Piedras Blancas Light

Piedras Blancas Light Station
Location	Point Piedras Blancas, California
Coordinates	35°39′56.250″N 121°17′3.639″W / 35.665625°N 121.28434417°W
Year first constructed	1875
Year first lit	1875 (current tower)
Automated	1975
Foundation	Masonry
Construction	Brick
Tower shape	Conical with flat top
Markings / pattern	white with black trim
Height	74 ft (23 m)
Focal height	142 ft (43 m)
Original lens	First order bivalve Fresnel lens
Current lens	VRB-25
Range	19 nm
Characteristic	Flashing white every 10 seconds
Admiralty number	G3982
ARLHS number	USA-598
USCG number	6-0265
	Piedras Blancas Light Station
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	U.S. Historic district
Nearest city:	San Simeon, California
Coordinates:	35°39′56.250″N 121°17′3.639″W / 35.665625°N 121.28434417°WCoordinates: 35°39′56.250″N 121°17′3.639″W / 35.665625°N 121.28434417°W
Area:	20 acres (8.1 ha)
Built:	1875
Architectural style:	Classical Revival, Gothic, Romanesque
Governing body:	Bureau of Land Management
MPS:	Light Stations of California MPS
NRHP Reference#:	91001095
Added to NRHP:	September 03, 1991

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Piedras Blancas Light Station is a lighthouse on Point Piedras Blancas, about five and half miles (9 km) west by NW of San Simeon, California.^[4]

[edit] History

The first-order Fresnel lens on the 105-foot 10½-inch Piedras Blancas Lighthouse (pronounced: PEE-AY-dras BLAN-kas) was first illuminated in 1875. On December 31, 1948 and January 1, 1949 three magnitude 3.8 to 4.6 earthquakes centered 6 miles (9.7 km) off the point damaged the lantern room. The lens, lantern room, watch room, and fourth landing were removed, reducing the height of the tower to 74 feet (23 m). The lens is now on display in the nearby community of Cambria.[1] The United States Lighthouse Service first staffed the site, from 1874 to 1939. The United States Coast Guard staffed the light station from 1939 until 2001. When the tower was automated in 1975, the station was unmanned. The Bureau of Land Management acquired the site in 2001 and continues to manage it today.

[edit] Current status

The light is an active aid to navigation; however, the sound signal has been silenced. The site is currently maintained by the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management. Guided tours of the 19-acre (77,000 m²) restricted site are available every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (except Federal holidays) for a fee ($10.00 for adults; $5 for ages 6-17; free for ages 5 and under). Special tours for parties of 10 or more may be arranged. Visitors experience early coastal history, early state history, maritime history, marine mammals, native coastal plants, native coastal animals, and native coastal insects in the BLM designated Outstanding Natural Area.^[5]

[edit] Pinniped colony

The largest elephant seal rookery on the West Coast is located just south of the lighthouse. The fenced-in viewing vista is located just off of California Highway 1 and is open year-round.

[edit] Marine Protected Areas

Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area are marine protected areas offshore from Piedras Blancas Light Station. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.