Old Point Loma Lighthouse
historic place
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a historic place in San Diego County, California, was built in 1854. It was one of the first eight lighthouses constructed on the Pacific Coast. The light was first activated on November 15, 1855. For many years, it served as San Diego's first lighthouse, guiding ships and marking the harbor entrance. Situated over 400 feet above sea level, its high elevation often caused the light to be obscured by fog and low clouds. The lighthouse remained in operation until 1891, when a new lighthouse was built at a lower elevation. In 1913, the Point Loma Lighthouse became part of the Cabrillo National Monument. During World War II, the Navy utilized it as a signal tower. The National Park Service restored the structure in 1984. Today, it remains as a reminder of the 19th-century lighthouse keepers and their families' contributions to California's maritime past.