Tier 2 · Notable

Mare Island Light

Mare Island Light Station

Vallejo · Solano County · Bay Area

Mare Island Light is an inactive lighthouse on the Bay Area coast of California, first lit in 1873, owned by City of Vallejo / private (former naval shipyard).

InactivestandingRestricted accessdifficultCity of Vallejo / private (former naval shipyard)

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.

Year first lit

1873

Current structure built

1873

Owner

City of Vallejo / private (former naval shipyard)

Manager

Verify current ownership

Coordinates

38.0712, -122.2577 Map

NRHP listed

Yes

History

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.

Why it matters

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.

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.

Logistics

Recommended base

Vallejo

Accessibility

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

Nearby lighthouses

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.

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Sources

Officialen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mare_Island_Light
Officiallighthousefriends.com/light.asp
Secondaryen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mare_Island_Light
Imagescommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mare_Island_Light.jpg

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

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