If you haven’t been to the Point Arena Lighthouse recently, then you must return for a visit. Refurbished, the Light Station is a whole new experience for tourists and locals.
The First Order Fresnel lens, until last year in the original 115-foot lighthouse tower built in 1908, is now in the fog signal building, which serves as a museum and gift shop. The property was closed for seven months while the lens was moved, the tower reinforced and remodeling completed. At one time, the fog signal building housed air compressors and horns to warn sailors away from the treacherous coatline in stormy weather and fog when the light wasn’t visible.
The Fresnel lens is a monster at eight feet tall, six feet wide and six tons. The lens is made up of 666 hand-ground glass prisms all focused toward three sets of double bulls eyes. These bulls eyes gave the Point Arena Lighthouse its unique “light signature” of two flashes every six seconds. With a navigation chart, a ship captain could time the flashes, and know they were looking at Point Arena Lighthouse. This incredible optic, which holds an appraised value of over $3.5 million, was once visible some 20 miles out to sea.
Despite efforts to keep it in place, the lens was moved for fear an earthquake would topple the light tower and destroy the priceless lens. Since the lens was removed, the tower has been repaired and reinforced and is open daily for tours – a true bird’s eye view. Point Arena Lighthouse is a must see.
