Refer to page 8 of Lighthouses Short and Tall for Old Point Loma Lighthouse
Point Loma is the only lighthouse in this book for which we show an earlier tower than the one later in use. Old Point
Loma’s cottage style was very distinctive and used for the original California lighthouses at Alcatraz, Crescent City,
Point Conception, Point Pinos, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz.
The Light-House Board had several committees to deal with the many questions it faced. Why do you think it had a Committee
on Location? A Committee on Engineering?
Using your ruler, estimate the height of Old Point Loma Light. Then add the over 420 feet it sat on its cliff. That gives
you the focal plane of the light. Can you picture it being foggy at that elevation while down at sea level the coast was clear?
