Lighthouses of California: FORT POINT LIGHT

Fort Point Light amidst naval artillery rifles – U.S. Coast Guard Archive

FORT POINT LIGHT

State: CALIFORNIA

Fort Point Light was a lighthouse on Fort Point,
 directly beneath the south anchorage of
 the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

Location: SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR ENTRANCE
Nearest City: SAN FRANCISCO
County: SAN FRANCISCO
U.S.C.G. District: 11
Year Station Established: 1853


Existing Historic Tower:
Year Light First Lit: 1864
Is the Light Operational? NO
Date Deactivated: 1934
Automated:
Foundation Materials: BRICK AND GRANITE FORTRESS
Construction Materials: IRON
Markings/Patterns: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN
Shape: NINE-SIDED ON FORT'S STAIRWAY TOWER
Relationship to Other Structures: INTEGRAL
Tower Height: 27
Original Optic: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
Present Optic: REMOVED
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane: 110
Fresnel Lens Disposition:
Has tower been moved? NO
Previous Tower(s):
1. Construction Date: 1853
Description: CAPE COD STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRAL TOWER (NEVER LIGHTED)
Fate/Disposition: DEMOLISHED AFTER ONLY 3 MONTHS TO MAKE WAY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FORT POINT
2. Construction Date: 1855
Description: 2-STORY TRUNCATED WOOD STRUCTURE BETWEEN FORT AND SEAWALL
Fate/Disposition: DEMOLISHED AFTER 8 YEARS WHEN ARMY NEEDED TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO GRANITE SEAWALL
Modern Tower? NO


Existing Sound Signal Building? NO (FOUNDATION ONLY)
Year Constructed: 1904
Construction Materials: CONCRETE
Architectural Style:
Fog Signal Type: REMOVED/ORIG. BELL, TRUMPET
Existing Keepers Quarters? NO (DISMANTLED)
Year Constructed: 1908
Number of Stories: 2
Architectural Style: TUDOR STYLE
Construction Materials: REDWOOD
Other Structures: REMOVED: WOODEN ASST. KEEPERS (1885), CATWALK BRIDGE, BARN, LOOKOUT TOWER, OIL HOUSE, 2 WATER RESERVOIRS

Current Use: NATIONAL PARK

Owner/Manager: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Open to the Public? NO (CLOSED BECAUSE OF LEAD PAINT CHIPS FROM GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE ABOVE)

Web Site: Link

National Register Status: PART OF LISTING; Reference #70000146
Name of Listing: FORT POINT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
DISCONTINUED BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION OF GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE; PART OF PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO NHL