Point Pinos Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the west coast. A visit to the lighthouse is also an authentic trip back in time.
Let’s visit Point Pinos Lighthouse
My wife loves lighthouses. She wants to visit all the west-coast lighthouses eventually, and I’m good with that because each one has its own unique story. The lighthouse is in Pacific Grove, just a few miles from downtown Monterey. We planned to visit on Sunday, the same day we left Pinnacles National Park. We drove from Pinnacles to Pacific Grove, had breakfast at the golf course restaurant across the street, then were at the gate right as they opened.
Before we go inside, check out the grounds. Emily Fish is the lighthouse keeper who planted those cool Monterey cypress trees. She began her 21-year career as a lighthouse keeper in 1893. Locals called Emily the ‘socialite keeper’ because she loved to entertain. She brought in rich soil to improve the grounds during her time as a Point Pinos Lighthouse keeper.
Behind the scenes of the restoration
The beacon is a third order Fresnel lens, which means that it’s about five-feet tall. First order lenses were 8’ 6” high and 6’ wide. Fresnel lenses are now in their sixth generation and have gotten much smaller. The US Coast Guard fully automated the lens in 1975. The main light now flashes on for three seconds and off for one.
Restoration of the lighthouse was not your typical weekend DIY project of painting and adding some new furnishings. Volunteers went back to the original building permits and drawings. They also used period building methods and materials and this beautiful building is listed on the US Register of Historic Places.
Add visiting a lighthouse to your must-do list
One of the coolest things about visiting a restored lighthouse is seeing the effort volunteers made to bring the past to life for others. In the case of the Point Pinos Lighthouse, it truly is like taking a trip back in time and an opportunity to learn more about California’s history. If you get a chance to visit a restored lighthouse, I encourage you to do it! (Are you interested in a virtual visit to another lighthouse? Take a look at our visit to Point San Luis Lighthouse.)
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