Landmark #930 | San Mateo County | Visited: October 19, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
What is it? | The still-standing Pigeon Point Lighthouse! |
What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This brick lighthouse was built to incorporate a French first order Fresnel lens. Although no longer used, the lens is still operable in the lantern room. Previously the lens had been installed at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It first flashed over the Pacific in November 1872, and the lighthouse has served continuously without structural modifications since that time.
OTHER TIDBITS: The Pigeon Point lighthouse is named after the first ship to wreck off the rocks here: the Carrier Pigeon, which launched from Boston on her maiden voyage in 1853 and never made it to San Francisco! Three more ships wrecked here in the 1860s until 1871 when Congress was able to put $90,000 into the construction of this 115-foot tall lighthouse, which shares the title of “Tallest on the West Coast” with the Point Arena Lighthouse! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Pigeon Point Light Station 0.2 mi W of intersection of State Hwy 1 (P.M. 8.0) and Pigeon Point Rd 17 mi N of Davenport, CA ANNOTATIONS: 210 Pigeon Point Road From Los Angeles: ~374mi (602km) — 6.3hrs |
When should I go? | The park is open every day from 8:00 AM until sunset! |