Battery Point Lighthouse Crescent City, Del Norte County

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BATTERY POINT LIGHTHOUSE CRESCENT CITY, DEL NORTE COUNTY

Battery Point Lighthouse and Museum are located at the foot of A Street in Crescent City, California. This is an active lighthouse that serves as a private aid to navigation. The Lighthouse was first lit with oil lamps on December 10, 1856. The Lighthouse is also an active residence with lighthouse keeper. The Lighthouse and its museum is open to the public for tours including opportunities to look into the personal quarters of keepers and their families and the furniture and artifacts they have left behind since the 1850's. Tours include a climb into the light tower. There are displays of many maritime artifacts, photographs and documents that chronicle its history.

During the nearly 150 years of history for this lighthouse, many keepers and their families have tended it. It began as the Crescent City Light Station. Until 1936, the U.S. Lighthouse Service was in charge of the light station. Then, the U.S. Coast Guard took over its operation and maintenance. In 1953, the Lighthouse was automated. During the Tsunami tidal waves of 1964, the resident keepers provided a terrifying eye witness account of the destruction caused to Crescent City, even feeling threatened themselves by the largest wave. The Coast Guard continued to maintain the Fifth Order Drumm Lens with 20,000 candle power operated by electricity in the tower until 1965 when it was decommissioned. The light was reactivate as a private aid to navigation in 1982.

Great stories about the Lighthouse and Native American legends about the Island have been crafted over time. A resident ghost is even said to haunt the residence. Photographers and artists have captured the beauty of the Lighthouse thousands of times making it one of the most vivid images in all of Del Norte County. The scenic beauty has made Battery Point Lighthouse the subject of film companies for movies, television programs, commercials and music videos. Many weddings have taken place on the island.

Visits to the Battery Point Lighthouse and Island are only possible at low tides. Extreme care and caution should be used when crossing the two hundred feet between the mainland and island anytime wave action may cover the crossing area. Sneaker waves at any time can threaten visitors standing on or near the rocks and the shore of Battery Point Island. There are currently no public restroom facilities available on Battery Point Island. Care by visitors should be taken to protect all natural wildlife and plant life on the Island.

The Lighthouse, Museum and Battery Point Island’s care are entrusted to the Del Norte County Historical Society. Admission is free to Society Members. For more information about Battery Page 2 of 2

Point Lighthouse, visiting the area or to join or support the Historical Society visit www.delnortehistory.org

The Main Museum located in the former County Hall of Records located at the corners of 5th & “H” Streets in Crescent City features many items of historical interest. The Main Museum also served as the County Jail from the time it was built in 1926 until 1963. Several jail cells remain upstairs and have become display rooms for various collections. Resident ghosts are said to still haunt the upstairs area. Perhaps the Main Museum is best known for one of the finest collections of Native American basketry by the Tollowa and Yurok Indians, and many other Native American artifacts. Other items donated by the families of early settlers include pioneer tools, weapons, farming and mining equipment. Beautiful furniture, clothing fashions, needlework and China over a hundred years old are on display. Various rooms within the museum feature displays noting the changes in both the arts and industry throughout the years. A miniature collection of all of the railroad steam engines and cars to have once served Del Norte County can be found. The County’s most complete collection of photographs of destruction and personal stories of the infamous Tsunami Disaster of 1964 are on site. A series of tidal waves wiped out a large portion of Crescent City and caused several deaths as a result of the tremendous earthquake that took place near Anchorage, Alaska. Hundreds of historical photographs of early pioneer settlements, forestry and mining operations are on display. Thousands of archived photos and documents can be found in our Research Room. The Bolen Annex in the Main Museum features the magnificent First Order Fresnel Lens from the Saint George Reef Lighthouse. This is perhaps the most valuable single artifact in the Museum and one of the few original working First Order Fresnel Lens utilized by the former U.S. Lighthouse Service in the country. Other artifacts on display include recently recovered artifacts from the Brother Jonathan shipwreck in 1856, California's worst maritime disaster. Historical maritime items of interest can be found throughout the Main Museum as well as at Battery Point Lighthouse.

No cameras or photographs are allowed inside the Main Museum.

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