View source for Point Sur Lighthouse

{{short description|Lighthouse in California, United States}}
{{about|the historic light station|the surrounding park|Point Sur State Historic Park|the Naval Facility|Naval Facility Point Sur}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox lighthouse
| image           = Point Sur Light Station – lantern room from above.jpg
| caption         = Point Sur Light in 2013
| location        = [[Point Sur State Historic Park]]<br /> [[California]]<br />[[United States]]
| coordinates     = {{coord|36|18|22.79|N|121|54|05.36|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| yearbuilt       = 1889
| yearlit         =
| automated       = 1972
| yeardeactivated = 
| foundation      = 
| construction    = sandstone tower
| shape           = square tower with balcony and lantern attached to fog signal building
| marking         = unpainted tower,<br />black lantern
| height          = {{convert|48|ft|abbr=on}}
| focalheight     = {{convert|270|ft|abbr=on}}
| lens            = First order [[Fresnel lens]] (original), [[DCB-224]] (current)
| range           = 
| characteristic  = Fl W 15s.
| fogsignal       = 2 blasts every 60
| managingagent   = Point Sur State Historic Park<ref>{{Cite rowlett|ca|accessdate=2016-06-15}}</ref>
<ref>[http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHCA.asp California Historic Light Station Information & Photography] United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 15 June 2016</ref>
| module          = {{Infobox NRHP | embed=yes
 | name = Point Sur Light Station
 | nrhp_type = hd  | nocat = yes
 | image =
 | caption =
 | nearest_city= [[Carmel, California]]
 | architecture = Renaissance, Romanesque, Lighthouse
 | designated_other1 = California
 | designated_other1_number = 951<ref name=CHL>{{cite web | url=http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21441 | title=California Historical Landmarks: Monterey County | publisher=Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks | access-date=2012-10-10}}</ref>
 | added = September 3, 1991
 | area = {{convert|37|acre}}
 | governing_body =
 | mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64500058|title=Light Stations of California MPS}}
 | refnum = 91001097<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>
 }} 
}}

'''Point Sur Lighthouse''' is a [[lighthouse|lightstation]] at [[Point Sur State Historic Park|Point Sur]] {{convert|24.6|mi}} south of [[Monterey, California]] at the peak of the {{convert|361|ft|adj=on}} rock at the head of the point. It was established in 1889 and is part of [[Point Sur State Historic Park]]. The light house is {{convert|40|ft}} tall and {{convert|270|ft}} above sea level. As of 2016, and for the foreseeable future the light is still in operation as an essential aid to navigation.

== Light sources ==

The lighthouse has had four different light sources during its history. First, it had an oil wick lamp, and then an oil vapor lamp. Three different fuels were used: [[whale oil]], [[lard]] oil, and [[kerosene]]. [[Electricity]] wasn't introduced to the surrounding area and light house until the 1950s.<ref name="Big Sur Guide and Pamphlet">{{cite book |title=Big Sur Guide |publisher=California Parks and Recreation |pages=8 |url=http://bigsurfire.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/BigSurGuide2016-17.pdf |access-date=May 6, 2019 |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227145055/http://bigsurfire.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/BigSurGuide2016-17.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Since Point Sur was a major point used for navigation, it was equipped with first-order [[Fresnel lens]], the largest made at the time. The lens was more than {{convert|6|ft|m|0}} in diameter and {{convert|9|ft|m|0}} tall. It weighed 4,330 pounds and included 16 panels of prisms, each with a bulls-eye in the center surrounded by concentric rings of prismatic glass. Its light beam could be seen to the horizon, which for the Point Sur light, at {{convert|270|ft|m|0}} feet high, is {{convert|23|mi|km|0}}.<ref name=oneil>{{cite book |last1=O'Neil |first1=Carol |title=Point Sur |date=2003 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9781439630389 |pages=179 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FZ89puSQ6TAC&pg=PT79 |access-date=15 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=ksbw/>

The entire structure, including the pedestal and clockworks was {{convert|18|ft|m|0}} tall and weighed {{convert|9570|lb|kg|0}}. Each ring projects the light beyond the previous one.<ref name=ksbw>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ksbw.com/article/big-sur-lighthouse-getting-its-original-lens-back/13822808|title=Big Sur lighthouse getting its original lens back|date=2017-11-21|work=KSBW|access-date=2018-01-01|language=en}}</ref>

[[Image:Aerial-PtSurLight.jpg|thumb|right|Lighthouse and related buildings in 2008.]]

