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Point Sur Lighthouse
In 1974, the light station was automated and no longer required the maintenance from resident light keepers.
Point Sur is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a California State Historic Landmark. The outbuildings
are being restored to their turn-of-the-century splendor.
Guided tours are offered on weekends and this is definitely a Light you don’t want to miss. However, be forewarned that
getting there is a challenging task. Visitors line up in their vehicles beside the highway and drive in a caravan to the base
of the rock, then there is over a half mile climb to the top of the secluded volcanic rock.
Visiting Point Sur Lighthouse
Call (408) 625-4419 for info on guided tours. "Walking Tour into the Past" Volunteer led, three-hour walking tour on
paved road. The walk is less than a mile but has a rise in elevation of 300'. Meet along the West Side of Highway 1, 1/4
mile north of Pt. Sur Naval Facility. Arrive early, tour size is limited. Summer Tours- Saturday: 10 am, 2 pm. Sunday: 10
am. Wednesday: 10 am, 2 pm. Admission, Adult: $8: Age 6-17: $4: Five and under FREE. Without a tour, you can only
gaze from the highway.
Point Sur lighthouse is located on CA 1, 19 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel.
are being restored to their turn-of-the-century splendor.
Guided tours are offered on weekends and this is definitely a Light you don’t want to miss. However, be forewarned that
getting there is a challenging task. Visitors line up in their vehicles beside the highway and drive in a caravan to the base
of the rock, then there is over a half mile climb to the top of the secluded volcanic rock.
Visiting Point Sur Lighthouse
Call (408) 625-4419 for info on guided tours. "Walking Tour into the Past" Volunteer led, three-hour walking tour on
paved road. The walk is less than a mile but has a rise in elevation of 300'. Meet along the West Side of Highway 1, 1/4
mile north of Pt. Sur Naval Facility. Arrive early, tour size is limited. Summer Tours- Saturday: 10 am, 2 pm. Sunday: 10
am. Wednesday: 10 am, 2 pm. Admission, Adult: $8: Age 6-17: $4: Five and under FREE. Without a tour, you can only
gaze from the highway.
Point Sur lighthouse is located on CA 1, 19 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel.
Point Sur had been the death of many ships, to which many shipwrecked captains
can attest. It took mariners 11 years of petitioning the U.S. Lighthouse Service Board
before money was allocated for Point Sur Lighthouse in 1886. Three years later, on
August 1, 1889, the lightstation keys were turned over to the first keeper. He and three
assistants staffed the lighthouse and fog signal 24 hours a day. The lighthouse has
remained in continuous operation ever since.
can attest. It took mariners 11 years of petitioning the U.S. Lighthouse Service Board
before money was allocated for Point Sur Lighthouse in 1886. Three years later, on
August 1, 1889, the lightstation keys were turned over to the first keeper. He and three
assistants staffed the lighthouse and fog signal 24 hours a day. The lighthouse has
remained in continuous operation ever since.
Construction of the lighthouse was no small task, costing over $50,000 in 1889 and requiring a railroad track to be laid
to carry materials to the site. Once construction was completed, the tracks were removed and the only access was by
climbing 395 steps. Later, a tramway was installed and finally a roadway was cut through to the summit.
Point Sur is a large, 361-foot-tall rock, which seems like it was broken off from the nearby mountains and pushed
oceanward, leaving a low lying area of land in between.
to carry materials to the site. Once construction was completed, the tracks were removed and the only access was by
climbing 395 steps. Later, a tramway was installed and finally a roadway was cut through to the summit.
Point Sur is a large, 361-foot-tall rock, which seems like it was broken off from the nearby mountains and pushed
oceanward, leaving a low lying area of land in between.
One of the factors influencing the funding for building the Point Sur Lightstation was the wreck of the VENTURA in 1875.
According to reports, the captain was drunk and the ship hit a cluster of rocks just north of Point Sur. Everyone aboard
eventually reached the shore safely, leaving the ship to break up on the rocks and slowly sink.
On February 12, 1935, two Point Sur lighthouse keepers witnessed the end of an era when the rigid airship U.S.S.
Macon crashed offshore and sank in 1,450 feet of water. Of the 83 crew, all but two escaped from the crash alive. The
helium-filled dirigible had an aluminum frame and a painted cotton skin. The craft spanned 785 feet in length, three
times that of a Boeing 747. With a top speed of 80 mph, the U.S.S. Macon used a trapeze mechanism to launch and
recover inflight the four Sparrowhawk F-9C-2 airplanes she carried.
In 1990, the U.S. Navy and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discovered and photographed the Macon's
wreckage, including her scout planes. A special exhibit, including recovered parts from the airship, is located in the
Point Sur Lightstation visitor center.
While shipwrecks were not a common occurrence, there have been enough to distinguish the Point Sur area as a
treacherous navigational hazard. Other ships lost in the vicinity include the LOS ANGELES in 1894, the MAJESTIC in
1909, the SHNA-YAK in 1916, the THOMAS L. WAND in 1922, the BABINDA in 1923, the RHINE MARU, the PANAMA and
the S. CATANIA in 1930, and the HOWARD OLSON in 1956.
