Tier 2 · Notable

Los Angeles Harbor Light

Los Angeles Harbor Light Station

San Pedro · Los Angeles County · Southern California

Los Angeles Harbor Light is an active lighthouse on the Southern California coast of California, first lit in 1913, owned by U.S. Coast Guard.

Active aidstandingRestricted accessdifficultU.S. Coast Guard

Los Angeles Harbor Light, known as Angel's Gate — Photo: U.S. Coast Guard· Public domain· Wikimedia Commons

Year first lit

1913

Current structure built

1913

Tower height

73 ft

Focal plane

73 ft

Optic

Automated LED beacon

Light characteristic

Fl R 5s (flashing red every 5 seconds)

Owner

U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

U.S. Coast Guard

Coordinates

33.7072, -118.2578 Map

Current hours

Not open to public. Visible from San Pedro waterfront and harbor tours.

History

Built 1913 on the outer breakwater of the Port of Los Angeles. The 73-foot green cast-iron tower is known locally as Angel's Gate. Still an active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation, displaying a flashing red signal every five seconds.

Why it matters

The green tower is one of the most visually distinctive working lighthouses in the country. It defines the visual entrance to the busiest port on the West Coast and the city's harbor identity. Pairs visually with Point Fermin a few miles up the coast.

The visit

No public access to the breakwater or the lighthouse itself. The structure is easily visible from the San Pedro waterfront, from Cabrillo Beach, and from harbor cruises out of Ports O' Call. Bring a long lens if you want the photograph.

Logistics

Recommended base

San Pedro or Long Beach

Accessibility

Visible from San Pedro waterfront, Cabrillo Beach, and harbor boat tours.

Nearby lighthouses

Point Vicente Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Rancho Palos Verdes, Southern California

Tier 1Active aidPublic accesseasy⚠ Verify

Visually striking white tower on dramatic cliffs above the Pacific. One of the most recognizable lighthouse silhouettes in California. Active light. Adjacent to whale migration corridor.

Point Fermin Lighthouse

San Pedro, Southern California

Tier 1InactivePublic accesseasy⚠ Verify

The WWII blackout story is unique in California lighthouse history. The Victorian architecture is extraordinary — unlike any other lighthouse in the state. Free museum with original Fresnel lens.

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Sources

Image rights: USCG images public domain. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

Research confidence: high · Last verified 2026-05-13