Carquinez Strait Light

Carquinez Strait Lighthouse is a lighthouse in California, United States. It was originally approximately 20 miles inland from the mouth of the San Francisco Bay near Vallejo, California.

Carquinez Strait Light
Carquinez Strait Light
California
LocationVallejo
California
United States
Coordinates38.067816°N 122.213832°W / 38.067816; -122.213832
Year first constructed1910 (first)
Year first lit1963 (automated beacon and fog signal at the pier)
Automated1963
Deactivated1951 (first)
Foundationwooden pier
Constructionwooden tower
Tower shapesquare tower with balcony and lantern attached to keeper's house
Markings / patterncream colour tower and house,
red lantern roof
Original lensfourth order Fresnel lens
CharacteristicF R
ARLHS numberUSA-142
Managing agentThe Lighthouse at the Glen Cove Marina[1] [2]

History

The first lighthouse to mark the entrance to Carquinez Strait and the Napa River, the Mare Island Light was built at the southern end of Mare Island in 1873. The United States Lighthouse Board later realized that a light positioned offshore near the junction of the strait and river would better serve navigation in the area. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1951 and an automated beacon and fog signal were placed on the pier. After years of neglect, which included the smashing of the lens by vandals, the building was saved by investors who moved the residence to the Glen Cove Marina in Vallejo, California.

Historical information from Coast Guard web site
  • The Lighthouse Board relayed to Congress the need for a lighthouse between the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento River. On January 15, 1910, the Carquinez Strait Light was lit.
  • The lighthouse stood at the end of a 1.5-mile pier and was attached to a three-story residence.
  • While in operation this site was used to test the vertical mushroom trumpet fog signals.
  • The lighthouse was deactivated in 1951. An automated beacon and fog signal were placed on the pier at that time.
  • After years of neglect, which included the smashing of the lens by vandals, the building was saved by investors who moved the residence to the Glen Cove Marina in Vallejo, California.
  • The residence, without the tower, is used as the marina office and yacht sales showroom.[3]

Additional information

Taken from a December 1966 USCG press release:

Carquinez Strait Light Station is an automatic light station located at Vallejo, California between Suisun Bay and San Pablo Bay. It was first placed into operation on January 15, 1910. The original structure, a 28-room light house weighing 150 tons, was used until abandoned by the Coast Guard in 1951. New family quarters were constructed on top of the bluff overlooking San Pablo Bay and the entrances to Carquinez Strait and Mare Island Strait. On August 6, 1955, the original structure was taken off its pilings and put aboard a barge. It was then successfully towed two miles to its new location at Elliott Cove and converted into a resort. The new buildings were constructed in 1951 on top of the bluff The main family dwelling consisted of two 3~bedroom and two 2 bedrooms. The men assigned maintained and operated the light at the end of the breakwater and an automatic fog signal. In addition, the unit was responsible for providing emergency repairs on five aids to navigation in the vicinity of the station. A 24-hour lookout was maintained. On June 3, 1963, the Coast Guard personnel were transferred from the station and the light and fog signal were automated.[4]

See also

References
  1. Carquinez Strait The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 9 June 2016
  2. California Historic Light Station Information & Photography United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 9 June 2016
  3. California Historic Light Station Information & Photography United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 9 June 2016
  4. California Historic Light Station Information & Photography United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 9 June 2016
  • "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: California". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
  • U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Carquinez Strait Lighthouse
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