Point Vicente Light, Maritime lighthouse in Rancho Palos Verdes, United States
Point Vicente Light is a lighthouse on the Pacific coast, where a white concrete tower rises above the rocky shoreline. Inside the building sits a historic Fresnel lens that was manufactured in France decades ago.
The lighthouse was built in the 1920s to guide ships along the California coast. During World War II, its light was darkened to avoid revealing the coastline's position.
The place tells the story of coastal navigation's importance to California and shows how people once found their way at sea. The artifacts in the museum help visitors understand the role such lighthouses played in sailors' daily lives.
The site is only open on certain days of the year, so check ahead to see when the building is accessible to the public. The location sits on a cliff, and the paths around the tower can be slippery, especially after rain.
The lens inside was made by a renowned French manufacturer and represents early 20th-century French craftsmanship. Such lenses were optical masterpieces and were used in lighthouses across the world.
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