Point Pinos Lighthouse (1855), Salinas Valley Travel Guide

Point Pinos Lighthouse, located in Pacific Grove, California, stands as a sentinel of maritime history and a testament to the enduring importance of lighthouses in guiding ships along treacherous coastlines. Established in 1855, it proudly holds the title of the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States. Its beam has shone nightly, warning ships away from the rocky California coast.Originally, the point was named Punta de los Pinos (Point of the Pines) in 1602 by Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino. In 1852, Congress allocated funds for the construction of six lighthouses along the California Coast. Construction began in 1853, and Point Pinos Lighthouse was first lit on February 1, 1855. The original light source was a whale oil lantern. Over time, the light source was converted to lard oil in 1880 and then electricity in 1919.Visitors can explore the lighthouse and discover its rich history through exhibits maintained by the City of Pacific Grove. The lighthouse still uses its original third-order Fresnel lens, manufactured in France in the 1850s. A larger, second-order lens was intended for the tower, but it was installed at Point Pinos instead. The lighthouse has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977.Besides its function, Point Pinos Lighthouse was a social hub. Lighthouse Avenue was built in 1874 to ferry supplies to the lighthouse. Over the years, Point Pinos has been home to many keepers and their families. Emily Fish, a lightkeeper in 1893, was known as “The Socialite Lightkeeper” for hosting parties at the lighthouse. Today, Point Pinos Lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation.