Coast Guard Lightship WLV 605!

Coast Guard Lightship WLV 605
Landmark #1036 Alameda County Visited: Sept. 14, 2013 Plaque?  NO. 🙁
What is it? This lightship is still open for tours!
What makes it historical? THE GUIDE SAYS: Lightships were floating lighthouses anchored in areas where it was too deep, expensive, or impractical to construct a lighthouse. Lightship WLV 605 was built by the Rice Brothers Shipyard in Boothbay, Maine, and was one of six lightships constructed by the Coast Guard. She was commissioned in 1951 and served at Overfalls lightship station off Delaware coast. In 1959 she was transferred to the Blunts Reef station off Cape Mendocino, where she served until 1969. In 1969 she was assigned as “Relief” for all West Coast lightship stations. She was retired from duty in 1975, and decommissioned the following year. The WLV-605 is one of a small number of only 22 surviving American lightships in the United States and she is the last lightship in California. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990.

OTHER TIDBITS: That pretty well sums it up!

How can I Help the Helpers? HERE’S HOW:

  • Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
  • Volunteer with the U.S. Lighthouse Society!
  • Donate to the U.S. Lighthouse Society!
  • Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
Where is this place? LISTED DIRECTIONS:
Jack London Square
Oakland, CA 94607

ANNOTATIONS:
The ship is docked at the far west end of Jack London Square!

From Los Angeles: ~370mi (596km) — 6.2hrs
From Sacramento: ~82mi (132km) — 1.4hrs
From San Diego: ~490mi (789km) — 8.2hrs
From San Francisco: ~12mi (20km) — 0.2hrs

When should I go? You can tour the lightship on weekends from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM and on Wednesdays from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM!

Click here to see more California historical landmarks!

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