current lens:

Fog Signal:

Characteristic:

Admiralty:

ARLHS:

USCG number:

Owner:

Site manager: The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society

Journal

It was my second attempt in gettingto this Lighthouse structure on the lake. Technically, Thunderbird might not be considered a lighthouse, as it was owned by aprivate individual and used for his personal needs. Yet, I selected it becauseof its location and history of its owner. The owner juxtaposition with regularlight keepers, he was fabulously wealthy, while they depended on the Light board fortheir meager existence, he was surrounded by opulence, they were surrounded bysupplies issued by the government, He was close to civilization, they mostlylived in hard to get rural areas, He did not have to face ravages of nature, they hadto make it part of their lifestyle.

The first time to visit was inwinter and I failed to researched my location properly. I headed off from theBay area to Tahoe to photograph both Sugar Pines and Thunderbird. You can headon over to the Sugar pines linkand you will have a record of my journey and adventure for that day. I headed for Kings City to meetAnne, after a nice lunch with my wife's niece Anne, she is a sweet person, Ialways love to visit her and her family. When I arrived at Kings City, Ipunched the address of Thunderbird lodge into my gps, and to my chagrin I wondered upand down the Highway 28 until I found a narrow entrance to the lodge. Only tofind that it closed to the public, a sign was posted near the gate, visits tothe lodged had to be booked. The Lodge is located between Highway 431 andHighway 50, closer to 50.That was the kernel of my first visit.

My next opportunity came in theSummer of 2011, I went with my wife for a weekend in Tahoe. We stayed at theembassy Suites hotel, our time was a wonderful and enjoyable experience. Ifanyone ever paid a visit to the Tahoe area knows how beautiful it is. I couldcreate a photo book on the sites in the area. I love traveling with my wife,she will talk to anyone. We were at manager’s happy hour in the lounge of theEmbassy suites and noticed a lot of senior couples enjoying themselves. At thetable next to ours was an elderly Jewish couple, my wife caught their eye andthey introduced themselves ,they extricated themselves from their quarters andplanted themselves at our table. My wife’s eyes lit up as she engaged them inconversation. It did not take long and she was telling them about the MessiahJesus, it's amazing she loves Jesus so intensely that she has to share Him witheveryone she meets.

Later on that evening we had dinnernot too far from the hotel, another couple from New York was sitting a shortdistance from us. The husband appeared to have a glass or two too many. He wasin a jovial mood. Again my wife engaged them in conversation, she spoke primarilyto the husband, who reminded me of my father, he was one to party and makehimself friendly to any pretty lady who sat near him. I engaged his wife inconversation, two different kinds of conversation, one about the Grace of Godthrough Christ and another about the tea party movement. It was strange to hearpeople to make false judgments on both arguments. Judging God on the actions ofmen, and judging the tea party on the statements made by the media. The womanmaintained that no-one would go to hell as all men are inherently good, yet shejudged Christians as not good people. I asked her about Hitler, Mussolini, Mao,Stalin, serial killers, rapists, child molesters, murders, etc, etc.. I alsosaid that men would be judged according to their own works and that no onewould be justified. She argued that they were not really bad, just led astray.We finished that night as friends, no hard feelings as we left. Jean and Iheaded back to the hotel and they were set for a night of gambling in thecasinos.

I made my booking for the Lake Tahoeboat and the Thunderbird Lodge. The boat was on Sunday and the Lodge was for aMonday. Sunday was a good day, the Sun was high in the sky and the sky a deepblue. The boat headed out across the lake, and I drank in the beauty of thesurrounding mountains, the tree that lined the shore, and the skyline thatsharply separated the grey mountain from the blue sky. I knew from what I sawGod lives, He is the eternal artist. We spent the day on the lake and later that night had dinner lookingat the sunset.

Monday came and Jean dropped me atthe center to take the bus to the lodge. The bus was full, our driver was alady from Australia, she was charming and filled us on some of the History ofthe lodge. Our tour started in the room that housed the faux lighthouse. Wespent time visiting every room in the lodge, we traveled through theunderground passageways, stopped at thehanger that housed the Thunderbird boat, finally we made our way outside andback to the main lodge from the outside path ways. I took lots of pictures andnearly missed the real lighthouse, a small structure sitting by itself on theShore, Not too far from it was the American flag, where would a lighthouse beif there was no flag. It was small, no spiral stairs, no Fresnel lens, no watertowers, no oil sheds, no large lantern room. They boasted that it was thehighest lighthouse in America, I reminded them of Rubicon and Sugar Pines.It was trip I thoroughly enjoyed and most likely will be back again for anotherjourney into one of the most beautiful places in this world.

History

Some would not consider this atraditional lighthouse, due to its location and endurance of time, I havedecided to add it to my collection lighthouses.

1828, Hugh Whittell the grandfatherof George immigrated to America from Ireland

1849, Hugh came west on a steamerduring the gold rush period, made his fortune grub-staking miners and investingin California real estate.

1879, George Whittell, Sr., marriesAnna Luning, daughter of Nicholas Luning wealthy Banker.

1881, September 28, George Whittell,Jr. (Captain), was born in San Francisco, He owned 100,000 aces of the NevadaShoreline at Lake Tahoe

1890, Anna’s father dies the Luningand Whittell fortunes unite

1919 George marries his french nurseElia Pascal

1922, George's father died, heinherits his father's fortune.

1936, George Whittle Starts to buildThunderbird Lodge, and the beacon was erected on the cove, one of the tallestlighthouses in the world

1939, Thunderbird Lodge iscompleted.

1940, Whittell takes delivery of theyacht Thunderbird

1969 April 18, George Whittle Dies,a book about "Castle in the Sky", courtesy of Ronald and Susan James. Jack Dreyfus, buys thelodge and 10,000 acres

1985, Dreyfus Adds to the Lodge, anentertainment building, and a 2 story wing over the garage.

1998, Del Webb Corporation purchasedthe Whittell Estate

1999, BLMexchanged the land in Clark County to Del Webb for the Lodge property for anamount of $40 million.

2000 November, Thunderbird Lodge was added to the National Register ofHistoric Places.

Reference

Beacon could crumble

A winter’s worth of waves caused significant damage to theThunderbird Cove Beacon Lighthouse at the Thunderbird Lodge.
The lighthouse stands upon rocks in the water in front of the historic EastShore property.

Bill Watson, manager and curator of the Thunderbird Lodge, said winter stormsin January and February delivered significant damage to the beacon’s rockfoundation.

“Due to wave and wind action during those storms ,the beacon’s foundation tookexceptional damage,” Watson said.

The structure was among the first built on the George Whittell property, eitherin 1936 or 1937, Watson said.

According to Lighthouse Digest, the beacon and its sister lighthouse, whichalso sits in the waters adjacent to the property, are the two highestlighthouses in North America given Tahoe’s elevation at more than 6,225 feetabove sea level.

Watson verified that fact and said the beacon used to hold a variety of coloredlights and the Whittell’s alarm system.

Without repairs Watson said the beacon is in danger of crumbling into LakeTahoe.

Based on preliminary estimates, Watson said, repairs to the battered 71 or 72year-old beacon should cost around $40,000.

Half the amount — about $20,000 — has already been raised between threeorganizations, the Tahoe Yacht Club, the Lahontan Community Foundation and theNational Parks Service.

“Those funds are just not enough for the repairs,” Watson said.

The remainder of the funds must be raised before the end of summer to ensurethe work is completed before next winter, Watson said.

And, according to a July 7 press release from the lodge, if the work isn’tcompleted promptly the beacon could collapse into Lake Tahoe.

To raise the funds necessary to repair the beacon, the Thunderbird isdedicating money from a Winemaker’s Dinner tonight at the lodge.

The dinner, part of the Winemaker’s Dinner Series, begins with a silent auctionand cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and a dinner catered by PlumpJack Restaurant at 7p.m. at the lodge.

Individual dinner tickets are priced at $250 per person ($175 of which is acharitable donation) and reservations may be made by calling (775) 832-8754 orregistering online at thunderbirdlodge.org.

The entire Winemaker’s Dinner series kicks off today and includes three moredinners, on Aug. 17, Sept. 21 and Oct. 19. Tickets for the entire series cost$900, of which $700 will serve as a charitable donation for the lodge.

On a related note, Watson said he would not comment on a $5 million fundraisingeffort by the lodge to remove a lien on the property held by Michigan-based PulteHomes. The deadline to raise the money came earlier this month and Watson saidhe expects a press release within the next two weeks to explain how thefundraiser wrapped up.

Links

Thunderbird Lodge

WikiPedia

Journal History Links References Thunderbird Lighthouse, Lighthouse, lighthouse pictures, Thunderbird, Tahoe lake, California, photographs, Journal, history, LighthousesOfCalifornia, Sean O’Cairde
Content is copyright by Ocairdestudio 2011

Anacapa

2011-11-06T00:43:00.000-07:00

Location:Anacapa Island, Santa Barbara Channel, California

Directions:The station is located on East Anacapa Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park. Tours are available -
Island Packers, operating out of Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, is an authorized concessionaire to Anacapa Island and Channel Islands National Park.

call them at (805) 642-1393.

Coordinates: 34°00′56″N 119°21′30″W34.0156°N 119.3584°W

Year first lit:1912

Active: YES

Deactivated: No

Automated: 1968

Keepers dwelling: 1932 4 x 1 Stories,l Style: SPANISH REVIVAL Materials: WOOD

Other Structures: OIL HOUSE, RADIO BUILDING, TANK HOUSE, 2 STORAGE BUILDINGS, DOCK, CRANE HOUSE, CISTERNFoundation: reinforced Concrete
Construction:Brick & Concrete

Tower shape: Cylindrical, White and Black Trim

Tower Height:40 ft

Focal plane: 277ft
Original lens: 3^rd Order Fresnel (1932) On Display in the Visitors center

Range:

Current lens: DCB-24 (1991), 2 white flashes every 60s, separated by 15 s

Fog Signal: : HORN/ORIG. DIAPHONE a diaphragm-type horn,

Characteristic: one 2 s blst then is silent for 2 s, blsts again for 2 s and then completes the cycle with 14 s of silence during low visibility.

Admiralty number:G3940

ARLHS number: USA-012

USCG number: 6-0185

Owner: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Site manager: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WITH U.S. COAST GUARD ACCESS TO OPTIC

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION IN NATIONAL PARK
National Register Status: LISTED: ANACAPA LIGHTHOUSE

Journal

6:00 A.m., I awake sore and tired, my lily white skin burnt from the day before. I packed everything in my car making sure nothing is left behind. My stay at motel 6 was Okay, very comfortable. 7:20 a.m., I am on the road to Oxnard to catch my boat; I made my way to harbor Blvd. I arrived with plenty of time to spare, so I had breakfast at the latitude 34 café, it was quaint in a way, nobody on the marina and the sun was shining. I relaxed in the glow of a morning light, feeling this was the life to live. Filled my flask with coffee, made sure I had plenty of water, and of course a few sandwiches and lastly checked my cameras, I was set for the journey. I waited for the island packers’ office to open.

The trip to island was fun, It was approximately an hour each way, waters calm and the skies where a deep blue go to see some blue whales in the distance, dolphins came close to the boat, and a few pelicans. We came close to an oil rig between the mainland and the islands. As we came closer to Anacapa, the views where amazing, the lighthouse was perched atop a cliff looking proudly out to sea. The boat, Vanguard pulled into the Island Harbor and we disembarked. It was a steep climb up the stairs, 154 steps to the top of the Island. I slowly plodded my way up, not too anxious to be the first to be at the top. And then hike a few miles to the visitors’ center.

We camped out at the visitor’s center and had some refreshments. We now had 2-3 hrs to tour the Island or do our own thing. I noticed the ice plant covered a lot of the island, this was also at other lighthouses, Piedras Blancas had done a great Job at removing it, and so did San Luis Obispo. It's from South Africa, and was introduced to control land erosion. The Ice Plant overran light stations grounds so much that the NPS and LH Volunteer groups enlisted the services of high school students to hand pluck them.

Our docent was quite vocal as she bellowed out her instructions. She gave some safety tips, one being not pick up things and bring them back to the mainland, as they could carry the Hantavirus. Our group was a motley one varying in all ages, genders and nationalities and personal fitness. It was amazing to see so many sea gulls; it was breeding season for the Western Gulls, it reminded me of the Alfred Hitchcock Movie “Bird”, this place is a sanctuary for the winged beasts. I called them beasts as I had to hit the dirt several times as they flew so close. The docent had given us some advice “The gulls can get agitated and often will swoop down like a kamikaze plane on people, to protect oneself, hold up a closed fist for the gulls to hit, and not your head!”.

Our docent led us on a hike around the Island, we headed west, she stopped every so often to explain the habitat and give us a little folklore about the Chumash Indians and their gods. As we trekked to the remote regions of the Islands, the Vistas became more and more breathtaking. We eventually came to Inspiration Point. The view was from high cliffs that opened out to the strait that separated East Anacapa from Middle Anacapa, East Anacapa is a sanctuary for Pelicans. Our weather was great and so was the clarity of our views, we could easily see the other Islands from our vantage point.

I made my way to the base of the lighthouse, surrounded on all sides by gulls, walking the marked trails; I was always within a few feet gulls sitting on their eggs. They won't attack if you stay on the trail, but they complain incessantly with loud squawking racket that's difficult to illustrate.

It felt so eerily uncomfortable. Hard to put into words, but deep inside us we have an innate fear of the unfamiliar and when you find yourself surround by thousands of birds and no one else in sight those fears can rise suddenly. At the base of the lighthouse, there is a caution sign preventing you from getting closer, unless I could get inside there was no purpose in disobeying the sign. I had my pictures so I headed back to the visitors center. There I was able to photograph the Fresnel lens.

I learnt that the Island is powered primarily with solar powered panels and backed up with a diesel engine. Water is pumped from the base of the island to a storage tower that looks like a church. The building was made to look like a church to stop people from taking potshots at the water storage tower. The park rangers brought their drinking water unto the island when they are doing their tour of duty, 8 days on, and 8 days off. I am sure the constant sound of the horn and the birds is enough to drive anyone crazy; every 12 seconds the foghorn blares out its signal for 2 seconds, the sound goes on for 24hrs a day. Gladly while I was on the Island the foghorn was silent.

Finally we came to the end of the day, back to the boat for the return trip. One final look at the Island as set out on our departing journey. We made a quick stop in a cove to look at some sea lions, I was tired, I used my point & shoot for my last shots, I was too lazy to retrieve my dslr’s; my mind was already prepared for the long journey home. The remainder of the boat journey was uneventful, until we arrived near the harbor; a fishing boat arrived alongside us with a shark on the rear of the boat, they had just caught. Now that was a climatic finish to a great day.

History

1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered the Channel Islands, Anacapa being one the group. The Anacapa ("Mirage Island") islands, a chain of 3 islets extending four and a half miles from east to west, 12 miles off the California coast and in the Santa Barbara Channel, coupled by reefs that appear at low tide. The islands are named East, Middle and West Islands. West Island, the largest island of this group, is 2 miles long (3km) by 6/10ths of a mile wide, and its highest point is 930 feet (280 m). The length of the Middle Island is 1 & 1/2 miles; its breath is 1/4 of a mile with its highest point being 325 feet (99 m). The length of East Island is 1 mile (1.6 km); its breath is 1/4 of a mile with its highest point being 250 feet (76 m). At the east end of East Island is a 40 foot-high natural bridge, called Arch Rock, Arch Rock is a trademark for Anacapa and Channel Islands National Park. The perimeter of the island is made of steep sea cliffs. Concealed in the cliffs are lava tubes and air pockets, signifying the origin of the islands being volcanic. Most of the features are sea caves and attention-grabbing points of discovery for kayakers.

1769, Spanish explorer Gaspar De Portola names the islands "Las Mesitas" meaning Little Tables.

1793 Captain George Vancouver renamed the islands Anacapa, derived from the Chumash Indian word, "Eneeapha".

1853 December 2 At 11 p.m. , the side-wheel steamer Winfield Scott, on the way from San Francisco to Panama, beached on Middle Anacapa Island in soup thick fog. Abruptly waking its passengers, many en route from the California gold fields, they scrambled to save both themselves and their gold, amazingly, no lives were lost. The passengers made it safely to shore in lifeboats. Following the wreck it was “every one was for himself, with no thought of anything but saving his life and his (gold) dust.” The passengers were stranded and rescued after several weeks. The Winfield Scott was a total loss; today its remains lie sunken just north of the island.

