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May
18
2013
Carmel Art Festival
May. 16-May. 19
Gallery events, lectures, receptions and demonstrations at several art galleries in…more
May
18
2013
Castroville Artichoke Festival
May. 18-May. 19
In 2013 the CAstroville Artichoke Festival will celebrate it's 54th year. The fun…more
May
18
2013
Cooking for Solutions
May. 17-May. 19
The culinary event of the year, Cooking for Solutions features great chefs, gourmet…more
May
18
2013
Monterey Rock n' Rod Festival
May. 17-May. 18
The annual festival was envisioned as a fun and entertaining way to raise…more
May
18
2013
Salinas Valley Fair
May. 16-May. 19
Enjoy the atmosphere of an old-fashioned county fair, complete with carnival,…more
May
24
2013
California Roots Music & Arts Festival
May. 24-May. 26
The 4th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival is a three-day event packed…more
May
25
2013
2nd Annual Great Monterey Clam Chowder & Calamari Festival
May. 25-May. 27
This Memorial Day Weekend, May 25th, 26th and 27th, the Custom House Plaza at Old…more
Jun
2
2013
Cannery Row Block Party
Jun. 2
This annual event is a crowd-pleaser includes continuous live music, live animals,…more
Jun
7
2013
Monterey Wine Festival
Jun. 7-Jun. 8
With hundreds of wines offered for tasting, wine lovers will lfind an embarrassment…more
Jun
8
2013
Carmel Valley Art & Wine Celebration
Jun. 8
The Art & Wine Celebration will showcase over 60 artists, local wines and…more
Enjoy the Wonders of the Wharf VIP Card
Old Fisherman's Wharf Association
The “Enjoy the Wonders of the Wharf VIP Card and Special Offers Campaign…
May 14, 2013
- Jul 1, 2013
- Jul 1, 2013
Surf and Turf Package
Tradewinds Carmel
Enjoy two relaxing nights in a Deluxe King or Queen/Queen room. Spend the Day…
Aug 31, 2012
- Aug 31, 2013
- Aug 31, 2013
Monterey Movie Tours Special OFFER
Monterey Movie Tours
Special Offer: $10 OFF per passenger rate. Use Promo Code MCCVB when booking. No…
Point Pinos Lighthouse
An emblem of Pacific Grove, Point Pinos Lighthouse is the oldest continually operating lighthouse on the West Coast and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building, lenses and prisms in this Pacific Grove lighthouse are all original, and it is still an active aid to navigation.
History
Point Pinos Lighthouse is one of the six lighthouses along the coast for which Congress appropriated funds shortly after California statehood was ratified. Built in 1855, Pacific Grove's lighthouse is on the northernmost tip of the Peninsula. Before its construction, this point had proved dangerous to sailors who mistakenly believed they had reached Monterey Bay.
Initially, whale oil was used to fuel the light at Point Pinos Lighthouse. In 1880, the lighthouse shifted to kerosene for fuel. In 1919, it was finally electrified.
Point Pinos Lighthouse was not just an aid to navigation; it was a social hub in early Pacific Grove. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote positively of lightkeeper Allan Luce's hospitality in The Old Pacific Capital, and Emily Fish was nicknamed "The Socialite Lightkeeper" for the many parties and dinners she held at the building.
Lighthouse Avenue takes its name from Point Pinos Lighthouse, located at its end. The road, laid out in 1874, was used to ferry supplies from the port at Monterey through Pacific Grove to the lighthouse.
Visiting Point Pinos Lighthouse
Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove is open 1-4pm, Thursday-Monday, with occasional special events hosted by costumed docents. For more information visit the official website.
Other Monterey County Lighthouses
If you're a fan of historic lighthouses, don't miss Point Sur Lighthouse, perched on a volcanic rock just off the coast, 27 miles south in Big Sur.
Map and Directions
From Route 101, take Highway 68 West all the way to its end. You will see the lighthouse on your left.
From Monterey, follow Lighthouse Avenue northwest. Turn left on David Avenue and right on Lighthouse.
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California is one of the only places in the world where visitors can see whales year-round, and ... more
Marina State Beach has steady winds that make it a popular place for surfing, kite flying and hang ... more
Scenic Monterey County is one of the richest ecological regions along California's central coast, as ... more
Pinnacles National Monument is a popular spot for outdoor activities ranging from hiking to ... more
Numerous equestrian trails meander through diverse landscapes, from rugged mountain terrain to sandy ... more
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