Point San Luis Lighthouse

Today was the Open House at the lighthouse. Several days ago we had seen the article in the newspaper; it looked intriguing so we phoned the reservation number and secured two spots for the 3:00 p.m. trolley ride and tour.

We were told it would be $20.00 each, but because this was the “Open House” it was free. That was certainly a bonus. Just the drive on the single-lane road up the hill and then down the other side to the lighthouse was worth the price of admission.

I think we lucked-out and were led by the #1 docent, Chris (at least that is what another docent told us “Chris is the best!”). Our docent is employed at the Diablo Nuclear Power Plant just a bit further out on the rugged coastline from the lighthouse. The other docent told us that on occasion Chris takes groups of the lighthouse docents to the power station to lead a tour. We were very interested in that, so we asked Chris about that. He told us that he only does it for other docents. He did say that occasionally the power station is opened to the public for tours and that we should inquire about that.

The lighthouse is completely restored to the late 1800s except for the one bedroom that belonged to a little girl named Lucy who had started living there in the 1930s when her mother married the head lighthouse keeper. Because Lucy was still alive just several years ago when the restoration of the old lighthouse began and interviews with her were recorded, her childhood bedroom was restored to look like it did in the 1930s.

"The story of San Luis Bay and the Point San Luis Lighthouse is a story of disaster and rescue, drama and peace, and a undying quest of safety and protection for a generation of maritime explorers, shippers, and travelers.

What may be the second most important historical momunent to the central coast is strangely barely known by the public.

In 1867 President Andrew Johnson issued an executive order directing the Department of the Interior “to take the necessary steps to cause the reservation for Light House purposes of an area … of land at … Point San Luis”. The first pier at Port San Luis was built the next year. Congressman Romaldo Pacheco of San Luis Obispo introduced a bill in 1877 to build a lighthouse at Point San Luis.

Construction would not commence until 1889. By 1890 whaling vessels, cargo ships, tankers and fishing boats were all guided around the treacherous point into the safe harbor.

Until 1933 the Lighthouse projected a beam of light 20 miles out to sea from one kerosene lamp set high in its tower, by collecting all the lamp’s light with over 100 Lenses made by French craftsmen."

To learn about the dramatic history of the Point San Luis Lighthouse, from dream to reality check the

Good night from California’s Central Coast.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol