Tier 1 · Essential

Point Fermin Lighthouse

Point Fermin Light Station

San Pedro · Los Angeles County · Southern California

InactivestandingPublic accesseasyCity of Los Angeles

Point Fermin Lighthouse, a Victorian Stick-Eastlake style lighthouse in San Pedro — Photo: Elefuntboy· Public domain· Wikimedia Commons

⚠ Verify before you drive

Verify current museum hours with City of Los Angeles.

Year first lit

1874

Current structure built

1874

Tower height

30 ft

Focal plane

120 ft

Optic

Fourth-order Fresnel lens (original; on display inside)

Light characteristic

Deactivated 1941

Owner

City of Los Angeles

Manager

City of Los Angeles – Department of Recreation and Parks

Coordinates

33.7049, -118.2924 Map

Current hours

Museum open Tuesday–Sunday 1pm–4pm (verify with city). Grounds open daily during park hours.

Fees

Free

NRHP listed

Yes

History

Built 1874 in distinctive Stick-Eastlake Victorian style. Deactivated 1941 when windows were blacked out for WWII. Never relit. Restored and opened as a museum. One of the most architecturally distinctive lighthouses in California.

Why it matters

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.

The visit

Free museum open Tuesday–Sunday. Original Fresnel lens on display. Grounds in Point Fermin Park. Excellent views of Catalina Island on clear days.

Logistics

Recommended base

San Pedro or Long Beach

Nearby food / coffee

Ports O' Call Village (San Pedro), San Pedro waterfront restaurants

Nearby lodging

San Pedro hotels, Long Beach hotels

Accessibility

Grounds accessible. Museum in lighthouse. Distinctive Stick-Eastlake Victorian architecture.

Tier 1 site for Southern California circuit. Pairs with Los Angeles Harbor Light and Point Vicente for a full Southern CA day.

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.

Los Angeles Harbor Light

San Pedro, Southern California

Tier 2Active aidRestricteddifficult

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Sources

Image rights: City of LA images may require permission. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

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