Our Mission The mission of State Parks is Pigeon Point to provide for the health, inspiration and n June 1853 the Boston- education of the people of California by helping I Light Station to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological based , diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities a clipper ship on her State Historic Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. maiden voyage, was torn apart by a fog-blanketed rock off Whale Point. Thereafter, it was called California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who Pigeon Point. need assistance should contact the park at (650) 879-2120. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected].

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369. (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park 210 Pigeon Point Road, off Highway 1 Pescadero, CA 94060 (650) 879-2120 Front cover photo courtesy of Frank S. Balthis © 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) P erched where coast with the light source in the middle. A and ocean meet, the clockwork mechanism rotated the panels, at Pigeon producing a light flash precisely every ten Point Light Station seconds. The lighthouse’s signature beam State Historic Park continues today, flashing light from an beckons motorists exterior automated beacon at ten-second traveling Highway 1. intervals. A modern navigation aid replaced They can’t miss the the original fog signal in 1976. stately 115-foot The lighthouse sits on an eight-foot structure, the tallest foundation. Its walls, four-and-a-half feet operating lighthouse on thick at the base and tapering to two feet at the West Coast. Pigeon Left: ; right: docents dressed as lighthouse keepers the top, employ structurally connected inner Point Light Station is and outer walls that were strong enough listed on the National Register of Historic a glass-enclosed room at the top of the to emerge undamaged from the 1906 San Places — a reminder of the days when lighthouse, the lens mechanism stood 16 Francisco and 1989 Loma Prieta earthquakes. whalers and Gold Rush-era clipper ships feet tall and weighed two tons. Its designer, RESTORATION EFFORTS fought gales, stiff seas, jagged coastal rocks, French physicist Augustin Jean Fresnel, used and unforgiving fog. 1,008 handcrafted, brass-framed lenses and The lighthouse tower is closed to tours. prisms to concentrate the source of light, Experts painstakingly dismantled the THE POINT’S COLORFUL PAST maximizing light efficiency to throw its beam Fresnel lens and reassembled it for Pigeon Point’s original name, Whale Point, up to 24 miles. display in the Fog Signal Building. The was inspired by the gray whales that migrate The lenses and prisms, stacked California State Parks Foundation is past the point. California’s boom from Gold vertically to form two dozen nine-and-a- raising funds to restore and reopen Rush to statehood brought many ships to half-foot tall panels, were joined together the tower to the public. For more these perilous waters. The clipper Carrier to form a six-foot-diameter circular frame information, visit www.calparks.org. Pigeon, on her maiden voyage in 1853, ran into fog-blanketed rocks off Whale Point (renamed Pigeon Point to honor the ship). Between 1865 and 1868, three other major shipwrecks affirmed the danger of this foggy location. Finally, in November 1872, a lighthouse was built with a light and fog signal that guided mariners for more than a century. The lighthouse was outfitted with the most powerful lens of the day — a first- order (the largest) Fresnel lens. Sitting in WHERE, WHEN, AND WEATHER Hostel guests share bathrooms, Pigeon Point Light Station is approximately kitchens, and living rooms. To make midway between Half Moon Bay and Santa reservations, call (650) 879-0633 from Cruz, near Pescadero. The grounds are open 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Information is also daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Be prepared available at www.pigeonpointhostel.org. for unpredictable weather. Rain may fall ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION between November and March, and even summer brings chilly fog, particularly in the The boardwalk, the Fog Signal Building, Spiral staircase inside the lighthouse mornings. Stiff northwest winds can develop exhibits, and bookstore are accessible, as anytime. Weather permitting, park docents are parking, restrooms, and the picnic area NATURAL HISTORY recount the light station’s rich history while near the park entrance. For accessibility History may be the park’s top billing, leading visitors among the old buildings and updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. but the point’s natural beauty is also a around the grounds from Thursdays through major attraction. Its high bluff provides Mondays. Exhibits and a bookstore are also PLEASE REMEMBER scenic views of harbor and elephant available for visitors. • Except for service animals, pets are not seals and whales. During spring and For docent tour schedules, a virtual tour of permitted on the lighthouse grounds. winter migrations, the whales travel the light station, and more park information, • Smoking is not permitted in the park. relatively close to the lighthouse grounds, visit the Pigeon Point Light Station SHP • Cliffs can collapse onto the rocks below — particularly in the shallow waters of the pages at www.parks.ca.gov/pigeonpoint. stay on designated pathways. cove south of the point. Standing on the • A public phone and restrooms are near station’s boardwalk overlook, visitors can PIGEON POINT LIGHTHOUSE HOSTEL the entrance to the park grounds. observe northward-bound California gray Four Light Station buildings, converted to whale cows and their new calves taking lodging for up to 59 people, are operated by NEARBY STATE PARKS advantage of the safety of the cove. Farther Hostelling International. Accommodations • out, the spouts of humpback and blue are available in male, female, and co-ed 14½ miles south of Half Moon Bay whales can often be seen. bunkrooms, as well as private rooms for on Highway 1 (650) 879-2170 About 50 species of migratory and individuals, couples, or families. • Año Nuevo State Park native birds live here, including marbled 1 New Years Creek Road, off Highway 1, murrelets, an endangered species that Pescadero 94060 (650) 879-0227 / 879-2025 nests in nearby old-growth redwood forests Gray whales are believed • , 1500 Cloverdale Road, and feeds in coastal waters. Tide pools are to live up to 80 years and Pescadero 94060 (650) 879-2040 a short walk north of Pigeon Point (do not grow as long as 50 feet. disturb or remove tide pool This park receives support in part through specimens). Below the point, a nonprofit organization. frothy waves washing over For more information contact: rock ledges cause sea palms Coastside State Parks Association to sway. New Years Creek Rd., Pescadero, CA 94060 www.coastsidestateparks.org Pigeon Point Light Station

State Historic Park Pi ad geon Point Ro

Park Mel’s Lane Legend Entrance Council Circle to Half Accessible Road Stair Moon Bay Feature way (beach acc Trail Parking Pacific ess) Whaler’s Ocean Cove Pistachio Fence Picnic Area PIGEON POINT Beach (beach access) Park Restrooms LIGHT STATION Building PIGEON STATE HISTORIC Telephone POINT PARK Viewpoint HOSTEL Public WalkwayOil Storage Information Building

Lighthouse

Pigeon Station Rd

Watch House Fog Signal Point Road Building Lighthouse (Exhibits) (closed) Carpenter Shop (Park Store) 1

0 50 100 150 Feet 0 40 Meters302010 PIGEON POINT GGNRA Oakland Mt Diablo LIGHT STATION 80 SP Pigeon Point Road STATE HISTORIC Hayward Pacific to 580 101 PARK Ocean Santa Pacifica Livermore Cruz Pacifica SB 92 Montara SB GrayWhale 880 680 Point Montara Cove SB San Lane Light Station Mateo Fremont Half Moon1 Bay SB Mel’s Half Moon Bay Park Entrance Whaler’s 1 280 San José Cove San Gregorio SB Pomponio SB 84 35 85 Pescadero SB Pescadero Castle see Bean Hollow SB Butano SP Rock Big Basin SP 17 detail 101 map Redwoods SP Pigeon Point Año Nuevo SP Light Station 1 to Santa 0 20 Mi10 00.250.5 0.75 1 Mi SHP Cruz 0 10 20 30 Km 152 00.3 0.60.9 1.2 Km © 2002 California State Parks (Rev.1 2015)