Inventory of Historic Light Stations--California Lighthouses--Piedras Blancas Light

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
California Lighthouses

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PIEDRAS BLANCAS LIGHT

State: CALIFORNIA
Location: NORTHERN ENTRANCE TO SAN SIMEON BAY
Nearest City: SAN SIMEON
County: SAN LUIS OBISPO
U.S.C.G. District: 11
Year Station Established: 1875

Fog signal building with tower in background. NPS photo by Ralph Eshelman, 1996

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1875
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1975
Foundation Materials: MASONRY
Construction Materials: BRICK
Markings/Patterns: WHITE
Shape: CONICAL W/OUT LANTERN
Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
Tower Height: 74
Original Optic: FIRST ORDER BIVALVE FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1875
Present Optic: VRB-25
Year Present Lens Installed: 2002
Height of Focal Plane: 142
Fresnel Lens Disposition: ON LOAN TO CAMBRIA LION'S CLUB SINCE 1950 AND CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY AT PINEDERADO PARK IN THE CITY OF CAMBRIA, CALIFORNIA
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s): NONE

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? YES

Year Constructed: 1906
Construction Materials: BRICK
Architectural Style: ONLY SHELL REMAINING
Fog Signal Type: HORN/ORIG. AIR WHISTLE

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES (ORIGINAL KEEPERS MOVED TO CAMBRIA AND IS NOW A B&B)

Year Constructed: 1960
Number of Stories: 1
Architectural Style: RANCH STYLE
Construction Materials: CONCRETE

Other Structures: OIL HOUSE, PUMPHOUSE, OLD COAST GUARD OFFICE, TWO SETS OF DUPLEX RESIDENCES, MISSILE TRACKING STATION (1955), BOATHOUSE/GARAGE AND FOUNDATION FOR WATCH ROOM, WATER TANKS AND BARN

Current Use: ACTIVE (PRIVATE) AID TO NAVIGATION (BLM), US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND NOAA BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH STATION, BLM MANAGEMENT UNIT/RESTORATION/STABILIZATION OF LIGHTHOUSE, FOG SIGNAL BUILDING AND FUEL/OIL BUILDING

Owner/Manager: BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Open to the Public? NO

Web Site: www.piedrasblancas.gov

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #91001095
Name of Listing: PIEDRAS BLANCAS LIGHT (LIGHT STATIONS OF CALIFORNIA MPS) On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
LANTERN REMOVED IN 1949 BECAUSE OF STORM DAMAGE

Last Modified: Wed, Jan 7 2004 4:09:02 pm EDT
JMP

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