1854, the scandal of the grounding provoked President Franklin Pierce to issue an executive order reserving Anacapa for lighthouse purposes. The U.S. Coast guard Survey recognized the need for a light at Anacapa Island, but believed that it was impractical to build a lighthouse on the rugged volcanic rock. The report said “it is inconceivable for a lighthouse to be constructed on this mass of volcanic rock - perpendicular on every face, with an ascent inaccessible by any natural means." James Whistler, who later became famous for his painting of his mother, was part of the survey team and produced an etching showing the profile of the eastern extremity of Anacapa Island.

1854 September 11, Executive order reserved 700 acres for government purposes.

1868, The Lighthouse Board requested funds for a lighthouse on Anacapa island.

1874, a lighthouse was eventually built, at Point Hueneme instead of Anacapa Island. Point Hueneme was the nearest point on the mainland to Anacapa Island.

1909, Lighthouse board report “Anacapa island is one of the most difficult points on the Southern California coast to pass in foggy or otherwise thick weather and is regarded as the most important point for a light station on any of the Channel Islands It is estimated that a light and fog signal station can be established here for $100,000, and the Board recommends that an appropriation of that amount be made therefore.”

1910, bureau of Lighthouse takes over from the Lighthouse board

1911 The increase of shipping traffic, increased ships lost near Anacapa, this put pressure on the lighthouse board to place a light on Anacapa Island. Congress was unwilling to fund $100,000; The Lighthouse Board estimated cost for the light station, so in its place they erected a 50 foot skeletal tower housing an unattended acetylene lens lantern, the light display a lashing white light every 15 seconds, its focal plane was 185 ft above sea level, the light required service 2 times a year. In addition a whistling buoy was anchored 5/8ths of a mile off the east end of the Anacapa Island. This setup served as a guiding beacon for sailing vessels until 1932.

1921 February 28, This solution proved insufficient, the steamer Liebre ran aground directly below the acetylene light and had damages totaling $40,000. The whistling buoy had capsized and was not operational; it was suspected that the disaster occurred on a foggy night. It was estimated 90% of ships trading on the Pacific Coast moved inside the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, the American Association of Masters, Mates and Pilots petitioned for a fog signal station on Anacapa Island. Anacapa would be the last major light station built on the west coast, and funds were finally allocated.

1928, bureau of Lighthouses allocated funds for a fog signal and radio beacon on Anacapa,est cost for light station $186,000

1929 Construction of a lighthouse began on East Anacapa. However, Roth construction company first awarded the contract to construct the light proved incapable of doing the job

1930 A new contract was awarded, and work began anew, starting in the spring. First a landing dock, 2 gasoline powered hoisting cranes - one 55 feet above sea level, the other at the top of the cliff, and roads were constructed and then work began on the light station buildings. The cranes served to transport supplies to the island. Materials were shuttled from the ship to the landing dock and from the landing dock to the top of the cliff. At the eastern end of the Island, near the highest point,248 ft above sea level, a 39 (12 m) foot

cylindrical tower housed a 3^rd order Fresnel lens, manufactured in England by Chance Brothers, and a fog signal building was built. The keepers’ quarters were 4 large Spanish-style, white stucco houses with red tile roofs. A large cement catchment basin fed rainwater into 2 x 50,000-gallons, redwood water storage tanks situated on the hill behind the keepers’ quarters. Regrettably the annual rainfall of 8 inches was common for this dry environment and provided about 30,000 gallons of water, the tender that called to the cove had to provide the remaining water, and this had to be pumped to the tanks. A building called the “church,” had to provide protection for the tanks. The water tanks, often where the targets of boaters and their rifles. Fuel was stored in 3 x 2000 gallon tanks

1932 March 25, Keeper Frederick Cobb lit the lamp, the light from Anacapa beamed out on the Pacific Coast. The light from the tower’s Fresnel lens, equipped with 3 flash panels had characteristic, a 1/10th second of white light, 11.9 seconds of darkness, A 1/10th second of white light, 11.9 seconds of darkness, 1/10^th second of white light, 35. 9 seconds of darkness. The foghorn, a two tone diaphragm-type horn, groans one 3 second blast every 27 seconds. Electronic equipment sends out a continual radio beacon signal with a range of 12 miles (19 km).

1933 The stations fog signal - had a characteristic like nearby Point Hueneme. The SS Lightburne mistook the Point Hueneme signal for Anacapa Island - providentially the fog lifted just in time for the ship to steer clear of disaster. Point Huenene, the fog signal characteristic was altered.

Anacapa’s radiant light beacon, 1.1 million candlepower, bellowing foghorn and beeping radio signal have guided ships safely through the coastal channel since 1932

1934, Life on the high cliff proved to be hazardous. The assistant keeper Rex Coursey's wife was badly injured in a fall. The station radioed for help, and the battleship USS California responded. A boat from the battleship took the woman to shore, where she was treated and recovered. . A keeper lost his life falling from one of the station's platforms. Arriving on the island was no easy chore - a small boat was hoisted by crane up to the lower platform and placed in a cradle. One keeper and his wife had their boat stuck dangling in the air as the derrick broke down in mid operation,

1938, Channel Islands where declared to be a National Monument by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1942, The lighthouse extinguished and the navy took control of the coast guard

1950's Light-keeper James W.Baker recalled that there were many rats on Anacapa Island, they had come from a wrecked Spanish Galleon in the 1700's "We had rat alerts, similar to general quarters, where we found long tailed critters in the residences. They where large and display a nasty temper when cornered". The rats were well fed from the sea gull eggs and found shelter in the in the dwellings when the lighthouse was constructed in 1912. baker recalled a night owl screeching and when he went to investigate he saw the owl flying away with a rat clasped in its claws. The rats terrified the residents of the Island.

1951, TV had come to the Island

1956 March, the residents on the Island where 3 couples and 5 bachelors, each of the couples had their own residences and the 5 bachelors shared a 4^th house. The wife of Larry Boylan, Officer in Charge, Lois, stated life on the island wasn't as lonesome as people thought. Women "would gab over the phone just like the girls on the mainland" although their quarters where in close proximity to each other, women could lean out their windows and talk back and forth. Living in seclusion appeared to have a health advantage, Boylans 2 children where never sick since they moved to the island.

1961, The replaced the fog signal with an electrical appliance

1962, an aerobeacon has replaced the Fresnel lens A plan was proposed to convert Anacapa Island Station to unattended operation and remove the Coast Guard's personnel. The reason for the change was the weekly test firing of missiles from Point Mugu; it was mandatory for the island residents to stay several hours in a shelter during tests.

1967 May, The Coast Guard razed 3 of the 4 houses.

1968, the remaining house along with several other buildings were slated for demolition in the fall, September 24, Donald M. Robinson Superintendent of the Channel Islands National Monument placed a phone call to the Coast Guard. Robinson informed the Coast Guard that the National Park Service was interested in placing persons on the island and would like to keep the remaining facilities.

1968 December, The light station was automated.

1970 , the Coast Guard signed A joint agreement with the National Park Service, the Coast Guard would maintain the light and fog signal, the park service would take care of all other structures.

1980, Congress designated 5 of the 8 Channel Islands, Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara Islands, and 50,500 hectares (125,000 acres) (510 km²) of submerged lands as Channel Islands National Park. Known today as the "Northern Galapagos Islands", contains a large variety of Mother Nature's multihued and fascinating plant life and creatures, over 250 species of plants and seabirds, the largest Brown Pelican rookery in the USA. 7 other species of marine birds nest here, including the Western Gull, as well as 22 species of land birds. 90 per cent of the Western Gulls in Southern California were born on Anacapa. This isle is a migration ground for many other birds. Harbor seals and sea lions breed on its rocky beaches

The lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation.

1989, the 3rd-order Fresnel lens, was removed from the tower in and placed on display in the Anacapa Island Visitor Center, formerly the station's service building. A solar powered acrlic lens.

2001 Visitors to Anacapa Island today can see the lighthouse, fog signal building, one of the original keeper's dwellings, the water storage building, the powerhouse, and James W. Baker served on Anacapa Island for almost a year and a half starting in February of 1956. After an absence of more than forty years, he returned to the island with his wife in 2001 to view the old station. Baker's admiration and affection for the Fresnel lens used in the Anacapa Lighthouse are evidenced in the following lines he composed after his visit. "The multifaceted crystal lenses, bound in polished brass, are still among man’s most beautiful creations. A static display of a lighthouse lens in a museum, however, is similar to viewing an animal in a zoo. Once removed from its natural habitat it’s never quite the same. I get chills remembering foggy nights when the sweep of the powerful light flashed through the mist, illuminating a small part of the sky."

References

Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Nelson
California Lighthouse Life in the 1920s and 1930s, Wheeler
California Light Stations and Other Aids to Navigation c.1950, Mattson and Thowy, California Lighthouses, Roberts and Jones
Keeper's Log, Summer 2002,
Lighthouse Digest August 2005
Channel Islands, Charles Hillinger, 1998.

Links
Anacapa Lighthouse, Lighthouse, lighthouse pictures, Anacapa Island, Anacapa, California, photographs, Journal, history, LighthousesOfCalifornia, Sean O’Cairde

Content is copyright by Ocairdestudio 2011

Point Hueneme Lighthouse

2011-10-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

Location: Point Hueneme Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the southeast entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel, in Ventura County, California

Directions: Highway 1 to Port Hueneme Road. West on Port Hueneme Road. Left from Port Hueneme Road to Ventura Road. The beach is at the end of the road. You can walk to the lighthouse via the Lighthouse Promenade for 1/2 mile. The promenade runs parallel to the port fence.

The lighthouse is open from 10AM to 3PM every third Saturday of the month

Coordinates 34°08′42″N 119°12′35″W / 34.145°N 119.2098°W / 34.145; -119.2098

Active: Yes

Deactivated:

Automated:1972

Year first constructed: 1874, 1941

Year first lit: 1874,1941
Keepers Dwelling: Original was similar in style to Point Fermin, Swiss Elizabethan Style or Swiss Carpenter Gothic or Victorian stick, 2 stories in height, with 10 rooms that included gabled roofs, horizontal siding, decorative cross beams and hand carved porch railings, was painted white, with a red roof, while the tower rose from the front 50 feet.

Construction:Original Wood frame oak, new Concrete

Tower shape:Original Square cylindrical, new Square on fog signal building

Markings / pattern: white art moderne

Height: 48 ft. (15 m)
Focal plane: 52 ft (16 m);

Original lens: 4^th order Fresnel lens

Current lens: 4^th order Fresnel lens
Range: 20 nm
Fog Horn:ORIG. SINGLE DIAPHONE
Fog Horn Characteristic: orig 1 blast every 41s (4s bl). New 1 blast ev 30s (3s bl) can be activated by VHF-FM ch 16

Characteristic: flashing white

Admiralty number: G3926

ARLHS number: USA-693

USCG number: 6-0190

Owned by: United States Coast Guard

Journal

It was midweek, and I was in the process of preparing myself for the trip southward. Point Hueneme on Saturday and Anacapa Island on Sunday; my wife jean had my bag packed and I booked a room at motel 6 in Oxnard for the weekend. I had set my mind to finish work early on Friday, around 4 – 4:30 pm, fill my SUV with gas and pack something to eat while driving. I hoped to reach my destination around 10 – 10:30pm. I prepared my camera bag with an array of lens with, from wide angle to telephoto. It’s was with anticipation of excitement that I looked forward to this trip, the precarious nature of the weather, I had to prepare as if I was in the winter season.

Finally,Friday came, my bags were packed and I was ready to go, slowly the day dragged on. To my chagrin, I may be stuck in one of the largest backups in California History. Highway 405 was shutdown that night at 10:00 pm, roughly around the time I was to hit LA. I set out from Livermore and headed south on highway 5, no real problems until I got to Bakerville, all along the freeway, detour signs were posted to take Jct 45. Finally I arrived at Jct 45, and take the detour, not paying full attention I followed the main traffic, this was a fatal mistake, it led me to 101, a 100 miles detour out of my way, I came in to Los Angelos by way of Santa Barbara.

When I arrived at highway 405, it was like a ghost highway, no traffic on one of the busiest highways in the world. I exited for Oxnard and encountered more confusion with my GPS; it led me around in circles; eventually I arrived at the motel. Pleasantly I was surprised at the quality of this motel. Usually motel 6 is the bottom of the barrel; here I had a drive in to my room in a secluded spot. The area was quiet and the room very comfortable. I made myself at home, had a glass of wine and retired for the night.

Saturday morning, I made my way to Point Hueneme after a few detours from the route and and a visit to some of the beaches, I arrived at my destination. The parking area was next to the beach, which was filled with families and surfers. The weather was warm, the sky a deep blue, with a burning yellow orb planted at high noon, scorching my Irish Lilly white skin. Parking had to paid for, I made my way to the pay machine and was about to put my dollars in when a young man offered me his parking ticket, it was good for the day. No matter where you go there is always a good samaritan. I strolled from the parking lot to the lighthouse along a well paved promenade. Fenced on side with high wired mesh fences with security cameras, dogs and foreboding signs saying “keep out, government property” and on the other side people scattered on clean, soft white sandy beach, with picnic stations protected from the wind ,the emerald sea beat against the rocks with hang gliders floating in air. It was two worlds juxtaposed with each other, carefree, laid back , picturesque fishing pier, kites flying, with miltary, rigidness and fear of entry.

I arrived at the lighthouse to see it was behind a fence, I was glad to see it was open to the public. Its style was much different to other lighthouses I had seen in the past. It definitely had a modern feel to it, almost betraying the past. I made my way into the lighthouse and was greeted by 2 coast guards, I believe husband and wife, and I understand they have a senior coast guard family member at Point Vicente, a father in-law, a family of coast guards. I had a very interesting conversation with the daughter in-law Rose Castro-Bran who allowed me to take a picture of an old postcard of Point Hueneme. She is the author of several books one being “Lighthouses of the Ventura Coast” & "The Adventures of Port Herman Lighthouse." Read more: - vcstar.com

I was struck by the oddity of the stairs. Not the usual spiral, but a bright red parallel lines angled ever upwards. I climbed to the tower, and had a great view of the harbor, The clockwork and its mechanism where functioning, hard to believe they were from the era of 1899. Things were made to last.

After my visit and tour of the lighthouse and on my return to the parking lot, I met up with a group of Pentecostals. They are on a mission to pray for the revival of the State at all the lighthouses, certainly a challenge. I have been to most of the sites with only one or two to go and I know from 1^st hand experience the remoteness of some of these lighthouses. I parked my camera equipment and returned to the lighthouse to listen to these people. They had a worship service, testimonies, and prophecies in a public forum. Some of them prayed in tongues, overall it was positive outpouring and concern for their community. This is why I love America, it has room for everyone, and for the freedom to express your faith without repression.Sunburned, I headed back to my hotel. First I stopped by a outdoor food cantina on Surfside Dr and had some fish and chips with a ice cold beer. I was dog tired and looking forward to my trip on Sunday to Anacapa Island. The area here is quite beautiful and the people are laid back and cordial. It was a good day.

History

1868.Thomas Bard had a learned that a of a natural submarine valley, a 1000 ft deep ran to 300ft off Hueneme. (pronounced "Wy-Nee-Mee") is derived from a Chumash Indian word meaning "half-way" or "resting place." is approximately fifty miles north of Los Angeles, . It is believed that the Chumash stopped at Point Hueneme as they transited between today's Point Mugu and the mouth of the Santa Clara River.

1872, to utilize this canyon Bard had a 1500-foot wharf built at Point Hueneme so goods could be lightered from the coast to ships anchored offshore.

1873 March 3, A sum of $22,000 was allocated by Congress on for a lighthouse to mark the City of Port Hueneme to guide shipping through the Santa Barbara Channel which runs between the California coast and the Channel Islands

1874 April 25, the firm of Salisbury and Co. was contracted to build the Point Hueneme Lighthouse. The lighthouse consisted of a two-story residence, with a square tower extending an extra story above the buildings inclined roof. The residence consisted of ten rooms with four fireplaces. The style was with a Swiss and Elizabethan influence. The first floor was taken by the head keeper and his family, while the second floor was occupied by the assistant keeper and his family. This building was like structure to Point Fermin which was lit at the same time.

1874 November 9,The first entry in the station’s log book reads “I, Samuel Ensign, having been promoted from 1st Assistant Keeper at the light at Pigeon Point, San Mateo County, California, and appointed principal keeper of this station have this day taken charge of Point Hueneme Light Station.”

1874 December 15, Assistant keeper, Mr. Giles and family, arrives from San Francisco aboard the steamer Constantine. With the help of a lampist, the keepers prepared the lighthouse for its inaugural lighting. The Lamp is lit. for the next 14 yrs. a steady white light shone from the tower.