=== Foghorns ===
In dense fog, the light beam might not be visible, so the lighthouse had a [[foghorn]] to alert ships. A [[Daboll trumpet|coal-powered foghorn]] was installed when the light was used, but this labor-intensive system was replaced as soon as better technology was available. A steam-driven fog signal was installed by the turn of the century. It was fired by wood harvested from the redwoods of Big Sur. The steam boiler used about 100 cords of wood per year.<ref name=oneil/>

Diaphone horns were placed on top of the fog-signal room from 1935 to 1960. The two horns produced a two-tone "bee-oh" sound.<ref name=oneil/> In 1972, the "Super Tyfon Double Fog Signal," named after the giant [[Typhon]] from [[Greek mythology]], was put into use. This system consisted of two compressed air horns sounding simultaneously, and could be heard up to {{convert|3|nmi|km|0}} away. The modern electric tone fog signal was a 12 volt high frequency fog signal with a sound range of half a nautical mile. The high frequency was very effective in fog.<ref name=navfachistory/>

=== Structures ===
[[File:Aerial view of Point Sur.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A Aerial photo of Point Sur Lighthouse| Aerial photo of Point Sur State Historic Park.]]
The station's staff was a head keeper and three assistant keepers. The families of the keepers lived at the station. The station had separate residences for the head keeper and the assistant keepers.<ref name=navfachistory/>

The lighthouse keepers and their families were relatively isolated at Point Sur. The station included all facilities needed for them to be self-sustaining. There was a well in the sand flats at the base of the rocks and a pump that filled a {{convert|53,000|gal|L|0}} cistern (later replaced by a [[water tower]]) at the station.<ref name=navfachistory/> A barn and a blacksmith shop was built. A carpenter shop held supplies for the keepers to do their own maintenance. The lamp tower, oil room, and fog signal room were all combined into one building because of limited space.<ref name=navfachistory/> The [[Old Coast Road (Big Sur)|Old Coast Road]] connected the  station to Monterey, but it was a nearly a full day's trip via wagon until the northern portion of the [[macadam]] [[Big Sur Coast Highway|Cabrillo-San Simeon Highway]] was completed in 1924.

== History ==
{{further|Point Sur State Historic Park}}
[[File:USCGPoint Sur 1.jpg|thumb|right|The original [[Fresnel lens]] structure, now in storage, is much larger than the modern electric light installed in 1978.]]
In 1793, British explorer George Vancouver described the "small, high, rocky lump of land nearly half a mile from the shore."<ref name=oneil/> Point Sur has been a hazard to ships since California was first settled, and increased shipping traffic during the [[California Gold Rush]] beginning in 1849 caused many wrecks. In 1874, the [[United States Lighthouse Service]] (USLS) board stated,
{{Blockquote|Vessels leaving San Francisco for the south having proceeded as far as Pigeon Point Light, take their departure for Point Sur, some sixty miles distant, the great indentation of Monterey Bay intervening. Vessels to the southward bound to San Francisco having arrived at Piedras Blancas, take their departure for Point Sur again about the sixty miles distance. Hence, Point Sur is a most important point and should be the sight of a light house. In considering the various points on the California coast where lighthouses are still required Point Sur claims the place of greatest importance."<ref>{{cite web |title=Point Sur Lighthouse |url=http://lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=88 |website=Lighthousefriends.com |access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref>}}

===Funding ===

In 1886, [[Congress of the United States|Congress]] finally appropriated $50,000 (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|50,000|1886}} }} in {{Inflation-year|US}}) for construction of a lighthouse at Point Sur. Funding ran out and construction was stopped for several months until Congress appropriated another $50,000 in 1887.<ref>{{cite web |title=United States Statutes at Large: 1885–1887 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=48Iv-BTrds4C |pages=225, 513 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |access-date=15 June 2018 |language=en |date=1887}}</ref>

=== Construction===

In 1888, [[Posts, California|Joseph Post]] won the government contract to construct the road from the [[Old Coast Road (Big Sur)|coastal road]] to the base of Point Sur.<ref>{{cite web |title=Park Gives Hikers a Good Glimpse of Big Sur |date=1991-05-12 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319101437/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-12-tr-2392-story.html |archive-date=2022-03-19 |url-status=live |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-12-tr-2392-story.html}}</ref>

The point was originally over {{convert|360|ft}} above sea level, and was only {{convert|10|to|12|ft}} wide at the top. Twenty-five men were hired to build the road, lighthouse, and adjacent buildings.