Although a wreck meant disaster for the shipping companies and sometimes tragic loss of life for those aboard, it also
meant a new influx of supplies for the Big Sur coast residents. As ships broke up, the cargo floated with the currents,
eventually being deposited along the shoreline. As news of a shipwreck passed along the coast, the local population
flocked to the beach to gather lumber, foodstuffs and trade goods.
According to reports, the captain was drunk and the ship hit a cluster of rocks just north of Point Sur. Everyone aboard
eventually reached the shore safely, leaving the ship to break up on the rocks and slowly sink.
On February 12, 1935, two Point Sur lighthouse keepers witnessed the end of an era when the rigid airship U.S.S.
Macon crashed offshore and sank in 1,450 feet of water. Of the 83 crew, all but two escaped from the crash alive. The
helium-filled dirigible had an aluminum frame and a painted cotton skin. The craft spanned 785 feet in length, three
times that of a Boeing 747. With a top speed of 80 mph, the U.S.S. Macon used a trapeze mechanism to launch and
recover inflight the four Sparrowhawk F-9C-2 airplanes she carried.
In 1990, the U.S. Navy and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discovered and photographed the Macon's
wreckage, including her scout planes. A special exhibit, including recovered parts from the airship, is located in the
Point Sur Lightstation visitor center.
While shipwrecks were not a common occurrence, there have been enough to distinguish the Point Sur area as a
treacherous navigational hazard. Other ships lost in the vicinity include the LOS ANGELES in 1894, the MAJESTIC in
1909, the SHNA-YAK in 1916, the THOMAS L. WAND in 1922, the BABINDA in 1923, the RHINE MARU, the PANAMA and
the S. CATANIA in 1930, and the HOWARD OLSON in 1956.
Although a wreck meant disaster for the shipping companies and sometimes tragic loss of life for those aboard, it also
meant a new influx of supplies for the Big Sur coast residents. As ships broke up, the cargo floated with the currents,
eventually being deposited along the shoreline. As news of a shipwreck passed along the coast, the local population
flocked to the beach to gather lumber, foodstuffs and trade goods.
The low land connecting the rock to the mainland is known technically as a tombolo, and in the past, water has swept
completely around the rock, cutting it off from the mainland. Before construction could begin, various parts of the rock's
ten to twelve foot wide summit had to be blasted to provide level areas large enough to accommodate the light station
buildings. Logs and granite stones used in construction of the buildings were cut and quarried from the surrounding
hills.
completely around the rock, cutting it off from the mainland. Before construction could begin, various parts of the rock's
ten to twelve foot wide summit had to be blasted to provide level areas large enough to accommodate the light station
buildings. Logs and granite stones used in construction of the buildings were cut and quarried from the surrounding
hills.
Since it was first lit, only four light keepers have managed the structure. The four keepers and their families lived an
isolated life. The trail to Monterey was long and often treacherous, so trips were rare. The U.S. Lighthouse Service
provided a horse and wagon to get mail and supplies from Pfeiffer's Resort (now Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park). Each
family was allotted a garden area for fresh vegetables. Bulk supplies such as coal, firewood, animal feed, and some
food came on a 'lighthouse tender' about every four months. One function of these long, broad ships was to service
remote lightstations inaccessible by land. The tender would anchor south of the lightstation and send in a 20-foot
whaler towing a skiff, both loaded with supplies. The sacks and barrels were hoisted in cargo nets to a platform at the
base of the rock. They were then secured to a flat railcar and winched up to the dwelling area using a steam-driven
donkey engine. Like most remote lightstations, Point Sur was very self-sufficient. As the years passed, life became
increasingly less isolated at Point Sur, specially following the completion of Highway One in 1937. Two years later, the
U.S. Coast Guard assumed responsibility for all aids-to-navigation. Lighthouse Service employees were absorbed into
the new program, and allowed to become either members of the U.S. Coast Guard or remain civil service employees.
isolated life. The trail to Monterey was long and often treacherous, so trips were rare. The U.S. Lighthouse Service
provided a horse and wagon to get mail and supplies from Pfeiffer's Resort (now Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park). Each
family was allotted a garden area for fresh vegetables. Bulk supplies such as coal, firewood, animal feed, and some
food came on a 'lighthouse tender' about every four months. One function of these long, broad ships was to service
remote lightstations inaccessible by land. The tender would anchor south of the lightstation and send in a 20-foot
whaler towing a skiff, both loaded with supplies. The sacks and barrels were hoisted in cargo nets to a platform at the
base of the rock. They were then secured to a flat railcar and winched up to the dwelling area using a steam-driven
donkey engine. Like most remote lightstations, Point Sur was very self-sufficient. As the years passed, life became
increasingly less isolated at Point Sur, specially following the completion of Highway One in 1937. Two years later, the
U.S. Coast Guard assumed responsibility for all aids-to-navigation. Lighthouse Service employees were absorbed into
the new program, and allowed to become either members of the U.S. Coast Guard or remain civil service employees.
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During the nineteenth century, coastal roads were few and most goods were
transported by ship.
transported by ship.