1875 February 11, Keeper Ensign made a subsequent entry in station’s log book reads: “Entered the watch room at 6 a.m. to relieve Mr. Giles who had to go today as witness in a criminal case to San Buenaventura. Found Mr. Giles asleep in watch room and light unattended. Light very low.”

1875 August, Giles receives the position of head keeper at Pigeon Point On another day, He was hampered by another report by Ensign again discovering Giles asleep in the watch room,

1878 August, Ensign is fired from the service for “physical incapacity to discharge the duties of Station Keeper.”

1882 Point Hueneme made a request for a fog signal. A Report of the Lighthouse Board to Congress noted, in regards to Point Hueneme, “It is important that a steam fog signal should be established here. The numerous passenger and other steamers, in going up and down the coast, pass inside Anacapa Island, and very near the coast, which here makes a considerable elbow. The land at this point is quite low, and is so for ten miles inland, so that it is difficult to see if there is any fog.” Congress approved $7,000 for the fog signal.

1889, the signature of the light is changed, it becomes a fixed red.

1892 April 15th , the light is changed to occulting white. The apparatus was a new type devised by Maj D Heap

1899, the tower received a new revolving fourth-order Fresnel lens, which produced a flashing white characteristic. The Fresnel lens was manufactured in France by Barbier & Bernard in 1897 was relocated to the new building in 1941 and is currently in operation.

1922, two giant Sunkist lemon-packing plants were built, Ventura County had steadily increased its agricultural output since the early 1900s.

1925, Building gets electricity

1927, Walter White served at Point Hueneme until 1948. He witnessed many changes at the site.

1934, Electric motor installed on the light

1938 May 5th, it took 15 mins to fully subscribe Bonds for the amount of $1,750,000 to fund the project a deep-sea commercial port.

1939 The U.S. Lighthouse Service merged with the U. S. Coast Guard. The USLHS had constructed and maintained all federal aids to navigation.

1939 January 24, Standard Dredging Company commences work on the harbor. Richard Bard, son of a U.S. Senator, who would become known as the ‘Father of Port Hueneme’, had led an endeavor to get a deep-sea commercial port to Point Hueneme in an effort to expand the market for the county’s goods was honored with turning the first shovel of dirt at the groundbreaking ceremonies which weren't held until February 4th.

1940, the Port of Hueneme was completed. As the entrance to the harbor would be dangerously close to the Point Hueneme Lighthouse the creation of the channel entrance to the harbor required that the lighthouse building to be moved. It was decided to build a new fog signal/lighthouse on the east side of the harbor’s entrance, which the lighthouse building is standing today. It’s style Art Modern. The lantern, lens, and clockworks mechanism were housed in a temporary tower while the new lighthouse was being built.

1940 February 15^th and 18^th, the old lighthouse is barged from the west side of the harbor’s entrance to the east bank, the move attracted local attention.

1940 July 4, Work on Port Hueneme is complete; it is the only deep water port between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

1940 July 6^th & 7^th, a two-day dedication was held over the weekend.

1941 The light first lit. Keeper White oversaw the replacement of the original lighthouse with The new lighthouse, now interchangeably called the Point Hueneme or Port Hueneme Lighthouse, consists of a 48-foot-tall, square, concrete tower rising from a one story, buff-colored Art Deco style tower on a fog-signal building. The Keepers & families did not reside in this structure. Cottages were built close to the lighthouse. The station was automated.

1942, the US Navy purchased Hueneme Harbor and established the US Construction Battalion Center - "Home of the Seebees." Navy takes control of the port. During WWII more dry cargo would move through the port than any other port in the U.S. After the War the port was returned to civilian operations. The old Lighthouse was purchased for use as a Yacht Club, but razed because of neglect.

1996 On December 7^th, the port led the nation in citrus exports, large cargo ships can be seen off-loading a constant stream of overseas automobiles.

2008 March, the City of Port Hueneme and Oxnard Harbor District dedicated a new "Lighthouse Promenade", beginning at the Hueneme Sunset Beach alongside the perimeter fence of the port to the lighthouse. The 1/2 mile stroll is on a flat, even surface and allows visitors a leisurely stroll along the beach.

In recent years, the Coast Guard has refurbished the building, and there are plans to make the site part of an Aquaculture center, complete with interpretive facility and Coast Guard maritime museum. A public access path along the shore to the light already exists and is being further developed.

References

"Point Hueneme Lighthouse," Thomas M. Ward, The Keeper's Log, Fall 1992.
"Stormy Harbors, A Retrospect of Ventura County's Three Harbors and Their Problems Over the Years," Dave Crowell, Reporter, August 1998.
Umbrella Guide to California Lighthousees, Sharlene and Ted Nelson, 1993

Links

Point Hueneme Lighthouse

Wikipedia Point Hueneme
Histororic Lighthouse Information

Inventory of historic lights
Content is copyright by Ocairdestudio 2011

San Luis Obispo LightStation

2011-09-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Location: located on California's central coast, just South of Cambria. On Point San Luis, west side of the San Luis Obispo Bay, near Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo Bay, California

Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers.

P.O. Box 13556,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 (805) 541-TREK

San Luis Obispo also known as Port Harford Light

Directions: From San Luis Obispo, travel south on Highway 101 and exit at Avila Beach. Follow the road all the ways to Port San Luis, Park in the Port San Luis Harbor District; the lighthouse is on the grounds of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Free guided hikes of the Pecho Coast Trail visit the lighthouse, Call (805) 541-TREK for a current schedule. A Tram goes to the lighthouse every 1^st & 3^rd Saturday of the Month cost $20 per person Call Keepers at 805-540-5771 .For current information on access, visit their website

Coordinates: 35°09′36″N 120°45′36″W / 35.1601°N 120.76°W

Year first lit: 1890

Year constructed: 1890

Active: no

Automated: 1974

Deactivated: 1975

Foundation: Masonry

Construction: Wood Frame, Victorian style dwelling.

Tower shape: Octagonal lantern on square tower

Markings/Pattern: white

Tower Height: 40 ft

Original lens: 4th order Fresnel lens (removed), it’s now restored to the grounds

Current lens: modern beacon

Focal plane: 116 ft

Fog Signal: pair of 10-inch steam whistle

Characteristic: Flashing white, 20 s (3s flash)

Admiralty number:

ARLHS number: USA-720

USCG number: 6-0225

Owner: The point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers

Site manager:

Journal

It was after work on Friday; I set out on my journey towards the south of this State. I made my way to Safeway supermarket, to fill my SUV with gas and pick a few food items for my journey. I already had my camera equipment packed earlier in the morning as I got ready for work. Mentally I was ready for the long boring drive down 101, this trip I expected to be an uneventful journey, no beautiful coastlines to keep me distracted as I drove the long roads. I had my iPod with its 18,000 songs to occupy my head and keep me entertained.
I arrived in San Luis Obispo; it was dark, around 10: pm, and I was lucky to find accommodation at Motel 8 in Pismo beach. The school Cal Poly was celebrating their commencement week, every hotel and motel was booked out. 3 star hotels where looking for exorbitant prices. Avila lighthouse hotel wanted over $400 for the night and no in room extras for that price. Honestly you would not think that the country was in a state of economic depression here.

The next quirk was when I tried to check in to the motel, the motel had a problem approving my credit cards, not just one but 3 cards where declined. I called Jean, my wife, and she contacted the bank, the bank said it was the motels server, and it was not making contact with the banks server, so much for technology. Luckily I had the cash in my wallet to pay for the room. The sleep was not that comfortable, I could hear kids skateboarding and dogs barking. I also had a sick stomach, a reaction to stress. You get what you pay for
I rose around 7:30am showered packed my gear and headed for Avila beach. Parked in the harbor port and made my way to meet the hiking group at the fisherman’s memorial. I had apprehensions about this trek, lately my breathing was bit labored and due to knee problems no exercising for several months, and I did not think that my legs would hold up for a 3.5 mile trek to the lighthouse and 3.5 miles back, a total 0f 7 miles roundtrip. The terrain was challenging as the elevation rose several hundred ft. We set off with a group of 20; the first leg was a trail that lead up to a tar macadam road, I basically ploughed my way up a steep incline though bramble and dry brush to the road that continued rise for about a ½ mile. Panting, panting, gasping for air, I was glad that I had my knee brace on; but I was going on and my mind was made up not to quit, the weather was cool for this part of the trek. I also made sure that I was carrying a water bottle. My lens was a 24-105mm with a 5D Camera. So I was not overly laden.

We made a single line, following the lead of the docent along the trail. Avoiding poison ivy and ticks, as the brush rubbed against my white ivory skin. At this early stage I could already sense the tightening of my air pipe and shortness of breath take effect. But I was not deterred, last week I made the climb up 311 steps from Point Reyes lighthouse, I was determined to do this trek. We reached the road and the docent gave us the chance to change our minds and return to our vehicles. He said the trek was going to get much tougher. The group decided that we where moving on, so we trekked on a more even terrain to greater heights. Spectacular views of San Luis Obispo Bay where incredible from our lofty perches. But I was struggling with my legs and my breathing to fully appreciate my view; at a later stage I was able to appreciate the view from the comfort of a cable car.

Periodically we stopped on the trail as the docent fed us the history of the area; he would show us pictures of times gone by and from our high perch, he would point to areas below and give a brief history. This gave me a chance to catch my breath, a drink of water and take a few pictures. From this height the scenery was awesome, I was glad I continued. Finally we came to a point where we started to descend into a more treacherous and uneven terrain. We had to worry more about losing our footing and staying on the trail, the pathway had become a gravel path. As I looked for things of nature, flowers, birds, insect that would make this trek more interesting; I also became very aware of the height I was at and my footing, outside of the views there was not much of anything. Most of the trail was filled with dry brush and most of the interesting plants were few and far apart.

Onward I trekked, steeling my mind against the pains and aches of my body. Uphill and downhill, glad of the moments of respite the docent would give us as he took the opportunity to whip out his folder with more pictures of yesterday. I reckoned I was the oldest of the group, and I was holding my own at this point. Finally I could sense that we where coming to close to the end of the trek. We had reached a point on the peninsula where we would have to move back inland. And there was the clue a small wharf at the base of the hill and a road. I could see Kayakers in the small harbor, poles that carried electricity; I could also hear the bark of seals. And we where making our way downhill. Amongst the trees I could make out the lantern tower. We had arrived at my destination. This was another notch on my belt. This lighthouse was to be on my roughest trek yet.

The site was not as impressive as others, the beautiful coast seem to take away from the remoteness of the light station. I was busy taking my pictures as I moved closer and closer. I immediately noticed the buildings that where added by the coast guard. The picket fences did not appear as original as the earlier fences I had seen. As I came close to where the lighthouse was located, I was greatly disappointed. It was covered in scaffolding. The lighthouse, was been renovated for the 120^th anniversary, on June 26^th. I toured on the inside and took my pictures. The Fresnel lens was on display, it was 4^th order, but the bull lens where taped over with a blue tape. It was not functional; again I was limited what I could shoot. My return trip was more rewarding for photography.

I was impressed at the restoration work on this lighthouse. The artifacts that where on display came from the mid 1800’s, The intricate work on the lace curtains reflects the handiwork of the lighthouse keepers wives, the furniture restored in the various rooms, and the work gave you the sense of visualizing people living in this place. The care that was being taken in restoring the old floors, woodwork and fire place tiling could be seen.
I made my way around the site and snapped a few more pictures. I had taken a number of pictures on the inside, I decided in spite of the scaffolding I would take some exterior pictures. Already my mind was preparing for the return journey. Not something I was relishing, already the temperatures had risen. Slowly I made my way back to rejoin the group and we started our home bound journey. Getting on the trail was probably the hardest.
I braced my mind for the return journey; it was to be harder than the trek in. The uphill climbs were the toughest part, my legs and breathing both labored with intense pain. At least the docents where patient with me and waited as I slowly made my way, I have to find a way to get myself back into shape. Finally I arrived back at our starting point. Made my way to the Port, Sat back had a cappuccino and recuperated from my trek. Got out my netbook and checked on the US game.

Met a few people, the owner of the Café who took pride in that he was not politically correct and that this was a hobby for him, a dad and son who wondered about the US Game. I sat with my cappuccino and under my straw hat contemplated my trek and how many more lighthouses to go. Wondered what way to bring the blog up to date without regurgitating some of the same old stuff. It’s about lighthouses or is it. Sometimes I confuse myself, as so many things happen on these trips. Meeting people, Sea mammals, plants, mountains, then of course there is the lighthouse itself, the history, location and buildings. I could focus on any one of these as the theme and build its story, or I could continue to be random and let my mind take you on its perceived journey.

I spent the rest of the afternoon, in Avila, had lunch and a few beers. Took a stroll along the peer; looking at the yachts in the scenic bay, and observed the seals playing alongside the boats. In all it was a very relaxing day, the yellow orb hung in the clear blue skies as children ran up and down the sidewalk of the pier, it was a lazy Saturday afternoon. This was the essence of relaxation; I could live in a place like this. Time to terminate this trip and head north, I will certainly be back and more than likely spend the entire weekend here.

A year later I am back, My brother Eddie is with me. This time I am taking the tram and sitting back in the lap of luxury. We are on the new Tram Lucy 2, and its so easy as it makes its way around the twists and turns of mountainous narrow road. I just relaxed and took in the views of the Bay, it was so beautiful, I would definitely recommend this to any tourist. The trip did not take that long, but it did give the docent’s ample time to tell their story. We arrived and I could already appreciate their hard work of restoration, gone where the scaffolding and builders materials. It was now my time relaxed and under physical strain to finish my story in Pictures, you will only see a handful, and they will be the ones that catch my eye, hope you will enjoy.

History

1542: The Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo sailed into the San Luis Bay, he named the bay Todos Santos (All Saints Bay)

1864: David Mallagh an Irish Sea captain bought the 1^st pier in the San Luis Bay. The pier shot out from Cave Landing (today's Pirate's Cove).He owned and operated the stage and freight lines that ran from the town of Avila to San Luis Obispo.

1867 President Andrew Johnson issued an executive order directing the Department of the Interior “to take the necessary steps to cause the reservation for Light House purposes of an area of land at Point San Luis”.

1868: Under the shelter of Point San Luis, on the southwestern shore of San Luis Bay, John Harford completed a 540-foot-long pier; it’s called the peoples wharf

1876 The Pier is extended to 1500 feet. A 30-inch narrow gauge railroad ran along the wharf and eventually tied the harbor, to San Luis Obispo and other Central Coast communities. Port Harford became a vital link for transporting both passengers and commerce to and from the area.
1877: Congressman Romualdo Pacheco, 1^st Hispanic Gov of Ca, introduced a bill in the House of Representatives for the building of a lighthouse at Port Harford.

1884: Smith house is built to house families in the whaling business on a small island just off Port Hartford.

1885, the US Lighthouse Board suggested a lighthouse for Port Hartford

1886: Congress authorized $50,000 for the lighthouse. The project was delayed. Acquiring the land on the headland at Point San Luis, and the bids for the construction were too expensive.

1888 May 1^st: 2.00AM Disaster hit The passenger & cargo steamship Queen of the Pacific 15 miles out from Port Harford , it began taking on water. The captain turned his ship towards Port Harford, for fear of Rocks at the harbor entrance; He had to proceed slowly, because he had no lights to mark the harbor. The steamship settled at the bottom of the harbor, in 22 ft of water, 500 ft from of the pier. Most of the ship was above the waterline, and the passengers safely disembarked.
It could be argued that this event, helped to progress the construction of the lighthouse.

1889: Construction of the Lighthouse began.

1890 June 30^th: The Light is lit for the first time and a new beacon is added to the California Coast. An article in San Luis Obispo’s Daily Republic described the new light station: “The light is shown from a black lantern surmounting a square frame tower attached to the southwest corner of a one and a half story frame dwelling painted white, trimmings lead color, blinds green and the roof brown. About 50 yards to the eastward stands a one and a half-story double dwelling painted in a similar manner, between the two dwellings … stands the fog signal building with its two black smokestacks, and painted like the dwellings.”
3 lighthouses were built in California using these plans, but the Point San Luis Lighthouse is the only one that remains fully intact. As for its two sister lights, the tower of the Table Bluff Lighthouse is all that is left, while the Ballast Point Lighthouse was completely razed to make room for the expansion of the Naval submarine base in San Diego.
Whaling vessels, cargo ships, tankers and fishing boats were all guided around the treacherous point into the safe harbor.

1893: From the eastern end of Point San Luis, a federal breakwater, which encompassed Whalers Island, was built between 1893 and 1913. A small wharf located near the juncture of the breakwater and the mainland provided the primary means of access to the lighthouse, though a crude wagon road also reached the station.

