Pigeon Point Lighthouse, San Mateo County, California
PIGEON POINT LIGHT
Location: SOUTHERN APPROACH TO SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Station Established: 1871
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1872
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1974
Deactivated: n/a
Foundation Materials: STONE
Construction Materials: BRICK
Tower Shape: CONICAL ATTACHED TO WORKROOM
Markings/Pattern: WHITE W/BLACK TRIM
Relationship to Other Structure: ATTACHED
Original Lens: FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL 1892
Historical Information:
Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of the most picturesque lighthouses on the Pacific coast, the 115-foot white masonry tower standing on a rocky promontory long a landmark for ships approaching San Francisco Bay from the southward. This lighthouse was built in 1872, and is equipped with a lens of the first order producing a light of 500,000 candlepower. The station also has an electrically operated fog signal. This headland, and hence the lighthouse, took its name from the ship Carrier Pigeon wrecked here many years ago.
"Pigeon Point Light Station is located on the coastal highway, five miles south of Pescadero, California. It is a family station operated by four men who live here in new ranch-style quarters completed in 1960. Pigeon Point is perhaps the most picturesque lighthouse on the Pacific Coast. The 115 foot, white masonry tower, built in 1872, resembles the typical New England structure. Because of its location and ready access from the main highway, Pigeon Point entertains a tremendous number of public visitors. As of July 1970, the unit was approximately ¼ automated." (Written in 1970).