The Lighthouse Circuit

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

Tier 2 · Notable

Santa Barbara Lighthouse

Santa Barbara Light Station

Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara County · Central Coast

Santa Barbara Lighthouse is an active lighthouse on the Central coast of California, first lit in 1856, owned by U.S. Coast Guard.

Active aidstandingRestricted accesseasyU.S. Coast Guard
Historic Santa Barbara Lighthouse
Photo: U.S. Coast Guard· Public domain· Wikimedia Commons

Year first lit

1856

Current structure built

1935

Tower height

28 ft

Focal plane

142 ft

Optic

Automated LED beacon

Light characteristic

Fl W 10s (flashing white every 10 seconds)

Owner

U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

U.S. Coast Guard

Coordinates

34.3983, -119.7293 Map

Current hours

Exterior visible from street. Not open to public.

History

The original 1856 lighthouse was the tenth lit on the West Coast. It was destroyed in the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake. The current 1935 replacement is a short 28-foot modern tower with a 142-foot focal plane, set among houses in the Mesa neighborhood, still active as a USCG aid to navigation. Light characteristic: Fl W 10s.

Why it matters

The earthquake history is the entry's reason for being. California has few lighthouses whose original structure is gone due to seismic damage, and Santa Barbara is the cleanest example.

The visit

No public access to the grounds or tower — the surrounding land is private and residential. The structure is visible from public streets in the Mesa neighborhood; be a respectful visitor. No tours, no facilities.

Logistics

Recommended base

Santa Barbara

Accessibility

Located in residential neighborhood. Exterior visible from street. No public access to grounds.

Nearby lighthouses

Historic photograph of Point Conception Lighthouse

Point Conception Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Lompoc, Central Coast

Tier 1Active aidRestricteddifficult⚠ Verify

Geographically and historically one of the most significant lighthouse sites on the Pacific Coast. The 'corner' of California. Not publicly accessible, which makes it a compelling inclusion — the unreachable lighthouse.

Anacapa Island Light Station in the Channel Islands

Anacapa Island Light Station

Ventura, Southern California

Tier 2Active aidPublic accessdifficult⚠ Verify

The most accessible of the Channel Islands lights and the only one with regular public visitation. The Spanish-revival station buildings on a treeless ocean headland are a distinctive piece of 1930s Coast Guard architecture.

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Sources

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

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