Santa Barbara Light

Santa Barbara Light is a lighthouse standing on a coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara. The structure features a steel tower that serves as a navigation marker for ships traveling along the California coast.

The original lighthouse was built in 1856 and operated with a Fresnel lens until an earthquake destroyed it in 1925. A new steel tower was then constructed to continue guiding ships at this important coastal location.

Julia Williams managed the lighthouse for over forty years starting in 1865, maintaining the light while raising five children after her husband departed.

The lighthouse sits within a Coast Guard facility that is closed to public entry. You can view it clearly from several public vantage points along the waterfront and nearby walking paths.

After the earthquake, a temporary acetylene light served as an emergency beacon before the current steel tower was built. This improvised solution kept ships safely guided while the permanent replacement was under construction.

Location: Santa Barbara

GPS coordinates: 34.39631,-119.72260

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:44