1915: Steam Fog system replaced with compressed air system.

1933: Electricity comes to the lighthouse; kerosene lamp is replaced with electric bulb.

1942: A listening post is put up in front of the lighthouse and a second duplex building is built to the south east of the original double dwelling.

1950: Road is built to the lighthouse.

1961: the Coast Guard replaced the double dwelling with a modern wooden frame duplex

1969 the Fresnel lens was retired and replaced by an automated electric light.

1974: The Coast Guard closed the Lighthouse.

1976: the lens was moved to the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society

1978: the Port of San Luis was licensed by the Coast Guard to restore the lighthouse

1992: Port San Luis Harbor District received the 30-acre site from the Federal Government with the requirement that the station be restored and opened to the public

2003: Much progress has been made by the modern-day keepers. The exteriors of all of the structures were painted during the summer, and the parlor inside the lighthouse has been fully restored and furnished with period pieces provided by a local chapter of the Questers. Plans are in place to improve the access road to the station; however, due to security concerns at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, the road will likely not be available for transporting visitors to the site. Instead, the lighthouse wharf will be rebuilt and water access will hopefully be provided to the general public in the future.

2010: the year the San Luis Obispo Lighthouse celebrated its 120th anniversary; the Fresnel lens was returned to the station and placed on display in the horn house, which has been converted into a visitor center. The lens was removed from the lighthouse in the late 1970s after it was shot with a .22 caliber bullet and had been on display most recently at the San Luis Obispo Library before returning home.

2011: PG&E donated a 22-passenger electric trolley, named Lucy 2, this will assist to ferry visitors to the lighthouse. The new trolley joins a gasoline-powered trolley Lucy 1 that currently shuttles people to the lighthouse, the current schedules is 3 times a day on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month

Read more: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/01/10/1437108/pge-electric-trolley-lighthouse.html#ixzz1V7d5k1yF

References

Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Sharlene and Ted Nelson, 1993.
Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers website.

Links

Point San Luis Lighthouse

San Luis Obispo Light Wikipedia

Historic Light Station information USCG

Inventory of historic light Stations

Point San Luis Lighthouse, Lighthouse, lighthouse pictures, San Luis Obispo, California, photographs, Journal, history, LighthousesOfCalifornia, Sean O’Cairde

Content is copyright by Ocairdestudio 2011

Angels gate

2011-08-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

Angels Gate

Location: SAN PEDRO BREAKWATER - ANGELS GATE, Los Angeles Harbor . Located at the end of the breakwater

Directions: San Pedro is in southern Los Angeles. To get to the area, take Interstate 110 South to the end, the lanes will make a left turn, follow the turn left into Gaffey St. Turn left on 21st Street about 1.5 miles from the end of 110.Turn right on Pacific Ave. for 1 mile.Turn left on Stephen M White Dr. and stay left into Cabrillo Beach Park, where you walk to the end of the Fishing Pier where you can see the lighthouse. The lighthouse is not directly accessible. The breakwater is fenced off and access by foot is prohibited, due to dangerous waves and currents. The lighthouse is visible at a distance from the waterfront area at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, and also from Point Fermin. The light is best viewed by boat.

Coordinates: 33°42′30″N 118°15′05″W
Year first lit: 1913
Active: Yes
Deactivated: No
Automated: 1971
Keepers dwelling: 1942 2 Story keepers quarters, 1938 Concrete Oil house
Foundation: Rock breakwater with Concrete Slabs
Construction: Steel and Concrete, Painted Black & white panels
Tower shape: Cylindrical with a 10 sided Octagonal concrete base
Tower Height: 69 ft (21 m), 73 ft (22.2 m) above sea level
Focal plane: 73 ft
Original lens: 4th order Fresnel lens, AT LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM
Range: 18 nm
Current lens: DCB-24, SOLAR POWERED
Fog Signal: , AIR OSCILLATER HORN: 2 blasts ev 30s (2s bl-2s si-2s bl-24s si). Operates continuously
Characteristic: green flash every 15 s. Emergency light of reduced intensity when main light is extinguished
Admiralty: G3799
ARLHS: USA-014
USCG number: 6-0135
Owner: U.S. COAST GUARD
Site manager: U.S. COAST GUARD

Journal

It was a short journey from Point Fermin Lighthouse to the area where you can see Los Angeles Harbor light. It can be seen from the tower of Point Fermin and I spoke to the docent about visiting it. It’s off limits to the general public, but I suppose one can take risks and make their way to the lighthouse on the breakwater. My first look was from the heights behind a housing estate. I had abandoned my dear wife and went off seeking a vantage point to take photographs. Climbing along the edge of a cliff, and scrambling over a fence or two, I found my spot. It gave me a good view of the harbor and the activity of boats; Kayakers and Para sailing. As I made myself comfortable, I spied upon the cliffs young lovers oblivious to my prowling about.

After a period of time I made my way back to Jean and we continued down to the harbor where the lighthouse was located. We did not spend too long here as we wanted to get to the hotel. The area is a public park with a beach. Located near the lighthouse is a life guard station, so I decided not to venture out to the breakwater, maybe another visit. With my long lens I was able to get a few shots. This was to be my last lighthouse of my vacation. I promised myself a return journey, maybe early morning, the next time. Back to my wife and give her my undisturbed attention. She certainly has been a comforting and patient companion on this trip.

A year later I was to return with my brother Eddie. It was not muchdifferent than before; I made my way out to the wharf and observed that it wasfilled with people fishing. It was evident that this was a port entrance;industrial cranes hugged the coastline on the opposite side of the harbor. Alarge cargo liner sailed by the lighthouse and the harbor itself was filledwith sail boats and surfers, just outside the breakwater windsurfers whereracing each other. Mother nature also had her minions pay a visit, pelicansentertained on the fishing pier and provided some precision aerobatics for theentertainment of onlookers. The beacheswere not over crowded. It had a medley of young people and families, there wasnot a shortage of lookout towers insuring the safety of those who came andenjoyed the sun and beach. Eddie and I spent about an hour in the area beforewe headed off to Santa Barbara to pick up his daughter from college. That wasanother adventure

History

1874, Southern Pacific Railroad completes a line to the San Pedro Area and establishes a port in the area.

1875: A rival Railroad was built from Los Angeles to Santa Monica,wharf and new port was established thus taking away port business from San Pedro.

1876 Southern Pacific extended its line to Los Angeles , securing its port, and in the end buying out its rival.

1891-1893, 3 commissions investigatethe location for a deep water port, San Pedro Bay was picked.

1899 San Pedro Breakwater was started, 9,2550 ft containing nearly 3 million tons of rock from Santa Catalina Island

1907, Plans made to build a 40ft square concrete structure at the west end of the breakwater project. Originally the design was to be a dormered, square wooden building with the lens emergent from the roof comparable to Southampton Shoals.

1910, Temporary Light established with the completion of the breakwater.

1913 Mar 1, 1st Lit at a cost of $36000, the lighthouse was completed; it was the “greeter” light as it guides the steady stream of ships into San Pedro. The construction consisted of 12 steel columns; the top 3 stories are cylindrical and sit upon the 10 sided octagonal bottom sheathed with steel plates, which in turn sits upon a 40 ftsquare concrete platform. This has a Romanesque appearance, and it was unique in its design. The bottom story housed the fog signal (36 inch airway beacon, dual tone fog signals, and a radio beacon inside its frame.), water and fuel tanks. The story above the octagonal was used for storage and the top 2 stories was the quarters for the light-keepers, atop the building was helical-bar lantern room which housed a 4th order Fresnel lens. The light source was an oil incandescent lampWhich flashed white every 15 seconds. The fog horn had 2 compressed air sirenspowered by gas engines.It was called the Robot Light because the rectangular base on six columnar legs,only one of its kind, built at the end of a 2 mile stretch of San Pedro breakwater. 3 keepers tend the station, their families lived in town because the quarters where too small.Quarters being small often led to arguments or fights. Assistant keeper Hughes was suspended for assaulting head keeper Olsen. Olsen put in his report "All keepers at this station are instructed that in the future no distilled or malt liquors are to be brought to this station"

1932, Los Angeles Times published a story, “The lighthouse also survived a brush with a battleship years ago. The battleship struck the rocks directly below. Jim Gibbs (Lighthouses of the Pacific, p. 43) says it was this incident that probably inspired these lines by Don Newman entitled Check your Bearings :

First voice: Our radar has you on a collision course with us. You should alter course 10 degrees south.

Second voice: We have you on our radar. Suggest you alter course 10 degrees north.

First voice: Admiral Goodman aboard. Strongly suggest you bear 10 degrees south, this is a battleship!

Second voice: This is Seaman Farnsworth. Still suggest you bear 10 degrees north. This is a lighthouse!”

1933,March 10, The lighthouse is jolted by an earthquake; the keeper reported that the lighthouse shook for 20 seconds and thatthe mercury slopped out of the pool used to float the lens. The lighthouse has been at a slight tilt ever since its early years, when a 5 day severe gale hammered tremendous breaking waves against the lighthouse. the lighthouse leaned toward the shore, but stood steadfastly against the violent storm, it was left with a tilt. Lighthouse workers complained about uneven walking plain, they dropped a plumb line from the lantern to the ground, which confirmed their complaints. The tower continued to be strong and steady, in spite of the tilt. Later on the a green translucent cover was placed over the lens due to the distracting lights of the encroaching suburbia. Its the only green flashing light in a major lighthouse in California.

1939 United States Coast Guard took over management.

The Navy again came into the history of Los Angeles Harbor Light during World War II. New construction added a degaussing station, a radio direction finding calibration unit and a barracks for the Navy personnel who worked this equipment

1959 The 2 tone fog horn “moaning Maggie” is replaced by a single tone horn known as “Blatting Betty” Repairs Ordered to stop tilt of upper levels.

1973 Feb 1, The Station is Automated and the last of the lightkeepers departed.

1980's,storms battered the lighthouse and severed the electric cable to thelighthouse, rather than repair diesal generator was used to power the lights,fog signal and radio beacon.

1987 Sept, Lens is removed from the tower, the lighthouse is 1st to use solar power. A 30 lb plastic light replaces it. The fog signal range is shortened, the light now is only to reach 15nm.

1989 a new lens similar to the original is placed in the tower. The intensity of the light was increased because of complaints from boat owners. The green flashing light is once again a sentinel on the Californian coast

1990 Feb, Lens is donated Los Angeles Maritime Museum

2009 July, The Harbor Board of Commissioners formally approved lighthouse funding.

2010 La times report that 1.8 million set aside for the restoration of the light

Links

United States Coast Guard
San Pedro
National Park Service
Wikipedia Angels Gate Light
La Times

References

1. Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Sharlene and Ted Nelson, 1993.
2. Lighthouses of the Pacific, Jim Gibbs, 1986.

Keywords: Angels Gate Lighthouse, Lighthouse, lighthouse pictures, Los Angeles, California, directions, location, photographs, Journal, history, LighthousesOfCalifornia, Sean O’Cairde

Content is copyright by Ocairdestudio 2011

Point Fermin

2011-08-01T23:44:00.000-07:00

Location: Point Fermin Lighthouse Historic Site and Museum

807 W. Paseo Del Mar
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 241-0684

Directions: From downtown Los Angeles, take Interstate 110 south to the end. From 110, follow Gaffey St. Due south to the end. Turn left on W Paseo Del Mar. The lighthouse is in the park at the end of Gaffey

Coordinates: 33°42′19″N 118°17′37″W33.7054°N 118.2937°W
Year first lit: 1874
Active: No
Deactivated: 1942
Automated: No
Keepers dwelling: The house is Stick Style, is 2 stories in height, with 12 rooms that included gabled roofs, horizontal siding, decorative cross beams and hand carved porch railings, is painted white, with a red roof, while the tower rises from the front 50 feet.
Foundation: Brick
Construction: Wood Frame, Stick Style Victorian lighthouse,
Other Structures: 3 cisterns, concrete oil house, barn
Tower shape: Square Cylindrical, Italianate tower on Italianate dwelling’
Tower Height: 30ft
Focal plane: 156 ft
Original lens: 4th Order Fresnel lens, dome of lantern painted red
Range: 19 miles
Current lens:
Fog Signal:
Characteristic: Alternate red/white Flashes at intervals of 10s
Admiralty:
ARLHS: USA-621
USCG number: 6-0140
Owner: city of los Angeles/Point Fermin lighthouse committee
Site manager:

Journal

This was a short road trip from Point Vincente to Point Fermin. As we drove I could see the lighthouse from the road as it was perched on a cliff facing the sea. Jean stopped the SUV and I got out to take a few pictures from the distance. We were in a park area, and it was built up with homes, not as isolated as I would expect a lighthouse to be. With Urban sprawl, what can you expect? I got back in the vehicle and we continued our journey to the lighthouse.

We parked in a public parking lot and walked across the park to the lighthouse. A lot of people were picnicking at the time. Quite a number of children where frolicking in the park, joggers ran with iPods plugged to their head, dogs strolled along the walkways with their masters and the afternoon sun toasted the bodies of sun worshipers as they laid sprawled upon the green carpet of nature. Bushy trees lined the walkways, providing shelter for those who wanted to avoid the rays of the sun. It was still the time of the year where the lawns of the park displayed a strong hue and saturation of green, mottled by the bright colors of flowers in full bloom.

We came upon the lighthouse, it exhibited the characteristic of a quaint Victorian building, it was like a gingerbread house; Surrounded by a white picket fence, and a garden with neatly trimmed hedges that reminded me of the gardens in the South of England. Most of the flowers in the garden where blooming, it was certainly picturesque. I introduced myself to the docents in the museum, a charming group of people. I picked up a few souvenirs before embarking on a tour of the lighthouse. I find it amazing what people will do to preserve our heritage. The docents gave up their free time to enrich the visitor with tours and the history of the lighthouse; I for one appreciate their service to the lighthouses and the public.

The lighthouse was restored with relics and furniture from the period the lighthouse was built. What was sad that they do not allow any photographs of the interior of the lighthouse? The lighthouse did not have anything unique or any exhibits that other lighthouses did not have. I could not understand the rational of no photographs. I made the tour from room to room, making note of the similarities I had seen in other lighthouses. I wondered what my brother Eddie would say about the hand carved woodwork, he was always fascinated by the intrigued by wood work of the yesteryear.

I climbed all the way to the lantern room and looked out at the sea this light had dominion over. The view was epic, I could see all the way to the Channel Islands, and in the distance Point Vincente. I was also able to see Los Angeles Harbor light.

A yr later I made the return trip with my brother Eddie. He was impressed by its appearance and hand craftsmanship of woodworkers of yesteryear. His comment was that these artisans made thing to last. Surely he was right, the house was in good condition after 137 years standing against the elements of the sea, today we are lucky if can get any kind of structure to last 50 years.

I was not too concerned taking images here as I was already contented with my earlier pictures. What was interesting, I met some of the docents who had direct connection with the lightkeepers/ Marta Austin was a niece of Thelma Austen, and was very talkative about her connection. She related the story how her grandmother died from hemorrhaging and how her grandfather died of a broken heart 2 months later. She was also proud of her photographs from that period of time. Another docent was the son of the last lightkeeper Jimenez. He had lived in the house for 22 years. All the docents were dressed in costumes from the period the lighthouse was first built. It all made for a pleasant afternoon. Next onto Angel’s gate.

History
1793: The area was given its name by the British explorer George Vancouver, to honor Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen for his hospitality shown to Vancouver at the Carmel mission.

1840’s: The harbor at San Pedro, which is overlooked by Point Fermin, started to boom. Los Angeles was growing and the railroad was extending its reach to San Pedro bay
1854: local businessmen, petitioned the Federal Government and the US lighthouse Board to place a lighthouse on the point. Lighthouse board approved funding, but disputes over land delayed
construction.
1869: Southern California’s 1st railroad was built, 21 mile stretch of track connecting Los Angeles with the bay.
1872: Point Fermin is selected for a lighthouse it is a site,a bold cliff on the western side 100 ft high overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Don Diego Sepulveda donated 2 acres to the government; he was offered $35 as payment for the land which he declined.

1874 Dec 15th, shone its light for the 1st time. The oil lantern with its 4th order Fresnel lens display its majestic light to the West coast, a new sentinel added. Paul J Petz, draftsman for USLHB designed the stick style Victorian Building, It is characterized by its gabled roofs, horizontal siding, decorative cross beams and hand carved proch railings. Miss Mary & Ella Smith were the 1st Lightkeeper. Mary Smith lit the lamp and wound the weights that rotated the lens for the 1st time. The lighthouse was built with lumber from the Californian redwoods brought in by ship and hauled by wagons to the sage covered bluff.The planned fog signal was never built.

