Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Robert Israel wasn’t Jewish. Many assume he was because of his last name. He and his family called the Old Point Loma Lighthouse home for 18 years. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse wasn’t always a museum. It was once the highest lighthouse in the United States, perched atop a 400-foot cliff overlooking San Diego Bay. Can you imagine the view? The Old Point Loma Lighthouse was built in 1855. It was one of the first lighthouses on the Pacific Coast. It was meant to guide ships safely into the bay. But its lofty position proved problematic. Fog and low clouds often obscured the light, making it unreliable for ships at sea. Robert Israel, the lighthouse keeper, sometimes resorted to firing a shotgun to warn ships away during foggy nights. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse isn’t Spanish in origin, despite the nickname “Old Spanish Lighthouse”. It was built by the United States government. The lighthouse housed a third-order Fresnel lens, ordered from Paris. This intricate lens focused the light into a powerful beam. The light was first lit on November 15, 1855, powered by various oils like sperm whale oil, colza, lard oil, and eventually kerosene. It could be seen from up to 28 miles away. Life at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse was isolated. The Israel family lived there with their children. They raised chickens, pigs, and goats. The children rowed across the bay to Old Town for school. Visitors would sometimes arrive by horse and buggy for picnics. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1891. A new lighthouse was built closer to the water’s edge. After its closure, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse fell into disrepair. It was even considered for demolition at one point. Thankfully, it was saved and restored. Today, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse stands as a museum within Cabrillo National Monument. Visitors can explore the restored rooms and imagine the life of a 19th-century lighthouse keeper. The original Fresnel lens is no longer there. A third-order lens from Mile Rocks Lighthouse is currently housed in the lantern room.