This Lighhouse in CA Still has its Original 1st Order Fresnel Lens
Point Reyes Light Station, Point Reyes California
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- California
- Lighthouse
The Point Reyes Light Station was established to warn mariners of local hazards and also to provide an important landmark in setting bearings for San Francisco harbor. Protruding far beyond the rest of the coastline and often shrouded in heavy fog, Point Reyes figures as a dangerous spot on Pacific maritime coastal routes. Congress authorized funds for a lighthouse at Point Reyes as early as 1854. Disputes with local landowners, however, delayed construction until 1870. In the interim, seven major shipwrecks occurred at the point. The construction of the light station proved to be a monumental civil engineering feat. Work began with wagons carrying materials over two miles of steep hills from the landing to the top of the headland. Two terraces had to be carved out of the solid rock cliff, one at 100' above the sea for the fog-signal and the other at 240' for the lighthouse. Point Reyes is and always has been the windiest point on the Pacific Coast and the second foggiest place on the North American continent. Forty mph winds are the norm and gusts exceeding 100 mph have been recorded. Weeks of unbroken fog, especially during the summer months, can reduce visibility to 1/2 mile or less. The iron-plated lighthouse is bolted to the rock to prevent wind damage. The dwellings that have been built at Point Reyes over the years have been located back from the cliff to minimize wind interference.
The lighthouse tower (1870) is the principal element of the light station and the oldest structure on the site. The lighthouse tower is the only survivor from the original 1870 station. It is a substantial structure built to contain a Fresnel lens (in this case the largest 1st order variety). The structure is very similar to many others built in California at about the same time. Its squat appearance together with its large 1st order lens categorizes it with the type of lighthouses built on major headlands in California. This was a building type well suited to California's long, steep, harborless shoreline. In the flatter East, lighthouses tended to be taller and the proliferation of harbors allowed for a smaller "harbor marker" type of lens. Point Reyes lighthouse is almost a carbon copy of the Cape Mendocino Light established in 1868. Both are built of prefabricated iron panels, bolted together at the site. This was a common method of lighthouse construction throughout the country, both in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It allowed for fabrication at a distant location and permitted an easy and quick assembly once on the site. This would prove especially useful at the more isolated stations such as Point Reyes.
The Equipment Building/Power House, built in 1928, contained all the mechanical equipment for the fog-signal and the back-up generator for the light and fog-signal. It replaced the original equipment shed built on the site in 1870. It is quite similar to other California fog-signal buildings in its open interior space arrangement, its large double-door entryway, and its open attic beams and roof trusses. Although this was built in 1928 it differed little in appearance or function from those built in the mid-to-late 19th century.
The Transformer Building, built in 1934, contained the transformer equipment that was necessary once the light was electrified. In appearance, it resembles the many concrete oil houses built in California light stations.
The Fuel & Paint Storage Building, built in 1900, was constructed to store fuel, oil, and other items.
The Pump House building (1900) houses the modern pump which draws water from a well. It is used only on an emergency basis.
The Multi-Purpose Building was built in 1900, the interior has been remodeled to accommodate the Lighthouse Visitor's Center.
In order to supply the lighthouse and its outbuildings with water and to supply the steam for fog whistles, a large supply of water was needed close by. Since the area was typically devoid of fresh water, large cisterns and watersheds were constructed to hold a supply. Later improvements include paving the watersheds with concrete and covering the cistern domes with concrete.
Site Description
The Point Reyes Light Station is located at the extreme point of Point Reyes, a massive headland extending far out into the surrounding ocean. The light itself is located on a rocky exposed promontory 240' above the ocean. The powerhouse and transformer building are also located at this level near the lighthouse tower. The remainder of the station's buildings and structures are located at the top of the point 300' above the lighthouse. Access is obtained from the top of the hill where pedestrians enter from the former lighthouse road. Parking facilities are provided outside the gate. The lighthouse tower and surrounding buildings may be approached by descending 300' of concrete stairs from the top of the point. All of the major components of the light station are located at this lower level. When viewed from the top of the hill this cluster of buildings presents a cohesive picture of the historic light station. The tower contains the original 1st order Fresnel lens. Several original buildings of the station are no longer standing. The most significant of these were the 1871 fog-signal (located an impractical 430 feet below the station's operations at the top of the hill) and the 1870 Keeper's quarters, demolished to make room for the new quarters built in 1960. Significant structures no longer extant include the stairs and coal chute to the original fog-signal building, and the winch and car used to send supplies down to the lighthouse from the top of the point.
Lighthouse (1870): Located 294' above the water on a rocky promontory, the Point Reyes Light is a sixteen-sided metal tower with three separate levels. The tower is approximately 20' in diameter at the base and is 35' high. It is surmounted by a glass lantern and a red-painted metal roof. Two external railed galleries encompass the building at the second and third levels. The first gallery on the second level is reached by a bridge and from this level, a metal ladder leads up to the second gallery at the third level. The tower is painted white, with the rails painted a deep green color. The galleries are painted black. The roof is painted red.
The tower is held in place by several heavy bolts set deep into a concrete foundation. The iron tower is riveted together. At the first level, the door, which is wooden and does not appear to be original, provides access to the interior. Two glazed windows set into the east and west facades of this level allow visual access to the interior of the structure. The interior walls are painted metal, being the metal plates that comprise the structure. The interior is bare with the exception of a wide metal column in the center which is bolted into the floor. This is a structural member to help support the 6,000-pound lens apparatus on the level above. A curving metal stairway leads up from this level, pierces the metal ceiling (which is the floor of the next level) and enters the second level, where the clockwork mechanism is installed. The second level is also entered by an external doorway. This door is metal and is original.
