What the Plaque/Guide Says:
The Battery Point Lighthouse is one of the first lighthouses on the California coast. Rugged mountains and unbridged rivers meant coastal travel was essential for the economic survival of this region. In 1855 Congress appropriated $15,000 for the construction of the light station, which was completed in 1856 by the U.S. Lighthouse Service. Theophilis Magruder was the station’s first keeper; Wayne Philand was its last before automation in 1953.
More about California Historical Landmark #951-2:
This spot takes its name from the three cannons that were salvaged from the wrecked America nearby then used to celebrate the Fourth of July! It was the eighth lighthouse to start shining on the California coast, built in the Cape Cod style with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The first keeper, Theophilus Magruder, had been a traveling companion of James Marshall when the two came west to Oregon in 1845!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Become a member of the Del Norte County Historical 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!
How Do I Get There?
235 Lighthouse Way
Crescent City, CA 95531
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
You can only access the island at low tide, so check the local tide charts before you visit! Tides permitting, you can visit the lighthouse museum daily between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, April through September, and on weekends at the same time between October and March!
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