Ballast Point Lighthouse facts for kids
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| Lighthouse, U.S. Coast Guard Archive | |
 Ballast Point Lighthouse
Location in California
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| Location | Point Loma, California |
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| Coordinates | 32°41′11.0″N 117°13′57.0″W / 32.686389°N 117.232500°W |
| Year first constructed | 1890 |
| Deactivated | 1960 (Demolished) |
| Tower shape | Square |
| Height | 34 foot (10 m) |
| Original lens | Fifth order Fresnel lens |
| Characteristic | Fixed White |
| ARLHS number | USA-033 |
The Ballast Point Lighthouse was an important lighthouse in California. It stood on Ballast Point, a small piece of land reaching into San Diego Bay. This point is part of Point Loma in San Diego.
The lighthouse was taken down in 1960. Today, the spot is part of the Naval Base Point Loma. The Ballast Point Lighthouse was special because it was the very last lighthouse on the Pacific Coast to have a light that stayed on all the time (a "fixed light"). Now, an automatic light on a pole in the water marks the original site.
History of Ballast Point Lighthouse
Ballast Point is a small strip of land. It stretches from Point Loma into the entrance of San Diego harbor. The point got its name from old-time sailors. They would collect stones from here. These stones were used as ballast in their ships. Ballast helps a ship stay stable in the water. The sailors needed it for their long trips back to Boston around Cape Horn.
In 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed from Mexico. After five months, he saw the Coronado Islands. He then saw the land of Point Loma. He sailed past the kelp beds. On September 28, 1542, he dropped anchor. This was in the calm waters near what is now Ballast Point. Cabrillo stayed for six days. He named this large harbor San Miguel.
Sixty years later, in 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno arrived. He anchored on November 10, 1602. He renamed the harbor San Diego. This was to honor that Saint's day. In 1769, Spain decided to settle the area. They wanted to convert the local people to the Catholic faith. They also taught them new skills.
Small supply ships started arriving. In 1795, the ship Aranzaya came. It brought three workers and wood. They built a fort at Ballast Point. At that time, it was called Point Guijarros.
People in this area also hunted whales. Whales would come close to shore. Their bodies were brought to Ballast Point. There, their blubber was boiled in large pots.
The Ballast Point Lighthouse was built in 1890. It had two houses and a light tower. The tower was part of the keeper’s living area. The light was a "fifth order fixed classical lens." It had a green shade. The light was inside a brass and glass lantern. Its light was 34 feet (10 meters) above the water. The tower itself was a white square shape.
In June 1960, the old houses were torn down. This left the tower standing alone. But during repairs, the tower was found to be shaky. Its brick and mortar foundation was failing.
The 1960s did not completely destroy the Ballast Point Lighthouse. After the tower was taken down, its lantern room was moved. It traveled around San Diego County. Finally, it settled outside the West Sea Company. This is in Old Town (2495 Congress St). You can still see it there today. The fog signal tower was also moved in 1961. It went to a home in Lakeside, California. It is still there now.
A New Light Tower
It was decided to move the light. It would go on top of the fog signal building. The old tower would be taken down. The Cabrillo National Monument, a National Park Service site, asked for the lens and light. They wanted them for their new museum. Plans were made for them to get the lantern and lens. This happened before the old tower was demolished.
The new light was a standard 375 mm lens. It had special storm panes. This new light would flash white. It would be on for three seconds, then off for three seconds. This pattern would repeat every six seconds.
The old light used a 120 volt, 300 watt lamp. It gave off 1,700 candlepower. The new light used a slightly smaller lamp. It was 32 volt, 250 watt. But it gave off 9,000 candlepower! This was because the new light was more efficient. Also, the green shade was removed.
The fog signal was a single-tone diaphone. It made one loud blast every 15 seconds. If the diaphone stopped working, the people on duty had to ring a large bell by hand. They would ring it once every few seconds. It's interesting to note that the diaphone never stopped working since it was put in place in 1926.
Next to the light structure, new homes were built. There was a three-bedroom and a four-bedroom duplex. These were fully furnished. They housed the staff and their families. The new light began shining from its new spot on August 5. The old tower was being taken down at that time. Ballast Point was the last lighthouse on the Pacific Coast to have a fixed light.
What's There Now
Today, the only reminder of the Ballast Point Lighthouse is an automated light. It operates at Ballast Point. This light is on a pole in the water, just off the original site. It is listed as USCG number 6-1570. It shows a white flash every four seconds (Fl W 4s). A daymark (a sign for daytime navigation) and a fog horn are also there.
