What Is the Point Reyes Light Station?
This cliffside lighthouse towers over some of the windiest, foggiest coastline in America!
What Makes Them Historical?
Long the home of the Coast Miwok, this spot took on the name of Punta de los Reyes on the map of Sebastian Vizcaino, who first sighted these cliffs on January 6, 1603, the feast of the three kings! Fast forward to the Gold Rush, and this region became the main source of dairy and pork for the growing city of San Francisco. Meanwhile, Point Reyes became a major hazard for southbound ships! Over 73 ships wrecked on the rocks at Point Reyes between 1595 and 1937!
A lighthouse was necessary, but it had to be low enough under the high summer fog to be visible out at sea! So, crews blasted out a spot 300 feet down from the top of the cliff and installed this lighthouse. The Point Reyes Lighthouse shone forth with its first order Fresnel lens on December 1, 1870, visible for twenty-four miles, and stayed lit for 105 years! It paired with a nearby Life Saving Station to rescue as many survivors as they could whenever a ship ran aground!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at Point Reyes National Seashore!
- Donate to Point Reyes National Seashore!
- 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?
27000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Inverness, CA 94937
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The lighthouse is open Friday through Sunday from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM!
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