Southampton Shoal Light

Southampton Shoal Light is a lighthouse standing on a platform at the southwest edge of Southampton Shoals in San Francisco Bay, northeast of Angel Island. The structure rests on eleven steel cylinder pilings and features a wooden building with multiple stories and balconies.

Construction began in 1905 as a floating residential structure supported by eleven steel cylinder pilings. The building was designed to serve dual purposes: providing shelter and aiding marine navigation in the bay.

The building earned its name 'House on the Bay' from local maritime communities due to its residential design with balconies and multi-story layout.

The building is privately owned and serves as accommodation for members of the St. Francis Yacht Club. The site is not open to the public, though it can be viewed from boats passing through the bay.

A heavy brass signal device weighing about 1,600 kilograms sat on the upper floor to alert ships during fog. This manual system gave way to automated electric horns that proved more dependable over time.

Location: Contra Costa County

Inception: 1905

Height: 10 m

GPS coordinates: 37.88167,-122.40000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:22