The salty air stings your face. The relentless Pacific crashes against the rocks below. Welcome to Point Bonita Lifesaving Station a place where heroism and tragedy intertwined.
Point Bonita Lifesaving Station stands as a testament to the bravery of men who risked their lives to save others. Located at the entrance to the Golden Gate it played a crucial role in maritime safety. The station’s history is far richer than you might imagine. It began much earlier than the 1899 construction date.
The story begins long before the station itself. The Point Bonita Lighthouse was first lit in 1855. It was initially built atop the highest hill a location deemed impractical due to frequent fog. The fog often obscured the light rendering it useless for sailors. To compensate an eight-foot-long cannon was used as a fog signal. Edward Maloney the first cannon operator complained bitterly about the grueling work. He received little rest before an assistant was hired. The cannon proved ineffective so it was replaced with a bell. Later the lighthouse and fog signal were moved to a lower elevation.
The relocation wasn’t easy. A narrow path was carved into the rock face. A railway with a forty-five-degree incline was built to transport supplies and building materials. One section of rock proved impenetrable requiring a wooden walkway. The steam fog siren was initially damaged by a landslide. In 1877 the new lighthouse was completed 180 feet lower than its predecessor. Head keeper John Briercliff Brown and his assistants rescued over forty lives during his tenure. Brown received a gold-headed cane for his service.
The need for a lifesaving station became clear. The Point Bonita US Life Saving Station was finally built in 1899. It had two boats a heavy lifeboat and a surfboat. The men stationed there lived by a motto Some say it was “You must go out but you don’t have to return”. The station’s original 1856 dwelling was damaged by the 1906 earthquake. A new double dwelling was built in 1908.
The fog signal was electrified in 1926. In 1931 snow caused its use for two and a half hours. A radiobeacon was added in 1938. Erosion damaged the access trail to the lighthouse in 1940. A breeches buoy and later a wooden causeway provided temporary access. A suspension bridge similar to the Golden Gate Bridge was built in 1954. It was replaced in 2012 after a safety report. Point Bonita was the last manned lighthouse on the California coast. The last head keeper left in 1981. The Point Bonita Lighthouse is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area managed by the National Park Service. The Coast Guard still maintains the light and fog signal. As you stand here you can almost hear the echoes of the past the cries of sailors the roar of the waves and the tireless work of those who stood watch at Point Bonita Lifesaving Station.