The Lighthouse Circuit

Access, tours, hours, fees, and closures change often. Always verify with the official source before driving.

Tier 2

Mare Island Light

Mare Island Light Station

Vallejo · Solano County · Bay Area

Worth knowing about as part of the Navy's California history more than as a lighthouse destination. The structure's current condition and ownership remain under-documented — a real research gap on this site, not a story we're skipping.

InactiveRestricted accessdifficult
Labels
Tier 1–3
Editorial browse cues for prominence and context—not circuits, checklists, or achievements.
Active aid
The light currently serves navigation. It does not mean the tower, grounds, or interior are open to visitors.
Public / restricted access
Some approved visitor access versus a legal viewpoint, special arrangement, or no ordinary public entry. Always check the official guidance.
Flagship 12
The curated statewide circuit. It is separate from the editorial tier labels.

Your lighthouse passport

Stamp my passport

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Check in at Mare Island Light to collect your digital stamp. Add your name if you like.

Lighthouse Circuit is here to inspire real visits. To collect a location-verified stamp, you’ll need to be at the lighthouse with location access enabled. Need help adding past visits? Email us and we’ll be happy to add them manually.

Sign your passport

Optional · Your visit can also stay unnamed.

This visit saves privately. Public guestbook check-in is not available at this lighthouse yet. You can still collect a personal stamp.

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From the field

Viewed this light from an approved public vantage point? Share a condition update for the next visitor.

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Mare Island Lighthouse at the entrance to Mare Island Strait
Photo: U.S. Coast Guard· Public domain· Wikimedia Commons

⚠ Verify before you drive

Naval base closed 1996; island partially redeveloped. Current lighthouse status requires verification with City of Vallejo or Mare Island Historic Park Foundation.

Visit essentials

Access

no current public access (former naval shipyard)

Accessibility

Located at former Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Public access status uncertain — verify before visit.

The light

Year first lit

1873

Current structure built

1873

Stewardship & location

Owner

City of Vallejo / private (former naval shipyard)

Manager

Verify current ownership

Coordinates

38.0712, -122.2577 Map

National Register

Listed

The story

Built 1873 on Mare Island at the entrance to Mare Island Strait. The island housed Mare Island Naval Shipyard, the first U.S. Navy base on the Pacific Coast (established 1854). The base closed in 1996; the island has been partially redeveloped for housing and commercial use since.

The visit

No reliable public access at present. If you live nearby and know the current status of the structure, contact the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation or the City of Vallejo — or write us and we'll update the entry.

Make a day of it

Base yourself in

Vallejo

Nearby lighthouses

East Brother Island Light Station, operated as a working B&B

East Brother Island Light Station

Richmond, Bay Area

Tier 1Active aidPublic accessmoderate⚠ Verify

The only lighthouse B&B in the San Francisco Bay Area. Boat-only access. Victorian architecture intact. A unique overnight experience in the Bay.

Help keep this guide accurate: report changed access, a broken link, or a factual correction.

Sources

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

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