Point Conception Light
 U.S. Coast Guard Archive | |
 | |
| Location | Point Conception, California |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°26′55.51″N 120°28′14.71″W / 34.4487528°N 120.4707528°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1856 |
| Foundation | Stone |
| Construction | Stucco, wood and brick |
| Automated | 1973 |
| Height | 52 feet |
| Shape | Cylindrical tower behind building |
| Markings | white with black lantern |
| Heritage | National Register of Historic Places listed place  |
| Fog signal | Horn: Continuous, 1 every 30 seconds |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1882 (current tower) |
| Focal height | 133 feet |
| Lens | First order Fresnel lens, removed 2012 |
| Range | 20 nm |
| Characteristic | white flash every 30 s. |
Point Conception Light is a lighthouse on Point Conception at the west entrance of the Santa Barbara Channel, California. It is one of the earliest California lighthouses and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
History
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed along the California coast in search for glory and gold. On October 18, 1542, he encountered heavy winds upon rounding the Point and was forced to turn back to San Miguel Island where he died. Second-in-command Bartolomé Ferrelo took charge and again tried to round the Point but he was also unsuccessful.
The Point was named Punta de la Limpia Concepcion by Sebastián Vizcaíno in 1602, who was the next Spanish sailor to venture the Pacific waters along the California coast after Juan Cabrillo. The 1835 experience of the sailing ship Pilgrim, which was damaged and nearly capsized in a sudden change of weather here, is typical of boaters even today.
It was here at Point Conception in 1856, that the lighthouse was built high on the sandstone cliffs, above the location of the present lighthouse. The first order Fresnel lens[5] and steel tower for the lighthouse were made in France at a cost of $65,068 and was transported around Cape Horn. A report indicates that the lighthouse was severely damaged during the Fort Tejon earthquake of January 9, 1857.
The lighthouse was moved in 1881 because the fog would be less likely to obscure the light, and was rebuilt from the top of the bluff to a mesa halfway down, 133 feet (41 m) above the Pacific Ocean. The light station was automated by the United States Coast Guard in 1973.
In recent years Vandenberg Air Force Base restricts access from the northwest, and a private ranch restricts access from the adjoining land although a few people have reached the lighthouse by hiking west along the narrow rugged public beach several miles from the nearest road during low tide. Some have also arranged well in advance with the Coast Guard for access.
See also
- Point Conception
- Point Arguello Light
- Vandenberg Air Force Base
- Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
- Channel Islands of California
References
- Shipwrecks, Smugglers and Maritime Mysteries, by Wheeler & Kallman, 1986
- ^ Light List, Volume VI, Pacific Coast and Pacific Islands (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2012. p. 3.
- ^ "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: California". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Central and Southern California". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ http://www.nps.gov/maritime/light/ptconc.htm
External links
| Topics | |
|---|---|
| Lists by state |
|
| Lists by insular areas | |
| Lists by associated state | |
| Other areas | |
| Related | |
