Last updated: December 9, 2022
Place
Old Point Loma Lighthouse Grounds
NPS Photo / T. Jordan
Quick Facts
Location:
San Diego, CA
Significance:
One of the first lighthouses built on the California Coast after it became a state.
Amenities
5 listed
Benches/Seating, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Wheelchair Accessible
History
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse rests 422 feet (129 meters) over the entrance to San Diego Bay. Its light guided ships from November 15, 1855 until March 23, 1891. Unfortunately, its height was a double-edged sword. When foggy, it was difficult to see the light at all. As such, it was shut down and the keeper was relocated to a new lighthouse located closer to the water.
This Lighthouse sported a 3rd order Fresnel lens that stood 462 feet (141 meters) above the water, at the top of the tower. The theoretical maximum visibility was close to 31 miles (50 km), if you were observing from 30 feet (9 meters) above the waterline! The light was fueled by burning Sperm Whale oil. For most of its life, it projected a solid line of light in 360 degrees. In April of 1889, it was briefly converted to a fixed light that alternated red and white flashes every minute.
After it shut down in 1891, the light remained dormant until sunset on the lighthouse’s 100th anniversary - November 15, 1955. Then, for the first time in over 60 years, the tower was alight again – but this time with an electric lightbulb! It was only for show, not as a navigational aid, but it was still a momentous occasion.
Today, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse stands watch over San Diego, sentinel to a vanished past. If you have a chance to look inside inside the lighthouse, this past comes alive! The National Park Service has refurbished the interior to its historic 1880s appearance.
Did You Know?
- The position of Lighthouse Keeper was one of the first federal jobs available to women with pay equal to their male counterparts!
- There were some far out reports of the lighthouse’s visibility – in 1855, the captain of the steamship Golden Gate reported that they could see the light from 39 miles (63 km) away! George Davidson’s Directory of the Pacific Coast (first published in 1858) suggested that the light could be seen 28 to 31 miles (45 to 50 km) away depending on how high above the sea you were making the observation.
Learn More
Read about the history of the Lighthouses of Point Loma
Access
The Assistant Keeper's Quarters and an adjoining restroom are wheelchair accessible.
Additional restrooms are available down a flight of stairs at the comfort station on the hillside west of the lighthouse.The first two floors of the old lighthouse are normally open to the public and are accessed by small flights of stairs. Some interior stairs are of non-standard height.
The top of the tower is only open for special events a few times a year. Check for upcoming Open Tower Days