On the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Mendocino, California sits the tallest lighthouse on the West coast – the Point Arena Lighthouse. This once-working lighthouse has been featured in many movies like Forever Young over the years and has been a must-see tourist stop for thousands of out of towners every year.
The History
The original Point Arena lighthouse was constructed in 1870. After a devastating earthquake along the San Andreas fault line in 1906, the lighthouse had to be completely rebuilt from the ground up. The lighthouse tower stands 115 feet tall and the lens (or sometimes referred to as the light) is 7 feet in diameter and weighs 4700 pounds. The lens is made up of 258 hand-ground glass prisms all focused toward three sets of double bullseyes.
It is these bullseyes that gave the Point Arena Lighthouse its unique “light signature” of two flashes every six seconds. This incredible optic, that holds an appraised value of over $3.5 million, is set in solid bronze framework and was built in France. In 1975 the fog signal at the station was silenced and replaced with a radio beacon with a 50 mile signal that originates from the Tower to assist mariners in navigating the Mendocino coast, but you can see this lens in the Light Station (gift shop).
Guided Tours
Tour tickets can be purchased in the Light Station. It’s $5 to visit the museum and an additional $5 per person to go up in the lighthouse tower. Which is well worth it for these views. The museum portion features the original 1908 lens and this thing is massive!
Tower tours last about 30 minutes and the guides will tell you all about the history of the lighthouse and other important facts about the area and what you can see from the top. You really can’t beat those 360 degree views!
At certain times of the year, you can also take a full moon nighttime tour or watch the wildlife from the whale watching room.
Staying at the Lighthouse
Yes, you can spend the night at the property, but no, it won’t be in the actual lighthouse. The light keeper’s quarters are available to spend a night or two for around $200 a night.
Daily visitation, Light Station Store, sales, memberships, and the rental of the historic Keeper’s homes on the property as vacation houses all provide the desperately needed income for ongoing preservation, facility upgrades and educational endeavors.
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