Celebrate the First Lighting of Pigeon Point Lighthouse this Saturday

By Avis Boutell

This Saturday, Nov, 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the 141th anniversary of Pigeon Point Lighthouse will be celebrated with festivities at the lighthouse and good news about progress toward restoring this coastside historic landmark.

The anniversary marks the first lighting of the lighthouse’s magnificent Fresnel lens on November 15, 1872.

Most anniversary celebrations in past years have included a once-a-year lighting of the Fresnel lens. That won’t happen this year because two years ago the lens was removed from the lighthouse for safe keeping so the tower could be repaired. 

The tower has been closed to the public since December 2001, when two sections of the cast iron belt course near the top of the tower broke off and the lighthouse was declared structurally unsound.

The lens is now on display in the nearby Fog Signal Building, so anniversary visitors will have an opportunity to see it up close. The lens will be returned to the tower when the restoration is completed.

Visitors this Saturday will be able to see the progress that has been made, with rust removed from the lighthouse ironwork, which now is sealed and protected with rust converter, broken windows replaced, and debris netting installed around the circumference of the belt course.

The interim stabilization, funded by a generous grant from the Hind Foundation, is intended to keep the lighthouse safe until enough money can be raised to completely rehabilitate it. The California State Park Foundation (CSPF) is spearheading the drive to raise money for the complete restoration of the lighthouse tower. The Coastside State Parks Association is raising funds to support the broader restoration of all the light station buildings and grounds.

The day-long celebration this Saturday will include activities for visitors of all ages, including grounds tours, games, information booths, local authors, live music, and light refreshments. Children can follow a scavenger hunt to discover facts about the lighthouse and win a prize.

Volunteers who have been restoring the light station grounds will also have local native plants on display and a limited number available to purchase. It is a good opportunity for gardeners to get local native plants, many of which are not available in nurseries.  The volunteers will be on hand to explain efforts over the past seven years to remove ice plant from the lighthouse grounds and plant native plants. All money from the sales will be used to support educational and restoration activities at the light station. 

The event is co-sponsored by California State Parks and the Coastside State Parks Association, which will also hold two special events to help raise funds for programs at Pigeon Point. Stop in the bookstore for a Tax-Free Holiday Sale on all merchandise, including lighthouse logo wear, autographed books, jewelry and toys. Then buy some raffle tickets for great prizes from area merchants. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. You need not be present to win.

How to get there:  Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is located on Pigeon Point Road, right off Highway 1, approximately 20 miles south of Half Moon Bay and 30 miles north of Santa Cruz.