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Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse

Fl White 15s🇺🇸USOperational

Location & Light Range

About Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse

The Point Arena Lighthouse, built in 1908, is a cylindrical reinforced concrete tower standing 35 meters tall. Its construction marked a first in the United States as the initial reinforced concrete lighthouse. The tower is painted white with a black lantern, and its light flashes white every 15 seconds, visible for over 18 nautical miles. The current structure replaced an earlier lighthouse destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Restoration efforts between 2008 and 2010 included the buildings and its Fresnel lens, and mercury was removed from the lantern room in 2004. The lighthouse is now open to the public.

Why it matters: As the first reinforced concrete lighthouse in the U.S., this structure holds significant architectural importance in the history of lighthouse construction.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 15s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
15s
Raw Code
Fl W 15s
Focal Height
47m
Geographic Range
18.2NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1908

Significant events: Original lighthouse damaged by 1906 San Francisco earthquake, mercury removed from lantern room in 2004, complete restoration of buildings and Fresnel lens in 2008-10

Visiting

Open to public
Yes

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
35m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
black
Material
reinforced concrete

Structure: A 35m cylindrical reinforced concrete tower rising from a 1-story round workroom, painted white with a black lantern. The active light is mounted on the gallery outside the lantern.

Location

Country
🇺🇸United States
Region
California
Sea Region
sharp, spectacular promontory at the end of Lighthouse Road, off CA 1 about 2 miles (3 km) north of the town of Point Arena
Latitude
40.0223°
Longitude
-124.0695°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Fort Bragg(37.7 km)
Admiralty No.
G4358
ARLHS No.
USA-611
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse at night?+
Mendocino County Lighthouses displays the characteristic Fl White 15s. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Laytonville at 34.4 NM to the SE. Other ports served include Fort Bragg (36.3 NM SSE), HUMBOLDT (43.4 NM N), Samoa (46.1 NM N), Eureka (46.8 NM N). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
What shipping routes pass near Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse?+
Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse is located within the US West Coast shipping lane — a major trans-Pacific trade route serving West Coast ports of the United States. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Mendocino County Lighthouses Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.