Point Montara Light

The Point Montara Light is a lighthouse in Montara, California, United States, on the southern approach to the San Francisco Bay, California approximately 25 miles south of San Francisco.

Point Montara Light
Point Montara Lighthouse
LocationPoint Montara
Montara, California
United States
Coordinates37.536503°N 122.519311°W / 37.536503; -122.519311
Year first constructed1881A (Current)
1900 (First)
Year first lit1900 (First)
1928 (Current)
Automated1970
Foundationconcrete base
Constructionsteel tower
Tower shapetapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Tower height30 feet (9.1 m)
Focal height70 feet (21 m)
Original lensFourth order Fresnel lens (1912)
Current lensFA 251 lens
Range14 nautical mile 
CharacteristicFl W 5s.
Admiralty numberG4010
ARLHS numberUSA-629
USCG number6-0335
Managing agentMontara State Beach[1][2]
Heritageplace listed on the National Register of Historic Places, California Point of Historical Interest 
Point Montara Light Station
Area7.3 acres (3.0 ha)
Built1874 (1874)
Built byUnited States Lighthouse Service
Architectural styleGothic, Lighthouse
MPSLight Stations of California MPS
NRHP reference No.91001094[3]
Added to NRHPSeptember 3, 1991

History

Point Montara Lighthouse was established in February 1875. It originally had a kerosene lantern, but was upgraded in 1912 to a fourth order Fresnel lens. The current tower was first erected in 1881 in Wellfleet, Massachusetts as the Mayo Beach Lighthouse. In 1925, the cast iron tower from the discontinued Mayo Beach Light was disassembled and moved to Yerba Buena. It was moved and rebuilt as the Point Montara Light station in 1928, where it stands today.[4] The lens was transferred to the San Mateo Historical Society when the lighthouse was automated in 1970, and is currently on display at the library at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California.

The lighthouse is not open to the public, and is the site of a youth hostel sponsored by Hostelling International USA (part of Hostelling International).[5] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[3]

Undated USCG photo

The following was written prior to 1970: "Three men, including a First Class Boatswains Mate, as Officer-in-Charge, operate Point Montara Light, which provides a light and fog signal. This is a family station with quarters in a duplex constructed in 1961, which contains a 3 bedroom unit. A house built in 1863 provides quarters with a 2 bedroom and a separate relief keepers quarters. The station has no small boats assigned, but does have a pickup truck. Personnel and dependents at Point Montara utilize Government medical facilities, commissary and post exchange in the San Francisco area. The nearest school is within walking distance (1/4 mile) from the station."

In 2001 the lighthouse, specifically the hostel, was used in the film Bandits starring Bruce Willis, Cate Blanchett and Billy Bob Thornton. The location was converted into a small roadside inn. .

Marine Protected Areas

Montara State Marine Reserve & Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area extend offshore from Montara. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.

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See also

Note
A.^ The current tower was first built in Massachusetts in 1881, it was moved in 1928 where it currently stands as the most recent Point Montara Light.

References
  1. Point Montara The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 13 June 2016
  2. California Historic Light Station Information & Photography United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 13 June 2016
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  4. "Missing Cape Cod lighthouse located in Calif". Associated Press. 2008-06-04. Archived from the original on 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  5. Hostelling International USA – Point Montara Lighthouse
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