Wonders of the Central Coast: Point Pinos Lighthouse

The sound of the fog horn and the light from a lighthouse– comforting beacons to sailors and an integral part of the maritime tradition of the Central Coast. Perched on the tip of the Monterey Peninsula, Point Pinos Lighthouse has been guiding vessels since 1855.

“Our lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the whole West Coast of the United States,” said Nancy McDowell, Lighthouse Program Coordinator.

Oldest and still using its original Fresnel lens!

Despite innovation in modern technology, the lighthouse lives on in full operation.

“Lots of ships have GPS; a lot of sailors have GPS but they see our lighthouse and they’re so happy that it’s here and that their GPS is working,” said McDowell. “Some boats don’t even have GPS.”

What’s more, the history of the lighthouse has been preserved and is on display for visitors to see. You can take a glimpse into the past and imagine what it was like to live in and maintain the lighthouse. The city of Pacific Grove now operates the lighthouse and relies on an important team of volunteers and admission donations to keep things running.

“The money keeps the building maintained and preserved and we have a lot of restoration going on,” added McDowell.

Visitors may be interested in the area’s history or even lighthouses in general, but the common reaction is fascination and respect.

“It’s really amazing. It’s phenomenal. The things that you see in there. It’s like, wow, this is what they actually did!” said Mayra Sanchez, visiting from Sacramento.

For more information on Point Pinos, check out the lighthouse’s website.