The lens is mounted on the third level. It is 8 feet 6 inches high. It was originally mounted on wheel-like bearings and revolved by a clockwork mechanism below in the second level. It cast a strong beam some 24 nautical miles out to sea. The lens, a masterpiece of engineering, was built in Paris in 1867 by the firm of Barbier and Fenestre. The lens at Point Reyes reflects light through 24 panels, each of which is hand-cut and polished. The lens apparatus contains one thousand and thirty-two individual pieces of this hand-cut glass mounted in a sturdy brass frame.
In 1939, when the lighthouse was taken over by the U.S. Coast Guard, the drive mechanism and light source were converted to electricity. The original weighted drive mechanism was disconnected but left in place and is still intact today and could be reconnected. The switch boxes and controls for the lamp and drive mechanism are mounted on the wall of the second level. Park Service personnel connect the lens for demonstration tours at least once a month.
The powerhouse (1928) (also known as the fog-signal building or the equipment building) is a 20' by 46' wood-frame structure situated directly at the foot of the 300' stairway leading to the light. It contained the machinery necessary to power the fog-signal and light. Double sliding doors on the east facade opened to receive a winch cart, which was used to carry supplies down the steep incline. The wooden double doors are hung from an overhead iron track. A side-hung single door is cut into one of the sliding doors to allow normal entry and exit. The exterior of the building has horizontal rustic wood siding, painted white with green trim. The pitched roof is red-painted asbestos shingle. There are seven freestanding double-hung wood sashed windows. Another side-hung door opens into the building at the west. This door was moved from the south side of the building. It enters into a small office, eight feet by 10 feet. This room was the watch room. The interior walls are vertical wood paneling, painted white. The ceiling is also white-painted wood paneling. The floor is covered with vinyl tile squares. At the south-easterly corner of the room is a single restroom, presently without fixtures. In the northwest corner, a slender brick incinerator, 20 1/4 inches wide and eight feet six inches tall, is built into the wall. Also on the north wall is a small, built-in, secretary-style desk.
Opening off the office through a narrow doorway is the storeroom, or gear locker, 10 feet by 10 feet. A tool cabinet is built into the south wall. Along the west wall is a built-in storage cabinet with countertop, with two doors. The hardware is brass. A closet in the northeast corner was used for storing supplies. The wall, ceiling, and floor treatments are the same as in the watch room. The cabinets are painted gray.
From each of these small rooms, doors open into the large generator room which is 19 feet by 34 feet. The open ceiling and walls are covered in tongue and groove paneling, probably redwood. Some machinery from the compressor system are still in place in this room.
Transformer Building (1934): A one-story, flat-roofed rectangular building measuring 10' X 11'. This building is built entirely of concrete with an iron door. Its unadorned design reflects the utilitarian nature of its usage.
Fuel & Paint Storage Building (1900): A one-story, wood-frame, peaked-roof, rectangular building measuring 6' X 8'. It is covered with horizontal wood siding and it has a wood shingle roof. Its unadorned design reflects the utilitarian nature of its usage.
Pump House (1934): A one-story, wood-frame, peaked-roof, rectangular building measuring 6' X 8'. It is covered with horizontal wood siding and it has a wood shingle roof. Its unadorned design reflects its utilitarian usage.
Multi-Purpose Building (1900): A single-story, wood-frame building with horizontal wood siding. It has a wood shingle hip roof and four freestanding windows. The interior has been altered with the addition of new walls, new ceiling, and fluorescent lights. The building now houses the Lighthouse Visitor's Center.
The 18,000 square foot concrete watershed and 100,000 gallon brick and cement cistern are in very good condition. The cistern appears as a 50' diameter dome above ground. These were constructed in 1900. The remains of an older concrete watershed can be found east of the present garage. It contains 15,000 square feet of area and was built in 1874. A smaller concrete cistern of approximately 35,000 gallons lies in the rocks above the Visitor's Center. It was built in 1896 and is still in use.
Quarters (1960): A four-unit, two-story, wood-frame apartment structure.
Garage (1960): A five car, one-story, wood-frame garage and shop.
Navigational Aids Building (1975): This building, maintained by the Coast Guard, contains currently-operating automated navigational aids (rotating beacon, electronic diaphone fog-signal, and radio beacon). It is located below the lighthouse.
The restrooms were constructed in 1975 for the Lighthouse Visitor Center. The one-story, wood-frame design closely matches the adjacent Visitor Center building.
The original stairway to the lighthouse was a wooden structure with a sturdy iron rail. This stairway was apparently used until 1960, when it was removed and a new concrete stairway was installed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The new stairway follows the route of the original stairway, and winch car tracks were installed along both sides. A new handrail was also installed on the south side of the stairway. An aluminum handrail along the north side of the stairway was installed in 1977. Three small enclosures which are fenced with chain link, were installed with benches and permit rest stations for visitors to the lighthouse below. In some locations the stairway becomes a concrete ramp; this may have been a feature of the original wooden stairway. Metal conduit and junction boxes for the electrical wiring to the lighthouse and other structures below are attached to the aluminum railing that runs on the south side of the stairs. This was installed in 1966. The stairway measures 650 feet long by 4 feet wide.
Used to send supplies to the lighthouse below, the original winch and car was manually operated and was located at the top of the stairway. This location is the site of a new electrical winch which was most likely installed by the Coast Guard in 1966. The car and winch are no longer in use and the car has been removed. The winch apparatus which is still operational, is located in a small plywood housing.
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