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Point Arena in Mendocino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
 

Point Arena Lighthouse

 
 
Point Arena Lighthouse Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
1. Point Arena Lighthouse Marker
Inscription. This site and natural landmark has been a welcome guide to safe navigation for ships along the rugged Mendocino coast since 1870, destroyed by 1906 earthquake, two years later stately tower was erected.
 
Erected 1985 by Native Sons of the Golden West, Grand Parlor. (Marker Number 1035.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: ArchitectureWaterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, the Lighthouses, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
 
Location. 38° 57.28′ N, 123° 44.436′ W. Marker is in Point Arena, California, in Mendocino County. Marker is on Lighthouse Road, 2˝ miles north of California Route 1, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45500 Lighthouse Road, Point Arena CA 95468, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 1 other marker is within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fifteen Japanese from Yawatahama (approx. 3.2 miles away).
 
Regarding Point Arena Lighthouse. In 1991 this lighthouse was designated California Historical Landmark No. 1035 - Point Arena Light Station.
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“In 1989 the Point Arena Light Station was listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its statewide significance in the area of maritime history. Coastal traffic increased substantially during the 1860s, and heavy storms and fogs often made trips along the coast treacherous. The first buildings at the station were constructed in 1870 and were destroyed in 1906 during the San Francisco Earthquake. At that time the U. S. Lighthouse Service decided to use reinforced concrete in the light house replacement. Prior to this, reinforced concrete had not been employed in the construction of a California lighthouse. Thus, when the Point Arena Lighthouse began operation in 1908, it became the first lighthouse of reinforced concreted in the State. Strikingly situated between the Pacific Ocean to the west and rolling farmland on the east, the Point Arena Light Station retains the character and appearance of one hundred years ago.”
 
Also see . . .  Point Arena Lighthouse - Lighthouse Friends. com. To construct the lighthouse at Point Arena, three kilns were built at the point to fire roughly 500,000 bricks needed for the tower. An additional 114,000 bricks of superior quality were shipped from San Francisco to build the outside courses of the tower. The height of the tower was 100 feet, and a fixed, first-order Fresnel lens
Point Arena Lighthouse Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
2. Point Arena Lighthouse Marker
was exhibited from the lantern room.
(Submitted on April 24, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.) 
 
Point Arena Lighthouse Plaque image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
3. Point Arena Lighthouse Plaque
Point Arena Light House, Erected 1870. Lt. Col. R.S. Williamson, L.H. Engr.
Memorial Plaque image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
4. Memorial Plaque
James Bird, Aug. 5, 1921 - Mar. 9, 2000. For all that you did.
Plaque located near the Point Arena Historical Marker.
Point Arena Lighthouse image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
5. Point Arena Lighthouse
Point Arena Lighthouse image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
6. Point Arena Lighthouse
Point Arena Lighthouse Stairway image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
7. Point Arena Lighthouse Stairway
The stairway of the original lighthouse survived the 1906 Earthquake and was reused in the 1908 construction.
Point Arena Lighthouse Stairway image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
8. Point Arena Lighthouse Stairway
Point Arena from the Lighthouse image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
9. Point Arena from the Lighthouse
The Point Arena Lighthouse's Fresnel Lens image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
10. The Point Arena Lighthouse's Fresnel Lens
The Point Arena Lighthouse's Fresnel Lens image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
11. The Point Arena Lighthouse's Fresnel Lens
Point Arena Lighthouse image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2013
12. Point Arena Lighthouse
National Register of Historic Places image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 1, 2021
13. National Register of Historic Places
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 609 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on April 24, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.   13. submitted on July 8, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 29, 2024