The original Point Loma Lighthouse was built on top of Point Loma at the mouth of San Diego Bay, and was one of the first eight lighthouses on the Pacific Coast. In 1891 a "new" Lighthouse replaced the original, which was deemed ineffective after 36 years of operation due to its elevation, causing fog and low clouds to obscure the light beam. The new (and present) Point Loma Light was built as an iron skeleton tower, with its light only 88 feet above water. It has a 600,000 candlepower light which can be seen a distance of approximately 15 miles. The skeleton frame surrounds an enclosed stairway to the tower platform, where the lantern is located, and a fog signal building is located at the base of the structure. In 1875, a barn was built near the old Lighthouse and part of the oil and wood storehouse was converted into a two-room apartment for the assistant keeper. Captain Robert Decatur Israel is the keeper most prominently associated with Point Loma, serving 18 years at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse; his wife, Maria Arcadia Machado de Alipas Israel served as Assistant Keeper for three of those years. On March 23, 1891, Captain Israel extinguished the lamp at the Old Lighthouse for the last time. The Lighthouse was deactivated and the lens removed. The Old Lighthouse was replaced later that year by a skeletal tower at the bottom of the hill, built closer to the water at the tip of the Point, and the Israel family moved to the new Lighthouse. Today, the area is completely enclosed and pathways surrounded by lush green lawns provide access for three family dwellings, and one bachelor's quarters. Photograph shows a front view of the "new" Point Loma Lighthouse, located at the tip of the Point in San Diego Bay. It shows the iron skeleton tower as well as several small structures on either side. Three horse-drawn carriages can be seen along the road, and several people are visible at the base of the tower.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;20 x 25 cm. Photographic prints
Point Loma Lighthouse (San Diego, Calif.) Lighthouses--California--Loma, Point Dwellings--California--Loma, Point Lighthouses--Lighting--California--Loma, Point Point Loma (San Diego, Calif.) San Diego Bay (Calif.) Loma, Point (Calif.) San Diego (Calif.)
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
