Old Town in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Old Ballast Point Lighthouse

San Diego

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 30, 2015

1. Old Ballast Point Lighthouse Marker

Inscription.
Established Aug. 1, 1890, Ballast Point Light Station was a fine example of “railroad Gothic” and lasted until 1866, when it was replaced by a light on top of a slender steel tower, and new quarters were built for the Coast Guard personnel who maintain it. The original lantern and sixth order fixed white lens, ground in France by Saulther-Le Monnier, is preserved at the Cabrillo National Monument, surrounding the old lighthouse on top of Point Loma.

In 1906 Hanorah Flynn and her three children came to live with her father Capt. Splaine at Ballast Point. David Flynn was a young man of 12 at the time, and he spent many hours exploring and playing on the point. He helped his grandfather tend the small, 5th Order lens that guided sailors past Middle Ground Shoal and into the harbor. On weekends he rowed soldiers from Ft. Rosecrans to North Island for outings, and let them row back to sober up.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 1, 1829.

Location. 32° 45.107′ N,

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117° 11.725′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Old Town. It is on Congress Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2481 Congress Street, San Diego CA 92110, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Adobe Chapel of The Immaculate Conception (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Whaley House (about 400 feet away); Verna House (about 400 feet away); Old Town San Diego Timeline (about 400 feet away); James "Yankee Jim" Robinson (about 500 feet away); Casa de Cota (about 500 feet away); The Whaley House Courtroom (about 500 feet away); Casa de Lopez (about

Lantern Room image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 30, 2015

2. Lantern Room

500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Regarding Old Ballast Point Lighthouse. “The whereabouts of the Ballast Point lantern room was a mystery to almost everyone until it was placed on display outside West Sea Company, a nautical antiques store in San Diego’s Old Town. In early 1998, Rod Cardoza, co-owner of West Sea Company, noticed a classified ad in the local paper that read, “HISTORICAL Lighthouse, Dallas [sic] Point, 1880’s, minimum bid $15,000.” Intrigued, he called the number on the ad and shortly thereafter traveled to Bonita to view what turned out to be the lantern room from Ballast Point Lighthouse at the home of Homer Hudson. Cardoza hired a crane to have the lantern room lifted over nearby power lines and placed on a flat-bed truck. After being delivered to his store, the lantern room was placed on a cement pad, where, fitted with new glass panes and covered in a fresh coat of paint, it can be viewed today.

The nation was just recovering from the Cuban Missile Crisis, when, in February 1964, the Cuban government cut off the fresh water supply to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay.

The Old Ballast Point Lighthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 30, 2015

3. The Old Ballast Point Lighthouse

Close-up of photo on marker

An experimental desalinization plant had been in operation at Point Loma for just over two years, and the Navy ordered it dismantled and shipped through the Panama Canal to Guantanamo Bay. Homer Hudson, who sold the lantern room to Cardoza, was working as a crane operator as part of the team disassembling the desalinization plant when he noticed the interesting artifact lying nearby. He inquired if he could purchase the lantern room and was told that he could have it if he would haul it away. Soon the lantern was serving as a gazebo in Hudson’s garden, and there it remained for thirty-four years.“
— Lighthouse Friends.

Also see . . . Ballast Point, CA. Lighthouse Friends. (Submitted on June 19, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 30, 2015

4. The Old Ballast Point Lighthouse

Close-up of photo on marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 810 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on January 4, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 19, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.