-
Destinations
-
Monterey
- Hotels
- Things to Do
- Monterey County on a Budget
- Itinerary: Midweek Monterey Getaway
- Monterey Beaches
- Cannery Row
- Old Fisherman's Wharf
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
- Historic Monterey
- Monterey Wine Tasting Rooms
- Monterey State Beach
- El Estero Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Guided Tours
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Travel Like a Monterey Expert
-
Big Sur
- Big Sur HWY 1 Updates
- Hotels
- Camping & Hiking
- Big Sur Beaches
- Arts & Culture
- Bixby Bridge
- Big Sur Itinerary
- Big Sur Live Webcam
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- McWay Falls
- Limekiln State Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Restaurants
- Spas
- Travel Like a Big Sur Expert
- Pebble Beach
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
-
Pacific Grove
- Hotels
- 48 Hours in Pacific Grove
- Good Old Days Festival
- Feast of Lanterns
- Butterfly Parade
- Asilomar State Beach
- Lovers Point Park and Beach
- Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
- Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
- Point Pinos Lighthouse
- Things to Do
- Restaurants
- Travel Like a Pacific Grove Expert
- Carmel Valley
- Marina
- Seaside
- Salinas
- Moss Landing
- Sand City
- Castroville
- Spreckels
- South County
-
Monterey
- Lodging
-
Things to Do
- Top Ways to Grab Life by the Moments
- Free Things to Do in Monterey County
- Attractions
-
Itineraries
- Now is the Moment Itineraries
- Highlights Itinerary
- Outdoors Itinerary
- Family Itinerary
- Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary
- Golf Itinerary
- History and Heritage Itinerary
- Road Trip Itinerary
- Romantic Itinerary
- Shopping Itinerary
- Spa Itineraries
- Steinbeck Itinerary
- Wine and Dine Itinerary
- Three Days in Monterey Wine Country
- Outdoor Activities
- Animals and Wildlife
-
Parks
- Top 10 Campsites
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Cachagua Community Park
- El Estero Park
- Elkhorn Slough Reserve
- Fort Ord National Monument
- Fremont Peak State Park
- Garland Ranch Regional Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Laguna Seca Recreation Area
- Lake San Antonio
- Limekiln State Park
- Locke-Paddon Community Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Point Lobos State Reserve
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Royal Oaks Park
- Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge
- San Lorenzo Park
- Toro Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
-
Beaches
- Undiscovered Beaches
- Asilomar State Beach
- Big Sur Beaches
- Carmel Beach
- Carmel River State Beach
- Fort Ord Dunes State Park
- Lovers Point Park and Beach
- Marina State Beach
- Monterey Beaches
- Monterey State Beach
- Moss Landing State Beach
- Pebble Beach Beaches
- Salinas River State Beach
- Zmudowski State Beach
- Arts and Culture
- Family Adventures
- Golf
- Guided Tours
- Literary Sites
- Romance
- Shopping
- Spas
- Nightlife and Entertainment
- Historic Attractions
-
Events
- This Weekend
- Annual Events
- Music Festivals
-
Sporting Events
- Monterey Car Week & Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
- Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (INDYCAR)
- Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7
- California International Airshow Salinas
- AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Sea Otter Classic Cycling Event
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Spartan Race
- MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest
- California Rodeo Salinas
- Scottish Games & Celtic Festival
- Sports Car Championship
- Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach
- Monterey Bay Half Marathon
- TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational
- Food & Drink Events
- Art Festivals
- Community Events
- Holiday Events
- Submit an Event
- Food & Drink
- Resources
- Meeting Planners
- Tour & Travel
- Members
- Media
- Weddings
- Sustainable Moments
-
Destinations
-
Monterey
- Hotels
- Things to Do
- Monterey County on a Budget
- Itinerary: Midweek Monterey Getaway
- Monterey Beaches
- Cannery Row
- Old Fisherman's Wharf
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
- Historic Monterey
- Monterey Wine Tasting Rooms
- Monterey State Beach
- El Estero Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Guided Tours
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Travel Like a Monterey Expert
-
Big Sur
- Big Sur HWY 1 Updates
- Hotels
- Camping & Hiking
- Big Sur Beaches
- Arts & Culture
- Bixby Bridge
- Big Sur Itinerary
- Big Sur Live Webcam
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- McWay Falls
- Limekiln State Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Restaurants
- Spas
- Travel Like a Big Sur Expert
- Pebble Beach
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
-
Pacific Grove
- Hotels
- 48 Hours in Pacific Grove
- Good Old Days Festival
- Feast of Lanterns
- Butterfly Parade
- Asilomar State Beach
- Lovers Point Park and Beach
- Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
- Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
- Point Pinos Lighthouse
- Things to Do
- Restaurants
- Travel Like a Pacific Grove Expert
- Carmel Valley
- Marina
- Seaside
- Salinas
- Moss Landing
- Sand City
- Castroville
- Spreckels
- South County
-
Monterey
- Lodging
-
Things to Do
- Top Ways to Grab Life by the Moments
- Free Things to Do in Monterey County
- Attractions
-
Itineraries
- Now is the Moment Itineraries
- Highlights Itinerary
- Outdoors Itinerary
- Family Itinerary
- Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary
- Golf Itinerary
- History and Heritage Itinerary
- Road Trip Itinerary
- Romantic Itinerary
- Shopping Itinerary
- Spa Itineraries
- Steinbeck Itinerary
- Wine and Dine Itinerary
- Three Days in Monterey Wine Country
- Outdoor Activities
- Animals and Wildlife
-
Parks
- Top 10 Campsites
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Cachagua Community Park
