Point Pinos Lighthouse, Historic lighthouse in Pacific Grove, California, US
Point Pinos Lighthouse is a white cylindrical tower with a black lantern perched on the Pacific Grove coastline, rising 13 m (43 ft) above ground. The structure sits in a park setting next to municipal golf links, offering views of the ocean and rocky shore.
The light was built in 1855 as one of the first to be funded after California became a state. It remains the oldest continuously operating light on the West Coast and marks a key moment in early American coastal navigation history.
The lighthouse has served as a gathering place woven into local memory and community identity over generations. This role as a social hub remains visible in how people connect with the place today.
Visiting works best on weekdays and offers straightforward access through a coastal park with walking paths. Bring a jacket since ocean breezes can be strong, and check opening times before visiting since hours are limited.
Inside, the structure preserves an original French-made Fresnel lens from the 1800s, an optical device that bent light over vast distances. This antique technology still works today and shows how engineers solved complex maritime problems more than 150 years ago.
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