Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Pigeon Point Lighthouse in 2016
Map
LocationPigeon Point
southern to San Francisco Bay
California
United States
Coordinates37°10′54.3″N 122°23′38.1″W / 37.181750°N 122.393917°W / 37.181750; -122.393917
Tower
Constructed1871
Foundationstone
Constructionbrick tower
Automated1974
Height115 ft (35 m)
Shapetapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern attached to workroom
Markingswhite tower, black trim
OperatorPigeon Point Lighthouse State Historic Park[1][2]
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place, California Historical Landmark Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1872
Focal height148 ft (45 m)
LensFirst order Fresnel lens (1872), DCB-24 aerobeacon (current)
Range24 nmi (44 km; 28 mi)
CharacteristicFlashing white 10s, Emergency light of reduced intensity when main light is extinguished.
Designated1977
Reference no.77000337[3]
Designated1980
Reference no.930[4]

Pigeon Point Light Station or Pigeon Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse built in 1871 to guide ships on the Pacific coast of California. It is the tallest lighthouse (tied with Point Arena Light) on the West Coast of the United States. It is still an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. Pigeon Point Light Station is located on the coastal highway (State Route 1), 5 miles (8 km) south of Pescadero, California, between Santa Cruz and San Francisco. The 115-foot (35 m), white masonry tower, resembles the typical New England structure.

The lighthouse and the land around have been preserved as Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, a California state park. The lighthouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[3] and designated as a California Historical Landmark.[4] The lighthouse is currently undergoing major renovations funded by the California state legislature in 2021.[5] Research published 2022 by the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability found that the lighthouse was vulnerable to erosion caused by sea level rise.[6][7]

  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Northern California". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. ^ California Historic Light Station Information & Photography United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 12 June 2016
  3. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Pigeon Point Lighthouse". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Driscoll, Curtis. "Half Moon Bay faces issues due to sea level rise". San Mateo Daily Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  7. ^ Howell, August (January 5, 2022). "Concerns aren't eroding as city dives in to study sea level rise". Half Moon Bay Review. Retrieved January 19, 2022.