The workers leveled the top to create room for the necessary buildings. They quarried sandstone and   granite. To transport the rock and building materials to the base of the point, they built {{convert|500|ft}} of railway track and a [[corduroy road]] (made from wooden planks) across the narrow, sandy neck of land that connected the point to the mainland. They built a 395-step staircase from the base to the peak.<ref name=navfachistory>{{cite web |title=Naval Facility (NAVFAC) Station History |url=https://www.navycthistory.com/NAVFACStationsHistory.txt |website=www.navycthistory.com |access-date=1 January 2019 |date=1 June 2008}}</ref> They also built a tramway to carry supplies from the base of the rock to the peak.

By the end of the first year, all the rock had been quarried and construction of many buildings was well underway. The Lighthouse Board hoped the construction would be completed by the end of 1888, but an additional $10,000 was needed. In 1887–88, Congress paid $69,100.69 to three individuals to finish the station.<ref>{{cite book |title=Congressional Serial Set |date=1891 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington D.C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TW0VAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA16-PA112  |access-date=15 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>{{rp|112}} The light station was completed and the lantern lit on August 1, 1889.

=== Isolated facility===

Life on Point Sur was very isolated. The [[Old Coast Road (Big Sur)|Old Coast Road]] that connected the Big Sur coast to [[Monterey, California|Monterey]] was often impassable during bad weather.

[[File:Point Sur Light Station – the rock.jpg|thumb|right|Point Sur, as seen from Highway 1]]
The U.S. Lighthouse Service provided a horse and wagon to get mail and supplies from Pfeiffer's Resort (now part of [[Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park]]). Each family was allotted a garden area for fresh vegetables.

===Point Sur landing===
{{anchor|point sur landing}}

Bulk supplies such as coal, firewood, animal feed, and some food came on a lighthouse tender about every four months. One function of these long, broad ships was to service remote lightstations inaccessible by land. The tender would anchor in a [[dog-hole ports]] south of the lightstation and send in a 20-foot whaler towing a skiff, both loaded with supplies. The sacks and barrels were hoisted in cargo nets to a platform at the base of the rock. They were then secured to a flat railcar and winched up to the dwelling area using a steam-driven donkey engine.<ref name=navfachistory/>

Like most remote lightstations, Point Sur was very self-sufficient. As the years passed, life became increasingly less isolated at Point Sur after the completion of the northern portion of [[California State Route 1|Highway 1]] in 1924, connecting [[Big Sur]] with Monterey to the north.<ref name="navy">{{cite web|url=http://www.navycthistory.com/NAVFACStationsHistory.txt |publisher=The Navy CT / SECGRU History| first=Joseph A.|last=Glockner |title=Naval Facility (NAVFAC) Station History|date=June 1, 2008}}</ref> Prior to the construction of Highway 1, the California coast south of [[Carmel-by-the-Sea, California|Carmel]] and north of [[San Simeon]] was one of the most remote regions in the state, rivaling nearly any other region in the United States for its difficult access.<ref name="caltrans">{{cite web| url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/bigsur/inventory_reports/historic_qualities_summary.pdf| title=Big Sur Highway Management Plan|last=JRP Historical Consulting Services|date=November 2001|work=Corridor Intrinsic Qualities Inventory Historic Qualities Summary Report|publisher=CalTrans|pages=38|access-date=November 14, 2009}}</ref>

=== Coast Guard ownership===

In 1926, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed responsibility for all aids-to-navigation. Lighthouse Service employees were absorbed into the new program, and allowed to become either members of the U.S. Coast Guard or remain civil service employees.<ref name=navfachistory/>

=== Historical landmark status===

The site is now registered as [[California Historical Landmark]] #951.<ref name=CHL/> In 1991, the old lighthouse and a {{convert|37|acre|adj=on}} area  was listed on the U.S. [[National Register of Historic Places]] as '''Point Sur Light Station'''.<ref name=nris/>  In 2004, the Coast Guard transferred the building and land to [[California Department of Parks and Recreation]].