- El Estero Park
- Elkhorn Slough Reserve
- Fort Ord National Monument
- Fremont Peak State Park
- Garland Ranch Regional Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Laguna Seca Recreation Area
- Lake San Antonio
- Limekiln State Park
- Locke-Paddon Community Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Point Lobos State Reserve
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Royal Oaks Park
- Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge
- San Lorenzo Park
- Toro Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
-
Beaches
- Undiscovered Beaches
- Asilomar State Beach
- Big Sur Beaches
- Carmel Beach
- Carmel River State Beach
- Fort Ord Dunes State Park
- Lovers Point Park and Beach
- Marina State Beach
- Monterey Beaches
- Monterey State Beach
- Moss Landing State Beach
- Pebble Beach Beaches
- Salinas River State Beach
- Zmudowski State Beach
- Arts and Culture
- Family Adventures
- Golf
- Guided Tours
- Literary Sites
- Romance
- Shopping
- Spas
- Nightlife and Entertainment
- Historic Attractions
-
Events
- This Weekend
- Annual Events
- Music Festivals
-
Sporting Events
- Monterey Car Week & Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
- Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (INDYCAR)
- Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7
- California International Airshow Salinas
- AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Sea Otter Classic Cycling Event
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Spartan Race
- MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest
- California Rodeo Salinas
- Scottish Games & Celtic Festival
- Sports Car Championship
- Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach
- Monterey Bay Half Marathon
- TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational
- Food & Drink Events
- Art Festivals
- Community Events
- Holiday Events
- Submit an Event
- Food & Drink
- Resources
Point Pinos Lighthouse, Pacific Grove
Destinations
-
Monterey
- Hotels
- Things to Do
- Monterey County on a Budget
- Itinerary: Midweek Monterey Getaway
- Monterey Beaches
- Cannery Row
- Old Fisherman's Wharf
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
- Historic Monterey
- Monterey Wine Tasting Rooms
- Monterey State Beach
- El Estero Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Guided Tours
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Travel Like a Monterey Expert
-
Big Sur
- Big Sur HWY 1 Updates
- Hotels
- Camping & Hiking
- Big Sur Beaches
- Arts & Culture
- Bixby Bridge
- Big Sur Itinerary
- Big Sur Live Webcam
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- McWay Falls
- Limekiln State Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Restaurants
- Spas
- Travel Like a Big Sur Expert
- Pebble Beach
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
-
Pacific Grove
- Hotels
- 48 Hours in Pacific Grove
- Good Old Days Festival
- Feast of Lanterns
- Butterfly Parade
- Asilomar State Beach
- Lovers Point Park and Beach
- Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
- Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
- Point Pinos Lighthouse
- Things to Do
- Restaurants
- Travel Like a Pacific Grove Expert
- Carmel Valley
- Marina
- Seaside
- Salinas
- Moss Landing
- Sand City
- Castroville
- Spreckels
- South County
Lodging
Things to Do
- Top Ways to Grab Life by the Moments
- Free Things to Do in Monterey County
- Attractions
-
Itineraries
- Now is the Moment Itineraries
- Highlights Itinerary
- Outdoors Itinerary
- Family Itinerary
- Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary
- Golf Itinerary
- History and Heritage Itinerary
- Road Trip Itinerary
- Romantic Itinerary
- Shopping Itinerary
- Spa Itineraries
- Steinbeck Itinerary
- Wine and Dine Itinerary
- Three Days in Monterey Wine Country
- Outdoor Activities
- Animals and Wildlife
-
Parks
- Top 10 Campsites
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Cachagua Community Park
- El Estero Park
- Elkhorn Slough Reserve
- Fort Ord National Monument
- Fremont Peak State Park
- Garland Ranch Regional Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Laguna Seca Recreation Area
- Lake San Antonio
- Limekiln State Park
- Locke-Paddon Community Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Point Lobos State Reserve
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Royal Oaks Park
- Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge
- San Lorenzo Park
- Toro Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
-
Beaches
- Undiscovered Beaches
- Asilomar State Beach
- Big Sur Beaches
- Carmel Beach
- Carmel River State Beach
- Fort Ord Dunes State Park
- Lovers Point Park and Beach
- Marina State Beach
- Monterey Beaches
- Monterey State Beach
- Moss Landing State Beach
- Pebble Beach Beaches
- Salinas River State Beach
- Zmudowski State Beach
- Arts and Culture
- Family Adventures
- Golf
- Guided Tours
- Literary Sites
- Romance
- Shopping
- Spas
- Nightlife and Entertainment
- Historic Attractions
Events
- This Weekend
- Annual Events
- Music Festivals
-
Sporting Events
- Monterey Car Week & Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
- Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (INDYCAR)
- Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7
- California International Airshow Salinas
- AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Sea Otter Classic Cycling Event
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Spartan Race
- MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest
- California Rodeo Salinas
- Scottish Games & Celtic Festival
- Sports Car Championship
- Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach
- Monterey Bay Half Marathon
- TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational
- Food & Drink Events
- Art Festivals
- Community Events
- Holiday Events
- Submit an Event
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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