Tier 1 · Essential · ★ Flagship 12

Point Pinos Lighthouse

Point Pinos Light Station

Pacific Grove · Monterey County · Central Coast

Active aidstandingPublic accesseasyU.S. Coast Guard

Point Pinos Light, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast — Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributors· CC / public domain — see source for specific licensesource

⚠ Verify before you drive

CONFLICT: Verify whether original third-order Fresnel lens is still the active aid to navigation. Verify current museum hours.

Year first lit

1855

Current structure built

1855

Tower height

43 ft

Focal plane

89 ft

Optic

Third-order Fresnel lens (original; reported still in active use)

Light characteristic

Fl W 4s (flashing white every 4 seconds)

Owner

U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

USCG (tower); Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History (grounds and museum)

Coordinates

36.6338, -121.9330 Map

Current hours

Museum open weekends 1pm–4pm (verify with Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History)

Fees

Free (donations accepted)

NRHP listed

Yes

History

Oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. First lit February 1, 1855. Has been in continuous operation for over 170 years. Located on the Monterey Peninsula at the entrance to Monterey Bay.

Why it matters

The oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. The claim of the original Fresnel lens still in active use — if verified — would make it one of the most remarkable lighthouse artifacts in the United States.

The visit

Grounds open daily. Museum in adjacent building open weekends. Active USCG light. Walking distance from Pacific Grove's Monarch butterfly sanctuary and Asilomar State Beach.

Logistics

Recommended base

Pacific Grove or Monterey

Nearby food / coffee

Pacific Grove Main Street restaurants, Monterey Fisherman's Wharf

Nearby lodging

Asilomar Conference Grounds (Pacific Grove), Monterey hotels, Pacific Grove B&Bs

Accessibility

Grounds accessible. Museum in adjacent building. Tower interior access limited.

Flagship 12 anchor for the Monterey Peninsula. Easy access, high history value. Pairs naturally with Point Sur for a Central Coast overnight.

Nearby lighthouses

Point Sur Light Station

★ Flagship 12

Big Sur, Central Coast

Tier 1Active aidPublic accessmoderate⚠ Verify

The most complete surviving light station complex in California. The 3-hour guided tour is among the most immersive lighthouse experiences on the West Coast. The volcanic rock setting is visually extraordinary.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Pescadero, Bay Area / Peninsula

Tier 1Active aidPublic accesseasy⚠ Verify

Iconic silhouette on the San Mateo coast. One of the most photographed lighthouses in California. The on-site hostel makes it a unique overnight destination. Tower restoration is a major ongoing story.

Sources

Officialpgmuseum.org/point-pinos-lighthouse
Officialhistory.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Assets/Land/All/Article/1975557/point-pinos-lighthouse
Secondarylighthousefriends.com/light.asp
Secondaryen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Pinos_Lighthouse
Imagescommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Point_Pinos_Lighthouse.jpg
Imagesloc.gov/pictures/search

Image rights: USCG images public domain. Pacific Grove Museum images may require permission. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

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