1882: Mary and her sister resign, life was too lonely on the promontory. Captain George Shaw was hired as the new lighthouse keeper. He was a retired sea captain; he had a wife and a daughter, The daughter was born at the lighthouse.

1884: lighthouse keepers where required to wear the US Lighthouse Service uniform.

1896: LightKeepers were put on the Civil Service roster.

1898: a petroleum vapor incandescent lamp was installed. Light changed from flashing red/white to a steady white

1901: Shaw is the only resident of the lighthouse, his wife had died and his 15yr old daughter left for school in San francisco.

1904: Shaw retires and Irby Engels takes over with his wife and daughter

1917: Willie Austin, the new lightkeeper, jointly with his spouse and 6 offspring, move into Point Fermin lighthouse. Austin's was to be the last keepers of Point Fermin

1925: 6,600 candlepower electric light which projected a beam 22 miles out to sea was installed. Thelma Austin takes over from her father; she is the last lightkeeper of Point Fermin. Thelma lost her mother to an operation and 2 months later her father to a broken heart.Thelma with the help of her sister Juanita took over the lighthouse duties They felt they had a sacred duty to their parents.

1927: Point Fermin’s importance diminished with the establishment of Angel’s gate lighthouse. Los Angeles Park Department made a contract with the Lighthouse Service, allowing a park superintendent to live in the lighthouse in barter for looking after the light.

1941 Dec 9th: 2 days after Pearl Harbor attack all coastal lights were extinguished or dimmed as protection against Japanese attacks. The station was converted into a submarine lookout post.The lens lantern and gallery were replaced by an ugly lookout shack (chicken coop) which remained for the next 30 years. After the war the lighthouse was replaced by a light on a pole.

1942: Deactivated

1972: June, The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The coast guard had considered razing this structure. Bill Olesen and john Olguin led a campaign to save the lighthouse.

1974: Nov 2, new lantern and gallery were built by volunteers, restoring it to its original charm just in time for a centennial celebration

2002: the lighthouse receives major restoration; $2.6 million is invested in the makeover of Point Fermin

2003:Nov 1 the Department of Recreation and Parks opened the lighthouse to the public.

2004: the makeover is completed; the lighthouse had been repainted, new plumbing, electrical work, alarm systems, air conditioning, and furnishings dating back to the late 1800’s

2005: the lighthouse celebrated its 130th birthday.

2006: Dec 16th a homecoming for the lens. Olesen and Olguin located the Fresnel lens removed from the Point Fermin Lighthouse at the outbreak of World War II.

2011: June 7, Point Fermin is one of 12 historic lighthouses made available by the GSA to public organizations at no cost if they are willing to preserve them.

This picture perfect lighthouse is located on a 37 acre scenic park, landscaped with colorful gardens, tree shaded lawns and a promenade, which provides panoramic views of the Channel Islands and the surrounding coast. It is the perfect location for picnics and leisurely strolls, its friendly to children and animals. The lighthouse fits pleasantly into the scene as it is snugly placed amidst a group of large palm trees

Links
Wikipedia
Point Fermin
United States Coast Guard
San Pedro
National Park Service

References

1. "Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses", Sharlene and Ted Nelson, 1993.
2. "Point Fermin Lighthouse," Lenore Nicholson, The Keeper's Log, Winter 1987.
3. "Light Wait," Megan Bagdonas, Daily Breeze, December 2, 2006
4. "Field Guide to Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast", Elinor De Wire,Voyeur Press, 2006.
5. "California Lighthouses in the 1920'2 and 1930's",Wayne C Wheeler,Arcadia Publishing, 2006

Keywords: Point Fermin Lighthouse, Lighthouse, lighthouse pictures, Los Angeles, California, directions, location, photographs, Journal, history, San Diego, LighthousesOfCalifornia, Sean O’Cairde

Content is copyright by Ocairdestudio 2011

Point Vicente

2011-07-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Point Vicente

Location: 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West S,
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Directions: From Los Angeles, travel south on Highway 1 to Palos Verdes Estates. Continue south along the coast on Palos Verdes Blvd, a quarter mile south of the southern end of Hawthorne Blvd.The lighthouse grounds are on a Coast Guard station and usually closed to the public, but the lighthouse can be clearly viewed from the gate and a nearby park.

Coordinates: 33°44′31″N 118°24′38″W33.7419°N 118.4106°W
Year first lit: 1926
Active: Yes
Deactivated: No
Automated: 1973
Keepers dwelling: 3 keeper’s quarters,2 Stories, Mission Revival, 2 GARAGES, RADIOBEACON, OIL HOUSE W/WINDOWS
Foundation: Concrete
Construction: Plaster Reinforced Concrete
Tower shape: Cylindrical
Tower Height: 67ft
Focal plane: 185 ft
Original lens: 3rd order Fresnel, manufactured in France by Barbier & Bernard. 1886 range: 20 miles
Current lens: 3rd order Fresnel
Fog Signal: Fog Signal Building fog horn
Characteristic: 2 white flashes every 20s
Admiralty: G3886
ARLHS number:
USCG number: 6-0170
Owner: U.S. Coast Guard
Site manager: U.S. Coast Guard

Journal

This was an interesting trip; we left San Diego early morning and made our way to Los Angeles. Again Jean used her negotiating skills to book our hotel. We checked into our room and set off to find Point Vincent, Point Fermin and Los Angeles harbor. We had a gps system so we thought we were set. The address was plugged into the unit and we set to follow the robotic voice to our destination. We thought we were doing well, We arrived at Palos Verdes Drive West and headed north, but we missed our turn off, because the gps was silent. We trusted our gps unit, and it led us up into the Los Verdes hills.

We drove for a bit, and I had distinct feeling as we moved from the coast that we were going in the wrong direction. We stopped and I got out having a look around, we were high up in the hills and in a luxury housing estate. I could see down to the coast but could not see any sign of a lighthouse. Jean spotted some workers and asked if they knew of the lighthouse, they looked at us as if we were from another planet. We got back in the MDX and decided we would head for Point Fermin, and maybe from there get some guidance for the directions to Point Vicente.

Jean turned the SUV around and headed back down the hill, we got back to Palos Verdes Dr and headed south, after a few minutes Point Vicente Light appeared in our view, we were so close and yet so far away. It located near the interpretative center; I could have kicked myself for not paying attention to my Internet directions. We pulled into the parking lot and I retrieved my cameras. This lighthouse was closed to the public so my shots were limited to outside the fence, I will return in the future when the lighthouse is open to the public, for now I will accept my good fortune of finding this light.

Sitting out there on the south west point of Palos Verdes Peninsula, it looked like a postcard scenic jewel. With blue skies, lush green lawns, palm trees and an emerald ocean in the background, I am sure this is a spot for photographers and artists.

It was a year later when I returned to this lighthouse. I made it with my brother Edward. We set out on a Friday afternoon and after 10.5 hours we made it to Los Angeles. This was a trip to remember. We filled his vehicle with gas in Dublin, Ca. A few snacks and we were on our way. Our first obstacle was the Altamont Pass, it took forever to cross. Our second Obstacle was Bakersfield, apparently our tax dollars was hard at work. They shut down a lane, and we crawled ever so slowly past Bakersfield. Soon it was dark, and as we motored along Highway 5, we where flashed by passing trucks. Eddie pulled into the side and we examined the vehicle, only to discover that our right tail light was not working. There was nothing we could do, so gingerly continued our journey, Eddie would intermittently put on his emergency blinkers when other drivers would get too close. Our final obstacle was highway 405, we missed the exit and our GPS quickly got us back on route and into the standstill traffic. Around mid-night we pulled into the Embassy suites in Segundo. We headed for our room only to be greeted by a loud humming sound; I headed for the front desk and asked to be changed. The staff obliged and was surprised that I complained about the sound. Finally I had a glass of wine and retired for the night.

The next morning we arose refreshed and ready for our trip to Point Vicente. Again it was a little adventure getting to the lighthouse, we started off in the wrong direction as the GPS was having problems picking up a satellite signal, and we pulled into a shopping center and waited for a signal. Finally we were headed in the right direction. About 15 mins later we were at Point Vicente. I retrieved my camera bag and headed into the light station. At the front gate, we were greeted by a coast guard person, he looked like he was only a child, and maybe he was a cadet.

I was glad at the opportunity to make my around the grounds, I tried to take as many pictures from different perspectives, I entered the lighthouse and made way to the top. It was hot inside the tower; at the top the lantern was still operational, I watched as the mechanical mechanism from the past made its rotations, a big lens with is well maintained prisms, in its cast brass frame being rotated by a small motor at its base. It’s a credit to USCG for the maintenance of this lens. I retreated from the tower and spent awhile more in the grounds, I was happy I made this journey and another entry to my journal as I continue my “Journey to the Light”, next A return trip to Point Fermin.

History

Before the installation of lighthouses on the Pacific coast, many ships and seamen went to their watery graves on its rocky schoals. Shipmasters deplored this dangerous stretch of coastal water.

1790: Captain George Vancouver, an officer of the British Royal Navy. Aboard his 90 ft sloop “Discovery”, he charted North America’s Pacific coast region for England. He named the Point after Friar Vicente of Buenaventura Mission, who was friendly to him on his expedition.

1916: In response to a petition from ships masters Congress appropriated $80,000 for a light and fog signal.

1922: The site on the point was fully acquired; it was a site on 130ft cliff Palos Verdas

1925: June 20, the fog signal was activated, 3 keepers dwelling and outbuildings completed. The fog horn could be heard upto a distance of 3 miles

1926: May 1st, 1000 watt bulb focused through a 3rd order Fresnel lens could be seen for the first time. Its range was over 20 miles; the lens is made up of hand-ground prisms held in place by a cast brass frame. It was transferred from a light station in Alaska after 40 years of service; The 67 ft cylindrical, masonry light tower perched on 130 ft cliff at Point Vicente serves as a coastal beacon and a guide to vessels navigating the entrance to San Pedro Harbor. It has the distinction of being one the last lighthouses constructed on the west coast. It shares that feature with Point Diablo Light, constructed in 1923, and the Long Beach Light, which built in 1949. Similar in design to the lighthouse on Anacapa Island.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Point Vicente Lighthouse - Los Angeles lighthouses
Examiner.
1934: Radio station & Navigation Beacon added

1939: Lighthouse is transferred to US Coast Guard

1940’s: During World War II, the peninsula was guarded by heavy fortified weapon emplacements of Fort MacArthur. The light was dimmed, a 25 watt light replaced the 1000 watt light, and the windows where covered with black out curtains. The military did not want the lighthouse to used as an navigation aid to the Japanese. After the war, the 1000 watt light was returned to the lantern room, the restored beam became a nuisance to the neighbors and a hazard to motorists, the interior of the lantern room windows was painted a pearly white on the side facing inland, to avoid the complaints of its neighbors and motorists over the bright rotating flashes into homes and blinding drivers at night. This effort produced an illusion from the light of the rotating lens, of a woman pacing the tower's walkway and gave rise to Point Vicente's "Lady of the Light," the wife of a light-keeper who stumbled from the edge of a cliff,another lighthouse ghost story said the ghost was the spirit of a woman who leaped into the sea when her lover was lost in a shipwreck off the point. A heavier coat of paint ended the lady’s nightly prance around the tower but the stories persist.

1942: Radio distress monitoring capability was added.

1971: The Lighthouse was manned until automated equipment and remote control operators took.

1979: November 17, Point Vicente Lighthouse was added to the National Registry of Historic Sites.

1980: The last radioman locked the doors. For many years, Coast Guard radiomen at Point Vicente monitored the international distress frequencies, ready to help any vessel in need. The task was transferred to another station. The radio station buildings are still existing, and the radio equipment is outdated. The current keeper "Lighthouse Keeper" Eric Castrobran, USCG Auxiliary

Today Point Vicente Light emits it's beacon across the Catalina Channel. Electronic sensors and automated controls activate the fog horn and replaced most of the light keepers duties. Far from being abandoned, the housing facility is home to regular Coast Guard personnel assigned to nearby ships, stations and offices. The radio station is manned by Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers who are responsible for the maintenance lighthouse in addition to tracking distress calls from boaters in the Catalina Channel, and auxiliary aircraft patrolling offshore waters on weekends.

Links

Palos Verdes
Coast Guard Lighthouse
Inventory of Historic Light Stations
California Lighthouses
Wikipedia Point Vicente Light

References

1. Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Sharlene and Ted Nelson, 1993.
2. Point Vicente Lighthouse pamphlet

Keywords: Point Vicente Lighthouse, Lighthouse, lighthouse pictures, Palos Verdes Peninsula,California, directions, location, photographs, Journal, history, San Diego, LighthousesOfCalifornia, Sean O’Cairde

Content is copyright by Ocairdestudio 2011

Pelican Point (Point Loma Lighthouse)

2011-05-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Pelican Point (Point Loma Lighthouse)

Location: Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, California, At the bottom of the Point Loma Peninsula and across the bay from downtown San Diego.
Directions: From I-5 South or I-8 West, take the exit for Rosecrans/Highway 209. Stay on Rosecrans into Point Loma, turn right onto Canon Street. Follow Canon Street to the end, take a left onto Catalina Boulevard (Also known as Cabrillo Monument Drive) and follow to Cabrillo National Monument, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. follow the road leading to the park's tide pools.
Coordinates: 32° 39′ 54.36″ N, 117° 14′ 32.96″ W
Year first lit: 1891, Mar 23
Active: Yes
Deactivated: No
Automated: Yes
Keepers dwelling: 2 detached keepers’ white, clapboard Mission Revival-style
structures.
Foundation: concrete
Construction: skeletal pyramidal
Tower shape: cylindrical/tubular
Tower Height: 70 ft
Focal plane: 88 ft
Original lens: 3rd order Fresnel lens
Current lens: a modern optic VRB-25 Vega Beacon
Fog Signal: a powerful compressed-air fog siren was installed. Driven by oil engines, it emitted a three-second blast followed by 17 seconds of silence, replaced by a two-tone diaphone fog signal
Characteristic: white flash every 15 s.
Admiralty number: G3676
ARLHS number: USA-626
USCG number: 6-0005
Owner: Coast Guard
Site manager: Coast Guard

Journal

San Diego is definitely one of those tourist cities, Boardwalks, shops, street vendors, restaurants, blue skies and a laid back atmosphere. It was Sunday, after lunch and a stroll along Seaport village we headed off to Cabrillo Park. It was not hard to get to, just a short run from the hotel. When we got to the Park, we paid a few dollars to park and took our time to find an ideal parking spot. Not too many people where visiting. I had my cameras ready for action. My primary camera was the 5d with a 24-105mm lens. I also had a 7D with a 70-200mm ready. Jean had made her way to the sights and left me to enjoy my photography.

The air was fresh and we where high above the city. With clear blues skies we had a great view of the air force base, San Diego City and the Bay. This peninsula was certainly guarding the entrance to the harbor. One of my first photographs was of the cactus, just above it, perched like a gull on a cliff top was old point Loma lighthouse. It proudly displayed its glory of yester year. I eliminated all current day distractions as I tried to take the picture. I was wondering how I could make this different, and I realized it’s in the eye of the beholder. This is about the past and history of these sentinels, their location and isolation. These structures housed men and women with their families and together guided vessels through treacherous waters to safety.

From my high precipice, I was able take in some wonderful vistas of the city and the naval planes landing and taking off from the naval complex in Coronado. After spending my time shooting in Old Point Loma, I had my first look at what is considered to be New Point Loma, from the heights of the Old lighthouse. I took a number of shots from this location before moving on to investigate the remaining surrounding area. Just before we left the park, we dropped by the visitor center, it contains a gift store and a small theater showing movies about the history of the area.

We drove down to the new Point Loma lighthouse, the Lighthouse area is not accessible because its still controlled by the Coast Guard. I had to overcome the obstacle of the wired fence, to get my pictures; it definitely appeared to be scenic as it was surrounded by tall palm trees. I did not spend too long here as my options where limited. So I took a few more pictures of old Point Loma from below. I wondered what Lightkeeper Israel thought as he looked up at his former home. Did he miss his former home?.

I spent an hour on the beach area where the tide pools where, again my ignorance came to the forefront, and I had no clue what a tide pool is, yet lots of people where on the beach poking between the clefts of the rocks. I headed back to the MDX, where Jean was busy playing her Sudoku. We drove back to San Diego, spent the remainder of the day on the aircraft carrier Midway. That night it was dinner in the Gaslamp Quarter, Tratoria La Strada, followed by a nice relaxing stroll back to the Hotel in coolness of the evening. This is what vacations are about, at the end of the day being in a relaxed state of mind and tired. My day was full, and I was content to be with my wife.

