Cape Mendocino Light, Iron lighthouse in Humboldt County, California, US.
Cape Mendocino Light is a cast-iron lighthouse about 43 feet (13 m) tall, featuring a sixteen-sided tower, a balcony, and a lantern room. The white structure with a red roof now stands in Mal Coombs Park in Shelter Cove, Humboldt County, California.
The lighthouse began operating on December 1, 1868, sending white flashes to guide ships along this stretch of coast. In 1998, the structure was moved from its original position on the cape to its current location in the park.
The lighthouse takes its name from the cape where it originally stood, recalling the long seafaring tradition of the northern California coast. Visitors who see it today in the park can connect with the role it once played for ships navigating dangerous waters nearby.
The lighthouse is easy to reach on foot from the parking area at Mal Coombs Park in Shelter Cove. The site is open to the surrounding coast and works well as a short stop during a broader visit to the area.
The original first-order Fresnel lens that once sat inside the tower is now on display at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds. It is one of the few surviving examples of this type of lens still visible to the public in the region.
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