Point Bonita Lighthouse: A Beacon at the Golden Gate

Point Bonita Lighthouse, a sentinel overlooking the Golden Gate, has safeguarded ships navigating the hazardous coastline of the Marin Headlands for over 150 years. Established in 1855, it was the third lighthouse on the West Coast. The original location, high on the cliffs, proved problematic due to the region's characteristic high fog, which often obscured the light. In 1877, the lighthouse was relocated to its current position closer to the water. This move necessitated the creation of a 118-foot hand-carved tunnel through solid rock. A suspension bridge, mirroring the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in style, was added in the 1950s to span a gap created by erosion. Point Bonita was the last staffed lighthouse in California and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The United States Coast Guard maintains the light and fog signal. The lighthouse is a testament to maritime innovation, originally boasting a second-order Fresnel lens and the first fog signal on the West Coast – a 24-pounder siege gun. Today, an electric fog horn emits two blasts every 30 seconds when triggered by a fog sensor. Note that as of July 2025, the suspension bridge is closed for repairs, and visitors can access the viewing platform but cannot enter the lighthouse.