Shelter Cove in Humboldt County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Saving Lighthouse History

Photographed by Karen Key, April 28, 2007

1. Saving Lighthouse History

Inscription.

Saving Lighthouse History. . A new home in Shelter Cove. Shelter Cove is not the original home of the Cape Mendocino lighthouse. The lighthouse operated at Cape Mendocino, 35 miles north of here. The compact metal tower was installed on a cliff at the cape in 1868 to warn ships away from the hazards of the rocky coast. , After it was deactivated and replaced by a pole beacon in 1971, the lighthouse began to deteriorate. Earthquakes and landslides threatened to send it over the cliff. In 1994, the US Coast Guard declared the lighthouse surplus property and made it available to organizations that were willing to relocate, restore, and protect it. A coalition of Southern Humboldt County citizens organized the Cape Mendocino lighthouse Preservation Society (CMLPS) to act as the caretakers, and in 1997, Humboldt County was awarded custody of the lighthouse. , The next challenge was to move the 91,000-pound structure. The building had to be disassembled before it could be trucked to a nearby construction yard for renovation. Volunteers numbered the pieces, removed the old square-headed bolts and took it apart. The lantern room was eased off and helicoptered by the National Guard directly to Shelter Cove. , At the construction yard, repairs were completed and over 100 years’ worth of paint and rust was painstakingly removed by volunteers. The pieces were, once again loaded on a truck, and taken to Shelter Cove for reassembiy during the summer of 1999. , (Photo Captions) Cape Mendocino Lighthouse in its dilapidated state, 1998 . Volunteers work to secure the lantern room for transport . Beginning with the center column, the lighthouse was reassembled and repaired to last at its new home in Shelter Cove . Volunteers assembling the lighthouse at Shelter Cove. Among the volunteers are CMLPS President, Roy Heider, driving the forklift and a new lighthouse keeper, Hank Brimhall, standing on top of the lighthouse . The latern room was helicoptered to its new home at Shelter Cove.

A new home in Shelter Cove. Shelter Cove is not the original home of the Cape Mendocino lighthouse. The lighthouse operated at Cape Mendocino, 35 miles north of here. The compact metal tower was installed on a cliff at the cape in 1868 to warn ships away from the hazards of the rocky coast.

After it was deactivated and replaced by a pole beacon in 1971, the lighthouse began to deteriorate. Earthquakes and landslides threatened to send it over the cliff. In 1994, the US Coast Guard declared the lighthouse surplus property and made it available to organizations that were willing to relocate, restore, and protect it. A coalition of Southern Humboldt County citizens organized the Cape Mendocino lighthouse Preservation Society (CMLPS) to act as the caretakers, and in 1997, Humboldt County was awarded custody of the lighthouse.

The next challenge was to move the 91,000-pound structure. The building had to be disassembled before it could be trucked to a nearby construction yard for renovation. Volunteers numbered the pieces, removed the old square-headed bolts and took it apart. The lantern room was eased off and helicoptered by the National Guard directly to Shelter Cove.

At the construction yard, repairs were completed and over 100 years’ worth of paint and rust was painstakingly removed

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by volunteers. The pieces were, once again loaded on a truck, and taken to Shelter Cove for reassembiy during the summer of 1999.

(Photo Captions) Cape Mendocino Lighthouse in its dilapidated state, 1998 • Volunteers work to secure the lantern room for transport • Beginning with the center column, the lighthouse was reassembled and repaired to last at its new home in Shelter Cove • Volunteers assembling the lighthouse at Shelter Cove. Among the volunteers are CMLPS President, Roy Heider, driving the forklift and a new lighthouse keeper, Hank Brimhall, standing on top of the lighthouse • The latern room was helicoptered to its new home at Shelter Cove.

Erected by The Lost Coast King Range National Conservation Area.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.

Location. 40° 1.342′ N, 124° 4.164′ W. Marker is in Shelter Cove, California, in Humboldt County. It is on Lower Pacific Drive, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Whitethorn CA 95589, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s North Coast,

specifically on the Coast Ranges,

and in the Klamath Mountains.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast

and in the Pacific Northwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cape Mendocino Lighthouse

Cape Mendocino Lighthouse, Now in Shelter Cove image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Karen Key, May 28, 2007

2. Cape Mendocino Lighthouse, Now in Shelter Cove

This marker is in the foreground.

(a few steps from this marker); In Memory of Our Shipmates (a few steps from this marker); Built to Last (a few steps from this marker); Mario Machi (within shouting distance of this marker).

Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2007, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 1,882 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 6, 2007, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.