Atop this cliff stands Point Loma Light a beacon of history. It’s more than just a lighthouse. It’s a testament to resilience a home a story etched in time.
Point Loma Light first shone in 1855. It was one of the first eight lighthouses built along the Pacific Coast. The United States government constructed it after California joined the Union. The lighthouse’s location was chosen in 1851. Gibbon and Kelley a Washington DC company built it. William J Timanus supervised the local construction.
Materials arrived from San Francisco in April 1854. The lens and lantern came all the way from Paris. They arrived in August 1855. The lighthouse was finished by October 1855. It first lit up the night sky on November 15 1855. This was designated light number 355 in the Twelfth United States Lighthouse District.
Next to Point Loma Light was a smaller structure. This served as a storehouse. It later became living quarters for the assistant lighthouse keeper. It was a simple building made of rough lumber. Cracks frequently appeared in its walls. The interior was initially lined with cloth and paper. This was later replaced with tongue and groove boards. Today this building is a museum. It houses the original lens from the New Point Loma Lighthouse.
Point Loma Light held the record for the highest elevation of any lighthouse in the US. It stood 462 feet above sea level. However the height was a problem. Fog and low clouds often obscured the light. On foggy nights the keeper fired a shotgun to warn passing ships. This continued until 1891 when the light was permanently extinguished. A new lighthouse was built at a lower elevation.
After its abandonment Point Loma Light deteriorated. In 1913 President Woodrow Wilson designated it a National Monument. This was to build a statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. The statue was never built. In 1935 the lighthouse was renovated. A new road was also constructed. In 1949 a Cabrillo statue a gift from Portugal was installed nearby.
In 1984 Point Loma Light was relit. This was for its 130th birthday. Over 3000 people attended the celebration. Many descendants of former keepers were also present.
Robert D Israel was the lighthouse keeper for eighteen years. He and his wife Maria Arcadia Alipas Machado lived there with their children. The family gardened kept horses and raised livestock. Their children rowed to school in Old Town. Visitors often visited. They even picnicked at the lighthouse.
Point Loma Light is a museum today. It is no longer a working lighthouse. Visitors can explore the living quarters. They can see what life was like for the keepers and their families. Volunteer re-enactors often greet visitors. They bring the past to life. Two days a year the tower opens to the public. These are August 25th National Park Service Day and November 15th the lighthouse anniversary. Point Loma Light stands as a powerful symbol. It showcases the dedication and the challenges faced by those who kept the light burning.