Point Arena Lighthouse, California: Part 1

Located roughly 130 miles north of San Francisco, California, the Point Arena Lighthouse is tied for the tallest lighthouse (115 feet) on the West Coast of the United States. First built in 1870, the original lighthouse was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1906 and as a result was demolished and replaced by the current tower in 1908.

Mike and I were driving from Eureka to San Francisco on our road trip south along the Pacific Coast when we spotted this lighthouse in the distance. We decided to stop and have a look and were pleased that you could actually climb to the top of the tower and walk out on the wrap around balcony. It was incredibly windy, but the views were amazing. 

Our tour guide did a nice job of explaining how the lighthouse operated and how before electricity the keepers had to hand crank a 160 pound weight up the tower every 75 minutes to keep the lens turning. The giant Fresnel lens has since been removed from the lighthouse and is now on display in the small museum below. If you find yourself on the Pacific Coast Highway, the Point Arena Lighthouse is a beautiful place to stop and explore on the Northern California coast.