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POINT ARENA LIGHT

State: CALIFORNIA
Location: 2 MILES NORTH OF POINT ARENA
Nearest City: POINT ARENA
County: MENDOCINO
U.S.C.G. District: 11
Year Station Established: 1870
Existing Historic Tower:
  • Year Light First Lit: 1908
  • Is the Light Operational? YES
  • Date Deactivated: N/A
  • Automated: 1977
  • Foundation Materials: CONCRETE
  • Construction Materials: REINFORCED CONCRETE
  • Markings/Patterns: WHITE TWR/BLACK GALLERY
  • Shape: CYLINDRICAL
  • Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
  • Tower Height: 115
  • Original Optic: FIRST ORDER, ROTATING FRESNEL
  • Year Original Lens Installed: 1908
  • Present Optic: DCB-224
  • Year Present Lens Installed: 1977
  • Height of Focal Plane: 155
  • Fresnel Lens Disposition:
  • Has tower been moved? NO
Previous Tower(s):
  • 1. Construction Date: 1870
  • Description: BRICK AND MORTAR CONICAL TOWER SIMILAR TO CURRENT TOWER
  • Fate/Disposition: DAMAGED IN 1906 EARTHQUAKE
Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? YES
  • Year Constructed: 1896
  • Construction Materials: WOOD
  • Architectural Style: VICTORIAN FRAME
  • Fog Signal Type: DIAPHONE (REPLACED W/BELL BUOY) BOTH DISCONTINUED
Existing Keepers Quarters? NO (DESTROYED)
  • Year Constructed: 1908
  • Number of Stories: 2.5
  • Architectural Style: COTTAGE
  • Construction Materials: WOOD
Other Structures: 4 MODERN DUPLEX KEEPERS (1960S), 2 CISTERNS, 1 OIL HOUSES, 1 STORAGE BUILDING, MODERN WELL HOUSE & FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION/MUSEUM/VACATION RENTALS

Owner/Manager: POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS, INC. W/USCG ACCESS TO OPTIC

Open to the Public? YES (Go to Lighthouses to Visit for access information)

Web Site: www.pointarealighthouse.com

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #90002189
Name of Listing: POINT ARENA LIGHT (LIGHT STATIONS OF CALIFORNIA MPS)
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
FIRST REINFORCED (STRESSED) CONCRETE TOWER BUILT IN U.S.; FOUR KEEPERS USED AS VACATION RENTALS; USED AS SETTING FOR 1992 MOVIE "FOREVER YOUNG"



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Last Modified: Wed, Jan 7 2004 4:24:02 pm EDT
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