Contemplation: Why do I take pictures of lighthouses, why spend a lot of time on the quest for the Journey towards the light. Its part spiritual and part a love for this country. I visualize the lighthouse as the Land of the USA, a beacon to the world lost in a foray of religious, political and environmental correctness. Alone and brave, constant in her efforts to protect those in trouble, oppressed by foreign regimes casting lightning bolts of hatred at those seeking liberty in a fog of despair; She weathers out the storms of troubled lands and peoples. Her lightkeepers are the founding fathers and her beacon the constitution upon which she stands. She is supported by those who are willing to stand alone against criticisms, to brave the storms, to make sure that guiding light still shines. They are not looking for government handouts and bailouts, at a cost they stand against the lashing waves of injustice and offer hope to those who are tossed about in a tumultuous sea of uncertainty.

On the spiritual side, it’s about Jesus; He said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness. He is the solid rock upon whom we stand. He takes the accusations made against us and bears them in His body. I see the tower of the Father, the Light of Jesus, and the oil of the Holy Spirit. In the keepers, His disciples, working tirelessly to make sure the light is kept burning. By prayer and fasting, is the oil primed, by self sacrifice is the beacon shined upon tossing waves, and faith of steadfastness is the tower strengthened against the storms. Father, Son and Holy Ghost all three working as one to rescue drowning men, to find lost souls, to guide the weak, and relive the oppressed, down through the centuries they have labored inspiring frail men to step into the fray and follow their Lord.

It’s such thoughts that follow me as I photograph lighthouses, such thoughts that cross my mind as I try to capture the essence of a life that is now gone, an era, that no longer exists. An era no one remembers anymore, and it was only yesterday.

History

The lofty position of the old Point Loma light, however, proved to be its eventual downfall as an aid to navigation. It was found that high fogs often obscured the light while the coast line just below was clearly visible.

1881, Pelican point was picked as the new site, but no funds were available to relocate the light from the old Point Loma.

1889 Congress appropriated $30,000 for reestablishment of the Point Loma light on Pelican Point the lower site.

1889, August 21, bids for the construction of the new lighthouse were opened, and work was soon begun.

1889: September, Building materials for the construction of 2 Victorian cottages arrive at the point.

1890: July 5, the 37 ½ tons of iron skeletal tower arrived in San Diego from Trenton, New Jersey. The tower was constructed by Phoenix Iron works of Trenton. The tower arrived at the point July 16th. Horse drawn wagons was used for the delivery,

1890: Aug, 25ft square, 14ft deep concrete structure was ready to receive the structure.

1890: Oct 20, the supplied lens was too large for the lantern room.

1891: Feb3, The replacement was a barrel-shaped optic that remains in Point Loma’s tower today – a 3rd order Fresnel lens – arrived from San Francisco aboard the steamer Corona. It was hauled to the station on board an 8 horse drawn wagon. The cost was about $4000. It had 12 glass prism panels, which contained a bulls-eye. The lamp was kerosene with 3 concentric, tubular wicks; panes of red glass were suspended in front of every other lens panel, which gave it the red/white flash characteristic. 3 gallons of oil a night was used to power 60,000 candle power.

1891: Mar 23, the new light shone its beacon at a lower elevation, the final hour of the old Point Loma light was at hand, the old tower is extinguished. The community celebrated with a sailing party and a moonlight picnic.

1892: Jan, Israel career as lightkeeper ended. He is replaced by George Patrick Brennan. Brennan had 8 children, 5 boys and 3 girls. Cooking was done on coal stoves. Much excitement lies on the escapades of Brennan’s kids getting to the local schools, and the supplies coming onshore from the lighthousetender Madrono.

1909: Electric Cables were laid across San Diego Bay.

1911: Telephones installed.

1912: A new incandescent oil-vapor light is installed, it uses 1 gallon of oil to produce 120,000 candlepower of light. The red glass panes had been removed because of the weaker red flash, and the light’s characteristic changed from 1 red/white flash every 20 seconds to 1 white flash every 15 seconds.

1913: a fog signal is installed; it’s a compressed-air fog distress signal. Powered by oil engines, it made a 3-second blast followed by 17 seconds of silence, The engine house was constructed near the base of the light tower to protect the new apparatus, and a 3rd keeper was employed. His dwelling had been added to the light station the year before.

1924: Electricity requested for the lighthouse by the superintendent of lighthouses.

1926: Lighthouse wire for electricity.

1933: A 500 watt bulb was lit by electric current, 200,000 candlepower exhibited a 15 sec flash, 1.5 secs beam, followed by 13.5 secs of darkness. Fog signal was changed to a diaphone

1936: A radio beacon installed in the engine house, was synchronized with the diaphone to give bearings and distance during bad weather.

1973: Light is fully Automated, its modern optic is a VRB-25 Vega Beacon.

1997: November the lens stopped rotating. The chariot wheels had taken a beating over the years, and where now stopped to preserve them.

2002: Lens removed from the tower and placed in storage

2004: lens is restored and placed on display in Old Point Loma

Links

San Diego History

National Park Service

WikiPedia

References

1. The New Point Loma Lighthouse, Karen Wagner Scanlon, The Keeper's Log, Winter 2002.
2. California Lighthouse life,Wayne C Wheeler,United States Lighthouse society Arcdia,2006,pp 10
3. Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast,Elinor De Wire,Voyageur Press,2006,pp 36
4. Lighthouses of California,Bruce Roberts an Ray Jones,Globe Piquot Press,2005,pp12

5. Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Sharlene and Ted Nelson, 1993. pp 11-13

Keywords: Point Loma Lighthouse, Pelican Point, Lighthouse, lighthouse pictures, California, directions, location, photographs, Journal, history, San Diego, LighthousesOfCalifornia, Sean O’Cairde

Point Loma Lighthouse

2011-05-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

Location: Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, California, At the tip of the Point Loma Peninsula and across the bay from downtown San Diego.

Directions: From I-5 South or I-8 West, take the exit for Rosecrans/Highway 209. Stay on Rosecrans into Point Loma, turn right onto Canon Street. Follow Canon Street to the end, take a left onto Catalina Boulevard (Also known as Cabrillo Monument Drive) and follow to Cabrillo National Monument, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Coordinates: 32° 40′ 18″ N, 117° 14′ 27″ W32.671667, -117.240833
Year first lit: 1855, November 15

Active: No

Deactivated: 1891, March 23,
Automated: No
Keepers dwelling: 1 1/2 story, Cape Cod style, dwelling with an inner, spiral staircase leading to the lantern room, sandstone on cobble.
Foundation: Natural/Emplaced
Construction: Brick
Tower shape: Conical
Tower Height: 46 feet
Focal plane: 462 feet

Original lens: 3rd order Fresnel lens, sperm oil, colza, lard oil, kerosene. Sautter & Co., Paris, France

Current lens: third-order lens from the Mile Rocks Lighthouse, on display.
Fog Signal: No, Keeper used a shotgun during fog
Characteristic: alternating red and white flash with a 1 minute interval between flashes
Admiralty number:
ARLHS number: USA-627
USCG number:
Owner: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Site manager: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Journal

It was late in the afternoon when Jean and I arrived in San Diego. Jean booked us into the Embassy Suites; we unpacked our bags and refreshed our dreary bodies from the long drive. The drive is taxing no matter how fine the weather or how comfortable the vehicle is. Later in the day, with renewed energy we set out to tour the downtown area of San Diego. Just a short stroll from our hotel, we where on the picturesque walkways of San Diego's Seaport Village. As always the weather in San Diego was sunny, mild and great for strolling. The park area we walked in, is neither a harbor port nor a rural village, but a large tourist shopping mall on waterfront property. Strolling along the promenade reminded me of the vacation I had in the South of France, where people knew how to enjoy life at a leisurely pace.

It was late in the evening, and I enjoyed the promenade view, with horse drawn carriages and a beautiful moon hanging ever so lazily above our heads. We sauntered along the footpath at a snails pace recalling our day in Santa Barbara, the drive on the freeway and jeans negotiating skills getting the hotel for a good price. This was our second hotel we had not booked ahead of time. It added to the excitement of our vacation. We stopped at Busters Beach house and dined. The ambiance was casual, and the menu had lots of easy to order items, something for everyone to eat. It’s worthwhile to visit with a family that has a wide variety of tastes. We spent the remainder of the evening looking out at the bay views, observing other fellow tourists hiring the horse drawn carriages and sipping on a glass or two of wine, before retiring for the night.

Next day, sun was shining, we arose late in the day around 10 am. We had planned on heading to Cabrillo Park, where Point Loma lighthouse is located. But first we wanted to spend some more time in Seaport Village. We wandered near the carousal, observed face painting of kids, and a balloon artist twisting or contorting magical shapes for little children who where amazed at his wondrous skill. The bay and harbor looked golden and magical against the beautiful blue skies, as we listened to the background music of entertainers, sometimes taking a seat in the grass to listen and observe the activity going on around us. At one stage Jean approached a fortune teller to inform her that what she was doing was fake, and the only real Truth was in Jesus. I laid back on the grass and closed my eyes, and Jean made her way around the open air stalls, she eventually bought herself a new pair of sunglasses.

About noon we decided to have Lunch, so it was the Edge Water Grill. We sat outdoor on the patio. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for fine dining experience. Rather than talk about what we ate, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself, check the link and see for yourself and see whats on the menu. After lunch we headed off to Cabrillo Park for my lighthouse tours, this I knew this venture would be a lot better than the Santa Barbara light. I had my camera's and lens ready for this part of the journey. Once in the Park, I load my cameras across my body, half strangling myself in the process. I roamed around the park, taking pictures of everything. Cabrillos monument, the magnificent vistas of San Diego Harbor, cactus, wild flowers and the great American Flag. What I missed was the isolation and the raw wilderness of the other sites, it was the loneliness I felt when I was at the other lighthouses, some where not easily accessible and you had to work to get to them. This site felt too close to civilization. I was only 5 minutes from a Starbucks and I could see the city from the precipice of the monument. Many tourists where perched on the wall observing military aircraft taking off and landing from the nearby base.

Eventually I made my way to the lighthouse, it looked majestic as it sat upon its high and lofty place, overlooking the entrance to San Diego Harbor. I climbed the stairs, walked around the lighthouse, looked for ways to take my shots without too much reflection from the separating window panes. I stood & waited patiently until people got out of my view finder. I got my shots, would like to be here for the sunrise and sunset shots. Still it was a peek back in time, and I could see the spot of Point Ballast and also the newer Point Loma. I circled the outside of the lighthouse and continued to shoot and take a little time to soak on the spectacular views. When I exhausted myself shooting we headed down to the site of the new Point Loma.

The Story continues on Point Loma (new)

History

The name Loma comes from a legend of a flaxen hair Russian girl sole survivor of a ship wreck. Adopted by the local residents, she was later killed by a rejected suitor, who met his faith in knife fight, and both fell to their deaths on the rocks of the sea. So it was that the Point was named after this girl. This is a purely romantic legend. The original name was “La Punta de la Loma de San Diego”: Hill point of San Diego.

1542: September 28, Point Loma was first discovered by Europeans, Portuguese navigator Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo commissioned by the new Viceroy of New Spain explored the west coast of the United States. He left Mexico and it’s believed he docked his flagship San Salvador, on Point Loma’s east shore, probably at Ballast Point. This was the first landing by a European in California; Point Loma has been described as “where California began”.[

1701: During California's Spanish era, rumor has it; the local settlers built signal fires at Point Loma to guide supply ships into the harbor.

1848: Discovery of Gold at Sutter’s Mill increased ship traffic on California’s coast, prompting the need for the construction of lighthouses. When the US gained control of California, the government chose Point Loma as one of the first sites on the California coast to receive a navigational aid.

1850: September 28, Congress appropriated $90,000 for the construction of lighthouses at strategic points along the coast and near the entrance to important harbors. This series of early lighthouses included lights on Alcatraz Island, Point Conception, Battery Point, Farallon Island, Point Pinos and Point Loma. Of these, the Point Loma light was the last to be finished.

1851: U.S Coastal Survey selected the summit Point Loma for the Lighthouse, a tapered finger of land forming the western boundary of San Diego's harbor and shielding it from the Pacific Ocean, 10 miles from Old Town.

1854: April 7, the schooner Vaquero arrived in San Diego with the building supplies,cement,lime and lumber. The firm of Gibbons and Kelly from Baltimore began construction, Point Loma construction began the last of the 8 lighthouses for California. First a road had to be built from the harbor up a steep hill to the point. Then workers quarried sandstone for the building from the hillside, and salvaged bricks and floor tiles from the ruins of the old Spanish fort Guijarros at Ballast Point for the tower and basement floor. Water, needed for the mortar, had to be hauled 7 miles. A rolled tin roof, a brick tower, and an iron and brass housing for the light topped the squat, thick-walled building, in the cape cod style, a one and a half story dwelling with a central, spiral staircase leading to the lantern room perched atop the structure.

1854, August, The lighthouse was finished. Delays in acquiring a appropriate lens postponed the lighting for more than a year. The Lighthouse Board had started to use the Fresnel lens, developed in France, the tower was initially designed to house an Argand light, The tower had to be adapted to accommodate the Fresnel lens, and the mason, Harvey Ladd, from the Mormon Battalion, was hired to do the rework.

The lighthouse was originally to receive a 1st order Fresnel lens, but the tower was too small to accommodate the lens. Instead, a fixed 3rd order lens intended for Humboldt Bay was installed at Point Loma, and the 1st order lens was installed at Cape Flattery in Washington State. The cost was $30,000, a small fortune at the time.

1855: Nov 15, James Keating the 1st lightkeeper lit the lamp, the light from the 3rd Order Fresnel lens flashed its beaconed light out to sea for the first time. Point Loma was the 1st lighthouse in Southern Ca. At the time the highest lighthouse in the country, was reportedly spotted by a ship thirty-nine miles at sea. This report must have actually been a reflection of the light from clouds as physics limits the distance at which a direct beam of light could be seen from Point Loma to less than 30 miles, Its cost had doubled from $15,000 to $30,000. A head lightkeeper and his assistant had to split the four-room dwelling.

However, the fog which frequently rolled in from the Pacific at a height of a few hundred feet often obscured the light completely. Like several of California's early lights, the active light would eventually be relocated below the fog line.

Staffing at Old Point Loma was problematic. The pay was low, the site was isolated, and the station was cramped. The building's 4 rooms housed the keeper, assistant keeper, and their families until the woodshed was converted to 2 rooms in 1876. As a result, 11 principal keepers and 22 assistant keepers served at the original light from 1855 to 1891, when the light was extinguished.

1871: June 2 Capt Robert Decatur Israel was appointed Assistant Lighthouse keeper

Originally from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Robert was orderly sergeant in the army during the Mexican War, , in the Second Division, in the Rifles, and, after his service, settled in San Diego, where he married Maria Arcadia Machado de Alipas, a member of an old San Diego family. He served as policeman and jailor in the early 50's, in 1858 was Justice of the peace, and in 1865 school trustee. Keeper Israel served for 20 years at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and during three of those years his wife served as Assistant Keeper. His wife Maria, planted flowers and vegetables near the light, crafted wall hangings of shells, and also served as assistant keeper for a time. His sons often acted as lookouts for whalers and ships, they signaled the harbor by running table clothes up the flag pole, red for ships, white for whales.

1874: Capt Israel promoted to Head Keeper, Maria Israel assistant keeper. For the next 18 yrs the lighthouse was home to 3 boys and a niece, with 3 horses, chickens, pigs and goats.

1875, a barn was constructed, the oil and wood storehouse was converted into a 2-room apartment for the assistant keeper. The basement of the lighthouse held a small cistern, which through a series of pipes, collected the rain that fell on the roof. This small supply was inadequate for the station, and the keepers were forced to travel 7 miles one-way to fill large barrels at the nearest well. A large, concrete water catchment basin was built on the east side of the lighthouse, which fed into 2 subterranean cisterns. Still, in dry years, an occasional trip to the well necessary.

For many years, the lighthouse displayed a fixed white light, but with the growth of the city of San Diego other white lights were soon seen in the area and a more distinctive characteristic was needed.

The sandstone walls of the lighthouse were left in a natural state, until by the 1870s deterioration was noted in the exposed stone. The southern and western walls, those most exposed to the onshore weather patterns, were covered with a heavy coat of cement-mortar followed by two coats of stone-colored paint. Later, all the walls would be covered,

1887 the lighthouse was given its now-familiar all-white look.

1889, April 1, the characteristic of the light was changed to an alternating red and white flash with a 1 minute interval between flashes. Rather than replace the fixed lens, flash panels were placed inside the lens. The panels consisted of a pane of clear glass opposite a pane of red glass, and were rotated using weight driven clockworks.

