Tier 3 · Curiosities

Oakland Harbor Light

Oakland Harbor Light Station

Oakland · Alameda County · Bay Area

Oakland Harbor Light is an active lighthouse on the Bay Area coast of California, first lit in 1890, owned by U.S. Coast Guard.

Active aidstandingRestricted accessdifficultU.S. Coast Guard

Photo coming soon

Year first lit

1890

Current structure built

1890

Optic

Automated LED beacon

Owner

U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

U.S. Coast Guard

Coordinates

37.7950, -122.2580 Map

Current hours

Not open to public. Visible from Oakland waterfront.

History

Built 1903 on a concrete caisson in the Oakland Estuary, the spark-plug-style tower earned the nickname 'Coffee Pot' for its cylindrical body. Deactivated 1966 and now privately owned.

Why it matters

One of only a few spark-plug lighthouses on the Pacific Coast — a structural type more common on the East Coast — and an unusually personable piece of Oakland's working-waterfront history.

The visit

No public access — privately owned, no scheduled tours. Visible from points along the Oakland waterfront and from boats on the estuary.

Logistics

Recommended base

Oakland

Accessibility

Active USCG aid to navigation. No public access. Visible from Oakland waterfront.

Nearby lighthouses

Alcatraz Island Light

San Francisco, Bay Area

Tier 1Active aidPublic accessmoderate⚠ Verify

The first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast. The Alcatraz connection makes it one of the most-visited lighthouse sites in the United States. The lighthouse is often overlooked by visitors focused on the prison — a compelling story angle.

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Sources

Officialen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Harbor_Light
Officiallighthousefriends.com/light.asp

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