Perched on a cliff on the northern California coast and reminiscent of the lighthouses along the New England coast, the 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse, tallest on the west coast, has been guiding mariners since 1872. The area located on a peninsula south of San Francisco and close to the small community of Pescadero (population 500) is virtually unspoiled with its rocky tidepools and driftwood-strewn beaches beneath sculpted bluffs topped by rolling green hills. The often foggy shoreline, however, can be treacherous and, since 1872 this lighthouse has guided mariners around its rocky shores.

Tags:   lighthouse light station California Pescadero San Mateo Coast San Mateo County west coast Pacific Ocean Pigeon Point tower coast shoreline

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On the night of June 6, 1853, the clipper ship "Carrier Pigeon" ran aground 500 feet off shore of the California coast near Pescadero in northern California.. The area is now called Pigeon Point in her honor. The Carrier Pigeon was a state-of-the art, 19th Century clipper ship. She was 175 feet long with a narrow, 34 foot beam and rated at about 845 tons burden. Launched in the fall of 1852 from Bath, Maine, the Carrier Pigeon was valued at $54,000 and started out on her maiden voyage on January 28, 1853. Out of Boston and bound for San Francisco, the Carrier Pigeon was under the command of Captain Azariah Doane.

The Carrier Pigeon made good time around Cape Horn and was enjoying a good passage when she was sighted off Santa Cruz the morning of June 6, 1853. As she continued northward, the ship ran into heavy fog. By nightfall Captain Doane, believing he had veered far enough from shore, turned the Carrier Pigeon eastward, back towards shore in the hope of catching sight of land. Without any warning, there was the sudden sound of splintering timbers! The Carrier Pigeon had ran aground just 500 feet off shore. The waves rocked the ship against the rocks, opening her hull wider and wider to the sea. Captain and crew were able to make it to shore safely. The following morning word of the disaster was sent to San Francisco and requests made for salvage ships to help rescue as much of the cargo as possible.

The U.S. Coast Survey steamer 'Active' was sent to offer assistance and she was soon joined by the sidewheel steamer Sea Bird. The Sea Bird soon ran into its own problems and was beached near Point Año Nuevo to save her from sinking. Although another ship was sent to continue salvage operations, little of the Carrier Pigeon's cargo was saved. Eventually, the Carrier Pigeon was sold, where she lay, for only $1,500!

The government of the United States paid $10,000 to purchase 19.5 acres from Loren Coburn on May 18, 1870. On March 3, 1871 Congress appropriated $90,000 to fund the construction of the Pigeon Point and Año Nuevo Light Stations. Construction of this lighthouse at Pigeon Point began soon after. 141 years after it began operation and 160 years since the wreck of the Carrier Pigeon, the lighthouse still remains.

Tags:   ship shipwreck Carrier Pigeon Pigeon Point lighthouse light station mariner coast California clipper ship Azariah Doane disaster San Francisco Active Sea Bird steamer salvage Loren Coburn Ano Nuevo Light Station beached Pacific Ocean sea tower light keeper maiden voyage history maritime Point Ano Nuevo

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Built in 1871 on the ocean five miles south of Pescadero, California, Pigeon Point is one of the tallest lighthouses in America. The 115-ft masonry tower resembles the typical New England structure. The tower stands on a rocky promontory and has long been a landmark for ships approaching San Francisco Bay from the south. The tower has been closed to tours since December 2001 because of the collapse of brickwork supporting outside access metal walkways on the top of the structure. The California State Park system has promised repairs, but it is estimated that even if funds were available, it would be seven to ten years before the repairs would be completed.

See a full view of the lighthouse at www.flickr.com/photos/greatestpaka/8344926906/in/photostream

Tags:   light station lighthouse Pigeon Point tower Pescadero California landmark Pacific Coast West Coast Pacific Ocean masonry lighthousetrek

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On July 14, 1896, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's liner Colombia ran aground a short distance south of this lighthouse known as 'Pigeon Point' in northern California. The five-year-old steamer was making her first run from Panama to San Francisco in what would have been record time. Though thick fog cut visibility to barely 100 feet, Captain William Clark continued at full throttle, hoping for fame. Instead he achieved disgrace. The Captain heard a fog signal which he believed to be Pigeon Point, though it must have been from nearby Ano Nuevo Island. He then heard a second signal (actually Pigeon Point), but said it sounded as though several miles distant and from out at sea. Believing this was from an approaching ship, he turned his ship slightly eastward to avoid a collision, and it was then that she struck. The Captain reportedly had no idea where he was when he landed. Lighthouse authorities remained baffled as to how the captain could confuse two signals with such markedly different characteristics. The event mostly generated amusement, that is, for everyone except the owners and captain. None of the passengers were hurt, and all remained on board for quite some time, at first believing that the vessel would be pulled free from the rocks. Huge crowds flocked to Pigeon Point to view the doomed steamer. According to one observer, city folks had great fun "rescuing from the breakers the little yellow limes that swam shoreward to be salvaged..." From land, the ship gave the appearance of simply being anchored. Keeper James Marner was on watch when he heard the ship strike. "I thought it was the tender Madrono that had come up in the fog and dropped her anchor," he said." "I hollered to the boys, and they ran to put on their good clothes to receive the inspector, but we found our mistake. I could make out the Colombia. She was right up almost on dry land, and my fog horn blowing twice a minute all night."

Tags:   Pigeon Point San Mateo Coast coast lighthouse light station Pescadero Colombia shipwreck Pacific Mail Steamship Company northern California California steamer Ano Nuevo Island Pacific Ocean Pacific Coast William Clark James Marner rescue lighthousetrek

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Perched on a piece of land surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and located about 45 miles south of San Francisco along Highway 1 the Pigeon Point Lighthouse has stood here as an active aid to navigation for almost 140 years. The 115 ft. unreinforced tower, built from over a half-million locally produced bricks, has a lantern room that contains a first-order Fresnel lens comprised of 1,008 prisms. It was first lit on November 15, 1872. The lens stands 16 ft. tall, 6 ft. in diameter and weighs 8,000 pounds. Though the lens is no longer in use, the lighthouse is still an active US Coast Guard aid to navigation using a 24-inch Aero Beacon.

Tags:   Pigeon Point Lighthouse California light station West Coast Pacific Ocean Fresnel Aero Beacon

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