Point Pinos Lighthouse

Point Pinos Lighthouse

Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove, California
Location	Monterey Bay Pacific Grove, California United States
Coordinates	36°38′00″N 121°56′02″W / 36.633389°N 121.933783°W / 36.633389; -121.933783
Tower
Constructed	1855
Foundation	stone basement
Construction	concrete tower
Automated	1975
Height	43 feet (13 m)
Shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern rising at the centre of keeper's house
Markings	white tower, black lantern
Operator	Point Pinos Lighthouse[1][2]
Heritage	National Register of Historic Places listed place
Light
Focal height	89 feet (27 m)
Lens	Third order Fresnel lens
Range	17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi)
Characteristic	Oc. W 4s.
Point Pinos Lighthouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Asilomar Blvd. and Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, California
Area	1.3 acres (0.53 ha)
Architectural style	Cape Cod style lighthouse
NRHP reference No.	77000312[3]
Added to NRHP	July 14, 1977

Point Pinos Lighthouse was lit on February 1, 1855,^[4] to guide ships on the Pacific Coast of California. It is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States and even the lens is original. Alcatraz Island Lighthouse preceded Point Pinos by eight months, but was replaced in 1909 by the expanding military prison. The Point Pinos Lighthouse is still an active United States Coast Guard aid to navigation. On-site museum exhibits and other lighthouse related functions are operated by the city of Pacific Grove, Monterey County, California. The lighthouse is surrounded by the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links.