1891: Mar 23, after just 36 years of service, Lighthouse was deactivated. The light's lofty perch on the point meant it was often shrouded in fog, rendering it useless to mariners. and the light from the newly constructed metal tower at the foot of Point Loma was first exhibited. the Israel family moved to the new lighthouse, where Robert served as keeper for one year, before quitting after an argument with authorities.

After the lighthouse was deactivated, it soon fell into disrepair. Its windows were broken out, the lantern room’s metal roof was stripped off, and the basement was used as a comfort station.

1890's, the original Point Loma light was replaced by a pair of lights.

1890, Ballast Point opened as a harbor light.
1891, a new light was erected at a lower elevation on the southern tip of Point Loma. The new tower - a cylindrical tower with metal scaffolding - housed a 3rd order Fresnel lens.
1913: President Wilson sets aside the old lighthouse as a national monument.

the Order of Panama, a group dedicated to commemorating California’s Spanish heritage, proposed erecting a 150-foot-tall statue of Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo on Point Loma to honor his discovery of the area in 1542. The dilapidated lighthouse was to be torn down and replaced by the statue. Funding was not available and the plan was scrapped, the Order of Panama dissolved. However, as a result of their plan, 1/2 acre around the lighthouse was set aside as Cabrillo National Monument by Presidential Proclamation.

In the meantime, the original building languished. The site fell victim to souvenir hunters, vandals, and neglect. The assistant keeper's dwelling and other auxiliary buildings were lost.

1933 Cabrillo National Monument was turned over to the National Park Service.

1935: Lighthouse structure was restored to its original condition , the metal lantern room had been rebuilt. A concessionaire lived in the lighthouse, offering tours of the building and operating a tea room in southern room on the main floor.

1941 With the outbreak of war, gun batteries and submarine spotters were placed on Point Loma's strategic summit. The lighthouse was painted camouflage green during the war, and was used as a signal tower to direct ships into San Diego Harbor. Ships approaching the harbor flashed a code, which if correct caused the submarine nets stretched across the harbor's mouth to be lowered.

1946: The lighthouse was restored to the park service, and restoration began.

1955: A 4th order lens from Table Bluff light in Humboldt Bay was installed in , during the lighthouse's 100th anniversary. In the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the light was erroneously referred to as "The old Spanish Lighthouse." In fact, the only Spanish connection were the old tiles from the Spanish fort.

1980s, the lighthouse was meticulously restored and filled with period furnishings to resemble its state when Robert Israel locked the lighthouse door and moved his family to the new lighthouse. The visitor's center at the monument has exhibits covering Cabrillo's discovery of San Diego Bay and local marine life. The area around the lighthouse offers excellent views of San Diego Bay, San Diego's skyline, and grey whales making their annual migration to and from Baja California.

1981: May, Lens returned to Coast Guard. 3rd order Fresnel lens (from Mile Rock Light) loaned to Cabrillo National Monument. The lantern room currently houses the 3rd lens from the Mile Rocks Lighthouse.

1983-1984 Further restoration took place in , and Today, a statue of Cabrillo stands at Point Loma but is considerably smaller than the original plans, and was placed near the visitor's center.

1984: The light was re-lit by the National Park Service,David Israel, great-grandson of keeper Robert Israel, relit the light. The lens is lit in the evenings, and is visible from the Bay side only, so the light (which is no longer officially active) will not confuse ships.

2003-2004, the area around the lighthouse was significantly changed to more resemble its appearance when the Point Loma Lighthouse was in service. An assistant keeper's dwelling, which is now home to displays on the lighthouse along with the third-order Fresnel lens from the New Point Loma Lighthouse and the fourth-order lens from the Ballast Point Lighthouse, was constructed near the lighthouse where it originally stood. The cement water catchment basin, which funnels rainwater into the cistern, was also reconstructed on the slope east of the old lighthouse. These additions might distract some from the lighthouse, but they will help the visitor more fully understand a keeper's life during the late 1800s.

1966: As Point Loma grew as a tourist attraction, the facility around the old light was further developed. A visitor's center, auditorium, exhibit building and administrative building were completed.

2001: The fourth order lens was replaced by a third order lens.

2002: December , after 111 years, the Fresnel lens was removed from the New Point Loma lantern room. The lens is displayed in the replica assistant keeper's cottage by the Old Point Loma light.

2005: the National Park Service announced an ambitious plan to restore the site to its appearance in the 1880's, and then the Israel family lived at the station. Plans included removal of the asphalt road surrounding the station, and construction of a replica of the assistant keeper's residence on the site of the old residence, for use as a museum.

2006: The lighthouse itself is undergoing $119,000 of restoration work.

Links

San Diego History
National Park Service
WikiPedia

References

1. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse, F. Ross Holland, 1968.

2. Lighthouses of the Pacific coast, Elinor De Wire, Voyageur Press, 2006.

3. Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses (2nd ed.), Nelson pp. 2-6

4. Four Sentinels: The Story of San Diego's Lighthouses, Moeser pp. 12-20

5.Lighthouses of California , Roberts and Jones pp. 10-11
6. Legendary Lighthouses, Grant and Jones p. 136-137
7. The Old Lighthouse at Point Loma (flyer)
8. Cabrillo Journal Summer/Fall 2001

9. The Keeper's Log Spring 2003, Spring 2005

10. Lighthouse Digest March 2006

Keywords: Old Point Loma Lighthouse, Lighthouse, lighthouse pictures, California, directions, location, photographs, Journal, history, San Diego, LighthousesOfCalifornia, Sean O’Cairde

Santa Barbara Lighthouse

2011-03-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Location: Santa Barbara Harbor, California. The current light is on a bluff inside a fenced Coast Guard compound with housing and a playground.
Directions: visible from Shoreline Drive and the La Mesa Park pedestrian bridge From Highway 101 in Santa Barbara, take the Carrillo Street exit and go west towards the ocean. Near the summit of the hill, Carrillo Street turns into Meigs Road. Follow Meigs Road towards the ocean until you see Lighthouse Place

Coordinates:34°23′47″N 119°43′21″W34.396309°N 119.722492°W,
Year first lit: 1856

Active: Yes

Automated: Yes
Keepers Dwelling: house-tower, 5 rooms, painted white with a red roof
Other Buildings: brick house, cement floor for oil house 50 ft from tower, barn, wood shed, oil house, tank house, water cistern
Foundation: Brick
Construction: Concrete
Tower shape: Pyramidal, cylindrical white tower rising from white dwelling, red roof, now a skeletal metal tower

Height: 24 ft
Focal plane: 142 ft
Original lens: 4th order Fresnel lens, Henry LePaute, lantern black.
Current lens: modern light
Fog Signal:
Characteristic: Flashing white once every 10s
Admiralty number: G3952
ARLHS number: USA-736
USCG number: 6-0195
Owner: Coast Guard
Site manager: Coast Guard

Journal

This trip was to enjoy a week long vacation with my lovely wife along the California coast. We had not booked any hotels so we decided to stay where could find a hotel by ph. As we drove she would call ahead to different hotels and check for availability. Also she loved to bargain the rates over the phone. She bargained for some good deals. Our first stop was San Luis Obispo, in the Embassy Suites. I wanted to show her the beautiful Avila beach near San Luis Obispo. An area where I went to photograph San Luis Obispo lighthouse. It was so beautiful I wanted her to share my experience of Gods wonderful world of nature and majestic landscapes.

We spent the day resting along the northern shores of Avila Beach; this little known harbor is a jewel within San Luis Obispo County. The views are vast and epic; we observed the trail leading to the San Luis Obispo lighthouse as it hugged the side of the mountain. I recalled the day when I trekked along that Pecho Coast trail to my wife. The sun, a golden orb was shining brightly against the rich blue skies with the sea green waves gently lapping against the light sandy shores, as we strolled along Hartford wooden pier, our first day of vacation was great, and we had a late lunch in the Fat Cats restaurant near the pier before we returned to our hotel. I would not call it fine dining , but more like typical American food, not too expensive, but the atmosphere was good.

We set out early morning to Santa Barbara, our drive was uneventful; I just laid back in the SUV and drank in the peace and quietness while Jean drove. The sun continued to shine against a deep blue sky and the coast line wove a thread through the emerald waters of the shore, reminding one of the French Riviera, it was comforting to have my wife on this journey. This reason for the coast trip was because I refused to fly, I do not like the intrusion of the TSA pat downs and the violation of my personal privacy. So we decided on a driving trip. It was early afternoon when we arrived downtown Santa Barbara, time for a little shopping for Jean and a sightseeing trip around town for me. We made our way down to the waterfront and had a bite to eat at the fake lighthouse near the waterfront. It was called Rusty’s Pizza on Cabrillo Blvd. The food was okay for around $10 and the restaurant is family friendly. The restaurant contained a lot of Lighthouse memorabilia. It was the closest thing in Santa Barbara to a real Lighthouse

After lunch we sauntered along the wooden planked Stearns Wharf, observing the activity on the shore that the Santa Barbara light had to protect, I could not help but think that this was one of the cushier light house assignments. The wharf is now home to pleasure boats, whale watching tours and a fishing fleet. It has shops, restaurants and is a hotspot for tourists. As we walked the pier we where treated to views of the green lush hillsides framed by palm trees along the ocean front. This harmonized by the thump, thump sound of an occasional car that drove by. At the entrance to the wharf is a dolphin fountain welcoming its guests.

After our stroll, We decided to drive down to the Mesa park area where the remnant of the lighthouse remained. I knew it was on government property, I was hoping to find an area or vantage point where I could get a descent picture. From my online investigations I was not expecting much in the way of a building or structure. The original building had been destroyed in an earthquake. We parked in the parking lot of Mesa park, I wondered about, looking for a spot to shoot from. It was pretty difficult in getting a decent view. All views where obstructed by trees or overgrown vegetation, the entrance to the light is on an active coast guard compound, which is closed to the public. It is also surrounded by a chain fence, living quarters and overgrown shrubbery. Well you see the results, maybe another visit with a view from the air or sea.

History

Santa Barbara punctuates the eastern end of the Santa Barbara Channel, bordered to the north by the California coast, the south by the Channel Islands, and to the west by Point Conception. The location for the Lighthouse was chosen so it could serve the dual function of a seaboard light and a marina light. Before the Spanish came to California, the region from Malibu to San Luis Obispo was occupied by the Chumash Indians. They were hunters and gatherers oriented to the sea. They built plank boats (tomols) which were capable of traveling to the Channel Islands. Chumash villages were autonomous, headed by a hereditary leader. Houses were semi-oval huts built of tule. Basketry was a major art form as were stone bowls and tools. Houses were dome shaped with tules covering a willow frame.

1542, the 1st European explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed through the Channel

1579, Sir Francis Drake sailed past the region

1602, Sebastian Vizcaino named the area "Santa Barbara", on Dec 3rd (eve of the feast day of Saint Barbara) his ship survived a violent storm in the Channel.

1760, Aug 14th, Spanish set up a colony in Santa Barbara

1856, Builder George Nagle of San Francisco came to Santa Barbara in the company of his family to construct the lighthouse on a mesa approximately 2 miles west of the marina. Comparable in blueprint to most pioneer West Coast lighthouses, the style was of the East Coast Cape Cod, with the tower rising from the heart of the gabled roof. Nagle, who was compensated $8,000 for his vocation, employed Indian labor and as a rule used local material to complete the lighthouse within the year. The lighthouse consisted of a plastered 1 ½ storied dwelling with a lower tower rising through the roof. It was elevated 146 ft above sea, about 550 ft from the brink of the bluff, the light was 180 ft above same level, and could be seen on a clear day 10-12 miles.

1856, Dec 1, The lighthouse was completed and The tower lantern with its 4th order Fresnel lens displayed a beacon with a fixed red light on the California coast, later on the red light was replaced by a white light.

Albert Williams was the 1st lightkeeper to be appointed. After 9 yrs, he grew tired of the lighthouse monotonous routine and tried his hand at farming.

1865, June 5 Albert Williams refused the position of lightkeeper, but his wife Julia accepted. She was the 3rd keeper of the Lighthouse. Since the lighthouse had no fog signal, Julia was able to maintain the light by herself, while raising 3 boys and 2 girls. Julia’s appointment as lightkeeper generated a great amount of publicity in the locality; she was the 1st California female lightkeeper. Julia Williams came from Maine, and she had come to California during the gold rush with her husband. For the next 40 yrs Mrs. Julia F. Williams took great pride in her work, she vigilantly performed her duties of tending the light, missing 2 days away from the lighthouse; she attended the weddings of 2 of her sons. During her tenure 1 shipwreck was recorded, the skipper who allowed his vessel to drift on the rocks. The skipper was at fault due to his carelessness.

1868, The Lighthouse Board noted renovations made to the lighthouse. The floor of the cellar was torn up as it was prone to flooding during the winter rains, a drain was installed, a new brick floor was laid. A "storm-house" was built over the kitchen door to protect from the bad weather elements; a brick chimney replaced the stove-pipe which passed through the roof.

1893, 50 foot well was dug near the lighthouse to boost the water supply.

1894, iron windmill was erected over the well to supply water into a 5,000 gallon cistern that sat atop an extensive base and was joined to the lighthouse and grounds by pipes. As the water supply at the station was often insufficient, Julia would often take the station's horse to the nearest stream to fetch water. Once there, the children would get a bath if required and 2 wooden buckets would be filled with water. At times, the horse would throw off the weighty buckets; Julia would unwearyingly replenish the buckets and give the horse a lump or 2 of sugar to calm her down.

Lighthouse report: "The light-house at this station was built in 1856. It is of brick, with the outer wall stuccoed. The light is shown from an old-fashioned lantern, with triangular-shaped glass, built on top of the dwelling. The structure is unsightly and uncomfortable, and in winter the walls are damp. To put this building in good repair would cost as much, if not more, than to build a new modern structure. This can be done, it is estimated, for not exceeding $7,500, and it is recommended that an appropriation of that amount be made therefore."

As Congress failed to provide funding, it wasn't a new lighthouse but rather Mother Nature that did in the old structure.

1905, Julia at the age of 81, her illustrious career came to an end; she fell from a couch and broke her hip. Unrelenting she managed to work, after a few days, she had to be hospitalized. The fall terminated her light keeping career. Mrs. Jones relieved Julia

1925, June 29, 6:45 am a magnitude 6.3 earthquake woke up those Santa Barbara residents. Keeper Albert Weeks was thrown from his temporary bed in a storage building, where he had to spend the night, because he accommodated a large number of relatives who stayed the night after a family gathering. Anxious for the wellbeing of his family, Weeks hurried to the lighthouse to save his mother, sister, brother and his family. He ushered everyone outside. Just moments later, the tower and lantern came crashing down, followed soon by the walls of the small dwelling. When the cloud of dust had settled, little was left of the old structure.The Fresnel lens was shattered, and the structure was a total loss.

1925, July 3, A temporary light, is exhibited from a frame tower.

1935 Aerobeacon on a steel tower, more permanent automatic tower, seen at the station today, was put into service

The light used atop the tower at Santa Barbara from 1925 to 1977 is now on display at the Point Vicente Lighthouse.

Links
Santa Barbara Light Wikipedia
Santa Barbara Independent

References
Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Sharlene and Ted Nelson, 1993. pp. 34-36
U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office website.

Women Who Kept the Lights, Clifford pp. 77-81

Farallon Island Lighthouse

2011-02-03T22:14:00.000-08:00

Location: Farallon Island, California Located on the highest point of the island about 25 miles (40 km) west of the Golden Gate.

Directions: 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.).

Coordinates: 37°41′57″N 123°00′07″W37.69915°N 123.00184°WCoordinates: 37°41′57″N 123°00′07″W37.69915°N 123.00184°W
Year first lit: 1855
Active: Yes
Automated: 1972
Keepers Dwelling: 3 brick.The original keeper's house was demolished in 1969;

Other Buildings: Two 1876 keeper's houses (Victorian wood duplexes), two cisterns, oil house, handcart railway

Foundation: Brick
Construction: Brick
Tower shape: white Conical
Height: 41 ft (12.5 m)
Focal plane: 358 ft (109 m);
Original lens: First order Fresnel lens, lantern removed; on display at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Museum on Fisherman's Wharf
Current lens: Vega VRB aerobeacon.
Fog Signal: Wave-activated fog whistle developed by Major Hartman Bache -- a steam engine whistle mounted over a natural blowhole (1859-1871).
Characteristic: Flashing white once every 15s
Admiralty number: G4014
ARLHS number: USA-281
USCG number: 6-0355
Owner: U.S. Coast Guard.
Site manager: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Farallon National Wildlife Refuge)

Journal:

The 3^rd time was a charm; accompanying me on this trip were my son and daughter Mark and Lydia. Once again an early rise and our eventful drive to an expensive parking lot near Pier 39. When I departed from my home, I left with the impression I had plenty of time to spare, before catching our boat; But when I arrived in San Francisco, the bay to breakers race was taking place. This was not appropriate; I had to find an alternative route to get to Pier 39, the police had set up barriers and blocked my route to pier 39. I was blessed that Mark and Lydia where with me as they know the city pretty well. We snaked our way through the city streets until we got to the Embarcadero. From there it was easy to continue our journey uninterrupted. We had just witnessed that at this early hour people will and continue to make themselves objects of ridicule and think it’s cool. I suppose it’s the undirected energy of youth.

