Punta Gorda Light

Punta Gorda Light

File:USCGpuntagorda.JPG U.S. Coast Guard Archive
Location	12 miles (19 km) south of Cape Mendocino, California
Coordinates
Year first constructed	1911
Year first lit	1912
Deactivated	1951
Foundation	Concrete
Construction	Reinforced Concrete
Tower shape	Square Cylindrical
Markings / pattern	white with black lantern
Height	27 ft (8.2 m)
Original lens	Fourth order Fresnel lens bulls eye 1912 (removed)
Current lens	(removed)
ARLHS number	USA-679
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Designated	1976
Reference no.	76000483

Punta Gorda Lighthouse is a lighthouse in United States, 12 miles (19 km) south of Cape Mendocino, California, within Humboldt County. Access is by vehicle and one and an hour hike on foot. It is managed by the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation.

History

Punta Gorda Lighthouse was built in 1911 and was first lit in 1912. After World War II, it was decided that given the remoteness of the station it was too costly to maintain. A lighted buoy was placed offshore, the fourth order Fresnel lens was removed, and the station was boarded up and deactivated in 1951. The keeper's house and all other station buildings were demolished.

Historical Information from USCG web site:

Punta Gorda originally consisted of 22 acres (89,000 m²) upon which were situated three dwellings, a small two-story concrete lighthouse, concrete oil house, a wooden fog signal building, blacksmith/carpenter-shop, three storage sheds, and a barn. In 1951 all aids-to-navigation were discontinued, the buildings boarded up and personnel transferred. The property was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management. In the late 1960s "hippies" moved into the quarters and improved them. Local authorities evicted these people and the Bureau of Land Management burned all the buildings except the Lighthouse and oil house. Punta Gorda was and is a very difficult station to reach. Most of the years it was in operation access was via horse, and during good weather horse-drawn wagon. After the United States Coast Guard assumed command a rough road was constructed (that usually washed out) and a jeep was used for transportation. One Coast Guard career horse, named Old Bill, served the Punta Gorda Light Station as a saddle horse, pack horse, and buggy horse for thirty years until the station closed in 1951.

The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The Fresnel lens and the flag staff pole were removed many years ago to the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum located near Eureka, California.

The Punta Gorda Light was known as the "Alcatraz of Lighthouses" because of its remote location and difficult access.

See also

• Trinidad Head Light: another historic lighhouse in Humboldt County
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Humboldt County, California