Farallon Island Lighthouse

Get a rare view of the farallon islands craggy peaks and rocky shorelines and scan the islands for marine mammals and birds.

Farallon island lighthouse.

It brings reliable internet to the island and helps the biologists on the island plan out surveys so as not to disturb birds and. Farallon island california located on the highest point of the island about 25 miles 40 km west of the golden gate. Farallon island light is a lighthouse on southeast farallon island california one of the highest lights in california it was constructed in 1855 to warn ships approaching san francisco from the west away from the rocky islands. Farallon island lighthouse was lit for the first time on january 1 1856 by head keeper nerva n.

The island is pyramidal in shape and 357 feet 109 m high. The lighthouse was the sixth lighthouse to be activated on the west coast. Lighthouse keeper oliver orberg delivering mail and newspapers to families from the navy and lighthouse service. Wines who respectively were paid annual salaries of 1 000 and 650.

In 1939 the us coast guard absorbed the lighthouse service. Grave of patty the mule south farallon island january 28 1939. Just offshore of northern california lies an underwater national park called the greater farallones national marine sanctuary the sanctuary encompasses 3 295 square miles of federally protected open ocean and coastal waters off the north central california coast and is one of the most productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet. Farallon island lighthouse scattered in a line seven miles long the farallon islands lie 26 miles off san francisco s golden gate.

South farallon island january 28 1939. In 1942 up to 78 people were living on southeast farallon island. The island is closed to the public as a bird sanctuary but the lighthouse can be seen from oceanic society half day cruises to observe wildlife in the area. The navy ran a secret radar station from the farallons in world war ii requiring more personnel.

Farallon islands historic photos 1940s. They comprise 120 acres of granite sculptured by wind and waves into inlets ridges stacks and cliffs that descend precipitously to the sea. The large flat area in the southeast of the island is called marine terrace. In later years it was shorn of its lantern but it remains in use.

Site and tower closed. The navy withdrew from the island and the coast guard began automating equipment further reducing the number of sland. 37 41 57 n 123 00 07 w37 69915 n 123 00184. Our high definition webcam is newly restored and now streaming live from a lighthouse atop southeast farallon island.