Roe Island Lighthouse

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

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.