Point Arguello Light
 View from train August 29, 2010 | |
 | |
| Location | Point Arguello Santa Barbara Channel California United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°34′37.4″N 120°38′49.9″W / 34.577056°N 120.647194°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1901 (first) 1934 (second) |
| Foundation | concrete base |
| Construction | wooden tower (first) metal skeletal tower (second) post light (current) |
| Automated | 1967 |
| Height | 20 feet (6.1 m) |
| Shape | square tower with balcony and lantern (first) pyramidal tower with balcony and lantern (second) |
| Power source | solar power  |
| Operator | Vanderberg Air Force Base[1][2] |
| Fog signal | 2 blasts every 20s. continuously |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1967 (current) |
| Focal height | 124 feet (38 m) |
| Lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens (original), aerobeacon (current) |
| Range | 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 15s. |
Point Arguello Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County, California, serving the Santa Barbara Channel on the Gaviota Coast adjoining Vandenberg Space Force Base near the city of Lompoc, California.
The original Point Arguello lighthouse, built in 1901, had a white square tower attached to a one-story keeper's house. It had a fourth order Fresnel lens, which was transferred from the Point Hueneme Lighthouse. The tower was replaced in 1934 by a square pyramidal skeletal steel tower, which was in turn replaced by the current post light.
History
Point Arguello
The area of land now known as Point Arguello was originally known by the '
On August 28, 1769, the
Lighthouse
In 1901, the lighthouse service built the first light station at Point Arguello. Due to erosion, The tower was replaced in 1911 with a standalone tower. Between 1934 and 1938, increased coastal shipping necessitated the service establish a lifeboat station.[4] In 1934, the tower was razed and replaced with a skeleton tower.[5]
On July 1, 1939, the Lighthouse Service was combined with the Coast Guard to augment the Service by 8,000 men who took their place in forming a nucleus for our present day light stations and aids to navigation work. During the interim of World War II, the Coast Guard manned Point Arguello Light and Point Arguello Lifeboat station, as well as a newly established LORAN Station. After 12 years-operation following the War, it was deemed economical to disestablish the lifeboat station and so in 1958, Point Arguello Lifeboat Station was retired.[3]
Point Arguello had, until 1967, an allowance of 12 enlisted personnel and accommodations for eight families.[3][5]
Shipwrecks
The history of Point Arguello has been one of shipwrecks, the area having been termed the "Graveyard of the Pacific"; probably the most famous tragedy was the wreck of the "Yankee Blade" on October 1, 1854. When the steamship hit the rocks 200 to 300 yards (180 to 270 m) offshore 415 people perished. She carried a fortune in gold bullion which has since been recovered.[4]
In 1911, the Santa Rosa ran aground at Saddle Rock, just north of the lighthouse after the Third Officer mistook railroad construction lights for the lighthouse.[6]
In 1923 what has been called the
Rockets history
Point Arguello also boasts one of the few
Light operation
The Point Arguello Light is a reporting point for the National Weather Service. The weather station disseminates information upon which conditions for the western portion of the Santa Barbara Channel are based.[7] Facilities at the light include a 36-inch (910 mm) revolving beacon of 1,100,000 candle power that can be seen approximately 17 miles (15 nmi; 27 km) at sea. The light itself is 124 feet (38 m) above the water. A two-tone diaphone fog signal is placed in operation when visibility is less than 5 miles (8.0 km). The diaphone when operating is synchronized with a radio beacon every three minutes for distance finding.[3][5]
Head keepers
- William A. Beeman (1900 – 1908)
- William A. Henderson (1908 – at least 1913)
- George A. Hussey (at least 1915)
- Gottfrid Theodor Olson (at least 1917 – at least 1930)
- John O. Lunden (at least 1940 – 1941)
- Leo Y. Kellogg (1941 – at least 1948)[8]
See also
References
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Northern California". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
- ^ "Archived copy". United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b c d e from Coast Guard website
- ^ a b c d "ID 645.com/light.asp?ID=645 Not Found Lighthouse". LighthouseFriends. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ a b c d "Point Arguello Lighthouse". Archived from the original on 2010-07-10. Retrieved 2010-08-14. . accessed August 8, 2010
- ^ "Thomas Clark: The Wreck of the Santa Rosa — Who Really Was to Blame? | Local News". 8 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
- ^ "NDBC Station Page". www.ndbc.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
- ^ "Point Arguello, CA Lighthouse Friends". 2016-06-18. Archived from the original on 2006-05-07. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
External links
- Point Arguello Light website Lighthouse Friends
- Gaviota Coast Conservancy
