Roe Island Lighthouse
Location & Light Range
About Roe Island Lighthouse
Roe Island Lighthouse was first lit in 1891 and stood watch over Suisun Bay, opposite the Port Chicago Naval Weapons Station. The structure served mariners for over fifty years until July 17, 1944. On that date, an ammunition explosion at the nearby Port Chicago munitions terminal severely damaged the lighthouse. The blast rendered the structure unsafe, leading to its abandonment. It was later sold and converted into a private summer cottage. This second chapter ended when the lighthouse was destroyed by fire. Only pilings remain visible in the bay today.
Why it matters: The lighthouse guided vessels through Suisun Bay, a significant waterway within the San Francisco Bay Area's inland system. Its operational life concluded dramatically due to the Port Chicago disaster.
Light & Optic
- Flash Type
- Flashing
- Raw Code
- Fl W 5
- Focal Height
- 12m
- Geographic Range
- 11NM
Construction & History
- Year Built
- 1891
Significant events: heavily damaged by a disastrous explosion of ammunition at the Port Chicago munitions terminal on 17 July 1944, sold and used as a summer cottage, destroyed by fire
References & Identifiers
- Nearest Port
- San Francisco(0.5 km)
- ARLHS No.
- USA-700
- Wikipedia
- Read on Wikipedia →
- Wikidata
- Q7357527 →
Tower & Structure
Structure: Roe Island Lighthouse once stood watch over the waters of Suisun Bay, directly across from what would become the Port Chicago Naval Weapons Station. For over five decades, from its establishment in 1891 until 1944, it guided mariners through this vital waterway, helping to ensure safe passage in this busy part of the San Francisco Bay Area's inland system. Its story took a tragic turn on July 17, 1944, when a catastrophic explosion of ammunition at the nearby Port Chicago munitions terminal severely damaged the lighthouse. The force of the blast left the structure heavily compromised, rendering it obsolete and unsafe for its original purpose. Subsequently abandoned, the lighthouse was sold and embarked on a new, unexpected chapter, serving for a number of years as a private summer cottage, a quiet retreat from the bay's maritime traffic. However, this second life was also cut short when the lighthouse was ultimately consumed by fire. Today, only the ghostly pilings remain visible in the bay, a silent reminder of its former presence and the dramatic events that shaped its fate in the heart of Suisun Bay.
Location
- City
- San Francisco
- Country
- 🇺🇸United States
- Region
- California
- Sea Region
- Suisun Bay opposite the Port Chicago Naval Weapons Station
- Latitude
- 37.8107°
- Longitude
- -122.4124°
Nearby Vessels
اعثر على منارة Roe Island على الخريطة البحرية المباشرة
خطّط رحلاتك قرب United States، وشاهد السفن المجاورة في الوقت الفعلي، واستكشف أكثر من 14,900 معلَم ملاحي في التطبيق.