I watched as they pushed their makeshift creations, my eardrums where bombarded by wild unintelligible yells as the revelers trundled down the streets, and could comprehend the departure of intelligence as they mindlessly made spectacles of themselves, looking for their 5 minutes of TV. I was once just as crazy, and sometimes regret the things I done as a young person, if only I could redirected that energy for a more creative purpose, who knows, time to move on. It was early morning and their was a chill in the air, we where cutting it a bit close, Lydia got out and headed for the Hard rock café, Mark & I , parked the SUV and retrieved our packs. We arrived as the group was preparing to leave. I took my precursory shots leaving the bay and hoped this would be the day that we made it to the Island. I had plenty of motion sickness aids with me.

This time we had a new guide, a little stricter on the dos & don’ts of the trip. At the same time she divulged more information about the sea life that we where visiting. The waters where calm as we proceeded out under the Golden Gate bridge and the passengers where not appearing to be sea sick. We stopped in the cove near Point Diablo to look the Sea Lions & Elephant seals that still congregated their as a colony. From Point Diablo it was a straight run to the Islands, on the way a young man called Zachery adopted me. He was a very pleasant and intelligent young man. He shared his exploits of where he had been and his excitement at sharing this trip with his class mates. I think he was about 10 years old.

It was an uneventful journey grey skies and grey water; looking back I could see the rapid retreat of the coastline. Finally I was on the part of the journey where there was no return. I sat inside the cabin, enjoyed some coffee and sandwiches, and my conversation with the young man and his mother. Apparently she was a military mom stationed near Sacramento. It’s this part of a trip do you find out who you travelling with. I looked out the cabin door to see Mark and Lydia wrapped up in blankets trying to keep warm and dry.

The first view of the island was that of a forlorn place; An Island of a small series of craggy rocks; and very isolated and hostile to human habitation. It definitely had the appearance of civilization returning to the wild. I watched with expectation as neared the Island, what would we find. Most people had come to view whales, my journey was for the remnants of the light that once guarded and protected the boats that entered the bay of San Francisco. Soon I was to see the buildings that still exist on the Island. I knew I was not going to get on the Island as it is a protected habitat for the Birds and marine life that live out here

I felt alive, my being was energized and the juices where flowing. I drank in my surroundings and did not worry about the grayness of my environment, I was surrounded by nature. Everyone had gathered at the front of the boat. I moved to the back. I wanted freedom to move around and take my shots. Later on I found out that many of the people could not take good pictures due to many reasons. I also learnt a lot about photography and water, it was another skill level to be mastered. To be brief, Landscape is not the same as waterscape. I got some Californian Sea Lions, Murre Birds, and Whales & Tufted Puffin: They where the most colorful birds. They nest in the crevices of the islands Around 50 pairs nest on the Farallones, which are the southernmost extent of their range. This deserves a return trip, probably in the fall.

Then there was the return journey, it did not take as long as going out. Quickly our catamaran skips over the choppy waves and made its way to the shores of the San Francisco Bay. Mile rock was propped on the Horizon and Fort Point sat majestically under the bridge. As we entered the bay, we arrived in the midst of a sail boat race and provided some beautiful images. The Golden Gate Bridge, sitting under a magnificent blue sky and to the south the City of San Francisco displayed its distinguishing pyramid building proudly erect on the skyline. The bay was filled with hundreds of sailboats, many flying colorful spinnakers. It’s a pity most of these shots will never see daylight. I said goodbye to my little friend Zachery and promised him some pictures. And I then headed off for something to eat on the wharf. To finish on a sour note, Lydia noticed that we where charged 3.5% of the bill for San Francisco’s health care. I am now boycotting the San Francisco restaurants. On top of that I had to stomach the high price of parking, I did not leave my heart in San Francisco, and it was gouged

History

1565: the Farallones where geographical markers for Spanish Ships that searched the world for treasures. They began trade with the Philippines; the islands became lifesaving navigational markers for their return journey
1579:: It is believed that the Sir Francis Drake's Golden Hinde, anchored on the Farallones, to replenish their food supply with fresh meat. He named them “Islands of Saint James.

1603: Friar on a Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino expedition wrote 6 leagues before reaching Point Reyes is a large island, 2 leagues from land & 3 leagues northwest of this are 7 Farallones ("rocks out of the sea") close together. Vizcaino drew the first maps of the Island.

1812: Bostonian Fur trade; a group passed near Point Reyes and the Farallones. They found the islands contained an abundance of fur seals and sea lions. In a short period of time more than 200,000 fur seals were slaughtered. The war ended the Bostonian Fur trade but the Russians continued hunting. For the next 30 years hunters would habitat on the islands, hunting the seals for their pelts. When the populations of fur seals where depleted from over-hunting, the hunters departed. By the mid-1800s the sounds of fur seals, elephant seals and sea lions was gone

1848: California cedes to the US in the Guadalupe-Hidalgo treaty. The port of San Francisco had increased traffic due to the Gold Rush.

1852: The gold rush brought a huge incursion of people into California. Ships filled with immigrants teamed into the bay. As they passed the Farallones many encountered rough waters and shipwrecks became commonplace. The U.S. Lighthouse Service decided to construct a lighthouse for ships entering the bay. The southeast peak of the island was the chosen site. Clippers like the Golden City which sailed from New York in 1852 reported that she was detained 5 days off the Farallones in fog. The growth of San Francisco population saw the need for eggs. The chickens could not lay them fast enough, so the eggs from the murre Birds on the Farallones which where in plenty, where harvested by a Pacific Egg Company.

1855 Dec: The lighthouse shines its beacon on the west coast for the 1^st time. It is considered to be one of the highest lights in California. The Farallon Island Lighthouse was built on highest peak of the southeast Farallon. When construction of the tower was complete, it was too small to house a 1^st order Fresnel lens, the tower had to be razed and rebuilt. Quarry Stone for the building of the lighthouse was taken from the island. Construction workers faced many obstacles on the islands from the extreme sharp slopes to the jagged rocks. With back breaking labor, men hauled the bricks for the tower in bundles of 4 & 5 on their backs up the steep slopes. Later a mule was used to haul supplies around the station. The mule became the oldest inhabitant of the Island. As a supplement to their meager wages, construction workers and lighthouse keepers, collected murre eggs for food and to market to the San Francisco community as another revenue stream. Many buildings where constructed on the island, first to house only the keepers; during the 1880s their families joined them. Over the next 60 years the Island became home to the many families that lived on the main southeast Farallon Island, under the shadow of the lighthouse. Life was hard on the Island, medical help was 26 miles away and the sea was not always friendly. Disease often swept through unexpectedly, often afflicting children, sometimes causing death. Families had animal’s goats, donkeys and pigs. They tried to plant gardens and trees. A small school was built for the children, and they endured the same events as those on the mainland -- death, disease, birth, gaiety -- they were a tightly woven community of keepers and their kin. The Chronicle has a good write up

1871: Fog signal was replaced by a steam-powered signal. The original Fog signal was unique; it was powered by air compressed through a natural blowhole. The signal suffered the shortcoming of being noiseless in quiet sea – a time when fog often appears.

1881: Pacific Egg Company is evicted

1900: Weather Bureau sets up a radio station.

1909: President Theodore Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 1043 in, creating the Farallon Reservation, protecting the northern islands of the chain.

1913: Navy took over the Weather Bureau buildings. They put buildings on the Island for their staff and radio equipment

1939: The United States Coast Guard took over the lighthouse. Coast Guardsmen replaced the lighthouse keepers

1942: Residents increase to 78 living on the Island, most ever.

1944: SS Henry Bergh, a troop ship, hit the west end of the Islands, all hands where saved

1953: Lighthouse is automated

1961: The 1st Order Fresnel lens was replaced by a automated aerobeacon, the beacon was placed atop of the tower. All families removed from the Island

1967: Biologists come to the island to study nature.

1970: The light is fully updated, eliminating the need for any tending.

1972: The lantern room is removed. The Coast Guard ceases operations; the last guardsman leaves the Island. The Island quickly restores its natural wilderness

2010: Today the lighthouse perched on the Southeast peak is the perfect vantage spot for scientists, as they observe the increasing population of bird life and marine life.

Reference:
Links:

Nps Gov
Farallon Island Marine Sanctuary
The California Academy of Sciences maintains a Farallon Web Cam
Lighthouse Explorer has a photo,
the Coast Guard has a historic photo showing the former lantern,
The San Francisco Chronicle has info on the history of the islands and the lighthouse.
Historical Information from Coast Guard web site:

Point Diablo

2010-11-07T00:30:00.000-07:00

Location: Point Diablo is located on a very steep headland about halfway between the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge (Point Lime) and Point Bonita

Directions:
About 1.2 miles (2 km) west of the Golden Gate Bridge, accessible only by boat, site and tower closed to the public.

Latitude: 37° 49" 12'
Longitude: -122° 29" 56'
Status: Active
Year 1st Constructed: 1923
Year established: 1923
Automated: 1975
Tower Height: focal plane 85 ft above sea level.
Tower Shape: 1 story square building
Original Optic: Lens lantern
Current Optic: Navigation light mounted atop the building
Light characteristic: White Isophase (3 Seconds On, 3 Seconds Off);
Original construction: square 1-story wood fog signal building
Color: White with red roof
Fog horn: 12 inch electric Siren, Continuously operating fog signal (blast every 15 s).
Admiralty number: G4064
ARLHS number: USA-974
USCG number: 6-4250

Journal:

This journey was a whale watching trip to the Farallon Islands. The start of the day was early morning; I had to rise around 6 am because I had to be at the Fisherman’s wharf around 8:00 am. The Whale watching tour leaves around 8:30 am. Eddie my brother, his 2 daughters Jamie and Laura accompanied me on this trip. Using his handicap parking, I found a parking spot near to area where the tour group was congregating. The weather looked great and the skies where blue with a few clouds.

When we arrived at the Hard Rock café on Pier 39, the group had already assembled, the time was about 8:15 am. Eddie went and got coffee for both of us while I settled the tickets with Joe the captain. This was my 2nd attempt to get the Farallon Islands the prior attempt was aborted when we reached Point Bonita and the Catamaran, Kitty hawk was only able to reach 11 knots instead of 18 knots, which meant it would take too long to get to the island, so to my chagrin we turned back.

As we departed from the pier, I had prepared my cameras with the lens I intended to use. I was armed with a 24-105mm on a 5D back. This enabled me to get some wide cityscapes, Alcatraz, Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. The harbor offered me some interesting views, with 50-60ft yachts moored in their piers and their masts juxtaposed against the high rise buildings of the city. Out on the bay, I had many opportunities to take wide angle pictures of the Bay Bridge, the city, Alcatraz, Angel Island and many other sights. As we drew near the Golden Gate Bridge I switched to my 100-400mm on a 7D Body, which allowed for a long reach. This I used for Point Lime, Fort Point and Mile Rock. Nearer to Point Diablo, I used a combination of lens to try and get the essence of this lighthouse. It appears a little more than an abandoned shack perched atop a forlorn rock, in the midst of the bay. The catamaran pulled into a cove close to Point Diablo, where people had the chance to see some harbor seals. I was bopping up and down with the rolling waves as I tried to get my images.Sometimes I would be catapulted as much as 2 feet off the deck. This became a challenge for image stabilisation, so I had to insure that I took plenty of shots.

Being familiar with the route, I was aware of the 6 lighthouses I would pass, Alcatraz, Point Lime, Fort Point, Point Diablo, Mile Rock and Point Bonita. I had already blogged on 5 of lighthouses and maybe someday in the future I will post updated photographs, so this gave me an opportunity to put my focus on Point Diablo. Just like Rubicon in Tahoe, this lighthouse site is not one of those which will go down in the annals of majestic Lighthouses, but it was a sentinel that once protected seafarers as they entered the bay. Today, it is powered by solar energy and perched upon the treacherous rocks as it performs its function as a coastal sentinel. Point Diablo is surrounded on all sides, by lighthouses of more famed history. Yet it has a forlorn beauty, a rawness of nature, an abandoned location, a wild landscape, and a less than friendly perch on the Marin rocks looking at the access points, you know that this is not a frequented area. The building itself looks as if it could do with a touch of paint.

Point Diablo cannot be accessed from land, and the Kitty Hawk provided me with the best opportunity to shoot it from water. The sky and the bay was more cooperative in that the waters where calmer and the sky had a deeper blue, not a dull grey. Point Diablo is the last light station before you enter the San Francisco. Bay; it has a lot of the feelings of mystique and barrenness that attract lighthouse followers. What is missing is the majestic grandeur of the coastal beacons. It does reveal the treacherous nature of the waters as ships enter the bay. It is still an active beacon. As the Kitty Hawk bobbed up and down in the cove near Point Diablo, I managed to fire of a few shots. Both of the seals in the harbor, the bridge and the lighthouse. I thought of how the lightkeepers managed to maintain this forlorn site. It was not attractive in the least. From this point you could see Fort point perched beneath the Golden Gate bridge, immersed in the glory of its past, Army, Bridge Building, Fire of San Francisco, Point Lime on the opposite end having Similar glory, Mile rock winning the heart of San Franciscans with its fog horn blare, Point Bonita, built the semblance of a sentinel of protection. Yet few people knew or even cared about this small outhouse lost in the midst of such glory and honor. All those lighthouses had ceased to be active, but this uncomely site was still performing its duty, unattended and mainly out of site to the general public.

I did manage to add a few more pictures of Point Bonita, Mile Rock and Fort Point to my collection and one day I will post an update to my blog. Spending the day on the bay was great and exciting. I met some wonderful people, Trish the boats naturalist, a blonde lady, I did not get her name but she was very cordial as we talked about my adventures with lighthouses. Trish was trying to get me to take pictures for the Kitty Hawk, solely for their use. Just beyond Point Bonita, Joe the captain reckoned we had too many sick people, so he decided that we would turn back. Once again we did not make it all the ways to the Farallon Islands, its not like a cruise ship that tourists take, it’s more of a nature hike. If anyone ever plans to make the journey, load up on motion sickness tablets.

Maybe the 3rd time will be lucky.

History:

The 1800’s was to see the bay area transformed, the gold rush, statehood, and the growth of immigration and commerce was to put a strain on providing safe passage in and out of the bay.

1901: The Steamer City of Rio De Janeiro, struck the rocks near Point Diablo, Southeast of Point Bonita. 128 passengers lost their lives. The steamer quickly filled with water and sank to the dark murky waters of the bay. It had approached the bay in the darkness of the night and dense foggy weather. The deceased captain and the pilot where found guilty of gross negligence. It was later discovered that a rich passenger had influenced the pilot.

1923: This navigational hazard was marked by the lighthouse. The keepers at Point Lime were given the extra task of maintaining a minor light placed on Point Diablo, 1.2 miles west of Point Lime. A small shack with a red roof was erected on the sloping point. A 12 inch electric siren and two lens lanterns were installed approximately 80 ft above the bay.

1962: the U.S. Coast Guard petitioned the Army for the transfer of ownership of the land beneath four aids to navigation; Point Lime Light Station, Point Bonita Light Station, Point Diablo Light and Yellow Bluff Light and “rights of four sites, located on Army property of Forts Baker, Barry and Cronkite.

2007: The U.S. Coast Guard was seeking to transfer this and four other area light stations to the National Park Service.

2010: An array of solar panels now powers the modern beacon positioned atop the shack.

Reference:

1. Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Sharlene and Ted Nelson, 1993.

Links

CA Parks

Wikipedia.

California's Majestic Lighthouse's

ThunderBird

Anacapa

Point Hueneme Lighthouse

Journal

History

San Luis Obispo LightStation

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Angels gate

Point Fermin

Point Vicente

Pelican Point (Point Loma Lighthouse)

Point Loma Lighthouse

Santa Barbara Lighthouse

Farallon Island Lighthouse

Point Diablo

Journal

History

References

Links