[[Image:Point Sur from the north.JPG|thumb|right|Point Sur, seen from the north on Highway 1]]

=== Fresnel lens===

The original Fresnel lens was moved in 1978 to the Allen Knight [[Maritime Museum]] of Monterey, where it was an exhibit. The Maritime Museum ceased operation and was renamed the Museum of Monterey.  The museum no longer wanted to retain the Fresnel lens as part of its collection. Interested individuals and groups began efforts to return the lens to the Point Sur Light Station. The lens is still owned by the United States Coast Guard who had to approve returning the lens. The nonprofit Central Coast Light Keepers collected more than $100,000 in donations to pay to return the lens. The project was approved in late 2017. The lens was disassembled, restored, and placed in storage until it can be moved to the lighthouse and reassembled in the lighthouse tower.<ref name=ksbw/>

=== Shipwrecks ===

Notable [[shipwreck]]s occurring near Point Sur:

* April 20, 1875 – ''[[USS Resaca (1865)|Ventura]]''<ref>{{cite web |title=Point Sur State Historic Park-History |url=http://www.pointsur.org/overtheyears2.html |website=www.pointsur.org |access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref>
* April 22, 1894 – SS ''Los Angeles''. The only witnesses were the survivors. The captain of the ferry ''Eureka'' met survivors at the Pacific Coast Steamship company's wharf in Los Angeles and discouraged them from talking to reporters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tragic Fate of the Old Standby of the Coasting Trade |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH18940423.2.3&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 |website=Center for bibliographical studies and research |access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref>
* December 5, 1909 -''Majestic''
* October 3, 1915 – ''Catania''
* July 21, 1916 – ''Shna-Yak''
* September 23, 1921 – ''G.C. Lindquer''
* September 16, 1922 – ''Thomas Wand''
* March 4, 1923 – ''Babinda''
* April 4, 1930 ''Panama''
* March 30, 1930 – ''Rhine Maru''
* November 25, 1933 – ''Lupine''
* February 13, 1935 – USS ''Macon'' (ZRS-5)
* May 24, 1946 – ''Frank Lawrence''
* October 24, 1947 – ''Sparrows Point ''
* May 14, 1956 ''Howard Olsen''

=== Head lightkeepers ===

* James Nightwine (1889–1890)
* John F. Ingersoll (1890–1901)
* Ora O. Newhall (1901–1908)
* John W. Astrom (1908–1927)
* William Mollering (1927–1931)
* Thomas Henderson (1932–1938)
* Charles R. Coursey (1938–1944)

== In popular culture ==

In 1967, the lighthouse (including the lantern room) and its surrounding buildings, were used as a filming location for an episode of the [[World War II|WWII]]-themed TV series, [[The Rat Patrol]], entitled "The Two If By Sea Raid" (airdate: 12/18/67), standing in for a [[Nazi]]-held lighthouse on the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast of [[North Africa]].<ref>{{cite web |title=If two by Sea Raid |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-rat-patrol/the-two-if-by-sea-raid-152778/ |website=tv.com |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510222432/http://www.tv.com/shows/the-rat-patrol/the-two-if-by-sea-raid-152778/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The lighthouse was rumored to be haunted and the location was investigated by the [[Travel Channel]] ''[[Ghost Adventures]]'' paranormal reality TV show.<ref>{{cite web |title=Point Sur lighthouse |url=https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/ghost-adventures/episodes/point-sur-lighthouse |website=travelchannel.com |access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{stack|{{Portal|California|Engineering}}}}

* [[List of lighthouses in the United States]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}

* [http://www.pointsur.org/ Point Sur]
* [http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=565 Point Sur State Historic Park]
* {{official website|http://www.pointsur.org/}}
* {{gnis|1703266|Point Sur Lighthouse}}
* {{cite uscghist|CA}}

{{Big Sur|state=collapsed}}
{{Lighthouses of California}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Monterey County tourist attractions}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:History of Monterey County, California]]
[[Category:Lighthouses completed in 1889]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Monterey County, California]]
[[Category:Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in California]]
[[Category:Renaissance Revival architecture in California]]
[[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in California]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Monterey County, California]]
[[Category:Big Sur]]